2026 Summit of the Americas

2026 Summit Conference Session Program

The 2026 Summit of the Americas brings two days of powerful conference sessions on Sunday, March 29, and Monday, March 30. These sessions are designed to give attendees sharp insight into today’s business landscape and, more importantly, practical strategies to grow, boost sales, and build stronger partnerships. Check back often as new session details and updates are released.

 

 

8:30 - 10:00 a.m. 

Opening Remarks

Rene Riedi – IAADFS Chair

Getting Serious About Sustainability in Travel Retail

Kreol Arakulath, Executive Director – Kreol Group

Kreol will deliver a provocative keynote on what it might take to make sustainability real in travel retail. He will unpack the overcomplicated history of sustainability across the full value chain and argue that meaningful progress depends on one thing above all: putting our money where our mouth is.

The address will examine the industry’s key spheres of influence around conscious consumerism from the perspectives of the brand, the retailer, the airport and most importantly, the passenger. The talk addresses social responsibility as a concept larger than just environmental issues.

Kreol will challenge delegates to move from fragmented efforts to a collaborative, cost-led roadmap by aligning incentives across stakeholders, confronting structural barriers, and building a practical path toward a scalable and verifiable sustainable footprint for travel retail.

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. 

Geopolitical Shifts in the Americas and Associated Impacts on Airports and the Overall Travel Sector

John Price, Director – Americas Market Place Intelligence
Matt Cornelius, Executive Vice-President – ACI North America
Rafael Echevarne, Director General – ACI Latin America Caribbean

This session will examine the 2026 and 2027 geopolitical changes facing the Americas, including a review of US policy trends that could enhance or threaten travel throughout the Americas. The session will also address Latin American political and economic forecasts including upcoming elections, economic growth leaders and major outbound markets in Latin America. Recent trends including pre- and post-Covid market share winners and losers as well as changing travel motivations and patterns will be discussed. The panel will provide a deep dive focused on the affluent traveler in Latin America and important domestic tourism investments including airport infrastructure. Attendees will gain critical insights about the Americas economy and how business may be impacted. The panel of three experts - John Price (moderator), Matt Cornelius and Rafael Echevarne, will welcome your questions during a Q&A session.
 

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

Decoding Generational Trends in Airport Food and Beverage and Travel Retail

Peter Mohn, Owner and CEO – m1nd-set 
Anna Marchesini, Head of Business Development – m1nd-set

This insightful panel session explores the distinct shopping behaviors of different generations within the North American Food and Beverage and travel retail market. Featuring representatives from diverse age segments, the discussion will highlight and debate the unique needs, expectations, and preferences that shape the modern airport dwell time.
 

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. 

Sea’s the Moment – How to Win in Cruise Retail!

Lisa Bauer, President and CEO – Starboard Group
Pat Molloy, Senior Vice President Client and Business Development – Harding+
Nicola Walsh, Managing Director – Monip Group
Edward Sanchez, EVP, Caribbean and Travel Retail Sales – Citizen Watch America
Brent Jenkins, Senior Director – Carnival Cruise Lines
Moderated by DFNI

If you are currently involved in the cruise sector, trying to expand your engagement or get involved for the first time, this a must attend session for you. Join this panel of industry leaders and experts for an interactive discussion directed at the vast opportunity and approaches to become part of the growing and increasingly important part of the duty free and travel retail sector. This session covers three main topical areas:
 
What we’re looking for: A presentation and overview on what cruise line onboard revenue departments are looking for, from their retail partners and new to cruise brands – featuring Brent Jenkins.
 
Success stories at sea: Cruise retail operator representatives Lisa Bauer and Pat Molloy share their perspectives about which brands have worked across different cruise lines and why, in this interactive audience session. 
 
How to evolve your offer: Hear from two brands who have succeeded in the cruise retail market, featuring Nicola Walsh from Monip Group and Fernando Sanchez from Citizen Watch. What’s the recipe to success, what points of difference are needed for cruise, and how is cruise retail unique?


1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Converging Channels: Exploring Blended Duty Free, Food and Beverage, and Essentials Partnerships 

Miguel Ruiz, CEO – Lagardère Travel Retail Peru
Kate Herzig, Executive Vice President Duty Free North America, Avolta
Andrew Weddig, Executive Director – Airport Restaurant & Retail Association
Moderated by Dermot Davitt, President – The Moodie Davitt Report 

This session will discuss how the integration of business channels can drive innovation and offer lessons from hybrid experiences to date, with implications for dwell time, penetration and conversion. It will also discuss how progressive partnership models can work, as well as offering  insights into how hybrid experiences come to life when done well, plus how blended retail and F&B can drive consumer loyalty and satisfaction.