The attendee total for last week’s TFWA global travel retail exhibition came in just behind the high of five years ago, according to figures released on Friday.
With 7,456 visitors travelling to Cannes for the five-day event, this year’s show was bigger than 2023, which recorded 7,385. Despite the 1% increase, the record set in 2019 of 7,531 visitors remains in place.
Curiously, while Europe led the way, accounting for 52% of the show’s visitors, Asia was home to 25% – despite TFWA hosting an annual Asia Pacific event, also over five days, in Singapore.
The Americas, meanwhile, was the starting point for 9% of attendees, the same amount that travelled from the Middle East.
On the exhibitor side, 25% represented the alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage industry, behind perfume & cosmetics at 33% but ahead confectionery, fine food & food supplements (15%).
While the exhibition appears to be on the rise, the visitor count pales in comparison to the ProWein trade show in Düsseldorf (47,000 in 2024) and Paris’ Vinexpo (41,000).
During last week’s trade show, Global Drinks Intel announced the winners of its ESG Awards 2024.
