The 32nd FDFA Annual Convention & Trade Show takes place in Montreal, Canada, 12-15 November.

Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has announced the departure of Executive Director Laurie Karson, effective immediately.

Board of Directors Chair Abe Taqtaq confirmed to TRBusiness that operations at FDFA’s head office in Ottawa ‘would continue’ with ‘no interruption’.

A statement issued by the Board of Directors read: “The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Laurie for all her efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

“The FDFA will continue to move forward in a positive direction and will organise a successful FDFA Convention in Montreal in November 2017.

“In addition to the convention, the Board will be actively involved in ensuring an active dialogue with all government stakeholders, including CBSA.”

Laurie Karson has left the FDFA as Executive Director. Source: Valerie Keeler.

STRATEGIC REVIEW

In addition, the FDFA Board ‘will take on a more active role’ with regards to the future strategy of the association and convention, says Taqtaq.

“There is an opportunity for the board to look at the office and operations from a strategic point of view to take the FDFA forward,” he added.

As reported, the International Association of Duty Free Stores (IAADFS) and South America’s Sudamericana de Tiendas Libres (ASUTIL) have agreed to co-locate their respective annual events in a ‘Summit of the Americas’.

This is set to be staged in Orlando at the Marriot World Centre between 18-21 March next year.

TRBusiness initially understood that the FDFA was considering as an option plans to co-locate its convention with ASUTIL and IAADFS, but this later turned out not to be the case.

“We looked at it and determined it wasn’t the best course of action,” Taqtaq confirmed.

The FDFA is now understood to be looking at revamping its convention programme for 2018, with the plans set to be unveiled in Montreal this year ready for the event’s expected return to Toronto in 2018.