more specifically the week spent in Cannes due to the annual TFWA World Exhibition & Conference and its early starts, late finishes, long list of meetings and networking opportunities via industry events….
Cannes Week is the annual pilgrimage of the Global Travel Retail (GTR) business, descending on the south of France to meet others in the industry. It is where suppliers showcase what is new and exciting and customers go to meet with some of their long list of suppliers. It is hectic, it is hard work and often unappreciated by those not in the industry (including their families after a week away in Cannes).
Cannes Week remains a fantastic opportunity to foster engagement within the industry by providing:
- access to trade/ customers
- showcase for new products and innovation to come
- opportunity to talk with the trade press
- exchange of ideas amongst those within the industry
- platform to engage in discussions with potential representatives, such as distributors or agents
- insights via the TFWA
The upside of Cannes on a personal level is always the opportunity to see colleagues and friends from the industry, even if only for a few brief moments.
The work is intense and the commitment always high and being out late with customers or at a networking event is never an excuse not to be suited and booted early in the morning for a new batch of meetings.
Being prepared helps and I have written about it on this blog article: Top Tips on how to survive your first TFWA Cannes Week
Now after a weekend back with the family, having arrived home at 1:30am and gone trampolining with the children first thing in the morning (not the best plan I must admit), I am off once again with work on Monday….
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