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Download the TFWA "5 reasons to attend ..." presentation here 

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Please note that this exclusive JES Travel Retail page is an unaffiliated /independent service providing advice and information connected to the 2026 Tax Free World Association World Exhibition and conference.

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This page will be updated on a regular basis from now until the end of the show so please return to find out the latest advice, details of social events, conferences, restaurant tips, information on how to get the most of the show and more.

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No liability/guarantee is accepted with regards to the information provided and all opinions are provided purely from our personal/internal perspective based on visits to the TFWA show since the 90s. 

 

Any organisations, events or locations that are sponsoring their inclusion on this page are clearly annotated.

 

Promote any social events, charitable activities free of charge via info@jes-travelretail.com.

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Promote your booth or general attendance with your logo, company name and email link for meeting requests.

Including free B2B  marketing and 2 x TRE Job board entries.

Order here

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GENERAL​

Download the TFWA "5 reasons to attend ..." presentation here

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​The Tax Free World Association - www.TFWA.com - World Exhibition and Conference is due to be held in Cannes, France 27th September – 1st October 2026 and will once again be the flagship exhibition for our industry. The show is a must for anyone involved in the global travel retail sector !

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Show link here.

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​A Cannes preview will be available nearer the time of the show via TFWA 365, the preview will be an informative guide to the show and ideal for visitors – more details to follow.

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​​​A map of the exhibition area can be found here.

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Registration & day tickets

Registration Gare Maritime to the right of the Palais / Casino so a 1 minute walk from the show location.  This where you will collect your pre registration ticket but remember to bring ID and your pre registration documentation.  For day tickets it is highly advisable to bring documentation showing your involvement in the travel retail sector.

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Tickets - On site

7th September 2026 : 09.00 hrs - 19.30 hrs

28th September 2026 : 07.30 hrs – 18.30 hrs

29th September 2026 : 09.00 hrs – 18.30 hrs

30th September 2026 : 09.00 hrs – 18.30 hrs

1st October 2026 : 09.00 hrs – 17.00 hrs

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Exhibition opening times

​​​28th September 2026 : 12.00 - 18.30 hrs

29st September 2026  : 09.00 - 18.30 hrs

30th September 2026 : 09.00 - 18.30 hrs

1st October 2026         : 09.00 - 17.00 hrs

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​​​​When does the pre show work begin ... Pre Registration is now open so we recommend that you visit the TFWA website as a visitor here.  Pre registration is highly recommended as whilst tickets can be purchased at the site on the day - subject to travel retail related activities - rates are higher compared to the pre registration levels.

It is not possible to pre register for day tickets, this needs to be handled on site.

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If you are a  first time attendee then you will need to contact TFWA to register an account after which you will be able to register for tickets - note that this can take a few weeks and evidence of travel retail involvement is required so we recommend you begin the process as soon as registration opens.  Any issues, you can contact the TFWA organisation via

the following email addresses : visitors@tfwa.com or registration@tfwa.com .

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TFWA is a French registered company and therefore under French tax law all invoices will include French VAT for tickets (10%).  We can unfortunately not advise on local VAT reimbursement procedures however in our home country of German we can confirm that reimbursement is possible via the online Elster portal.

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TFWA KEY DATES 

​​There is no Management Committee designation in 2026.

Details of the TFWA Annual General Meeting will be published at a later date with the event normally taking place on the Thursday in the Auditorium K of the Palais des Festivals

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​2025 TFWA WORLD CONFERENCE AND EXBHIBITION 

​Want to know if the show is for you, or just want to relive the highlights from last year,  then visit The Review 2025 link here.

In 2025 there were 7.999 visitors and 482 brand owners.

View more data regarding the shows visitors here.

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​THE TFWA CONFERENCE & WORKSHOPS

​​​To begin the week on the Monday morning (28th September 2026) the TFWA conference “Shaping the World of Travel Retail” will be held in the Grand Auditorium, Palais des Festivals starting at 09.00 hrs and running until approximately 11.45 hrs - note that the show begins after the conference so attending the conference does not take away any time from waking the halls.

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​The 2026 speakers will be TFWA President Sarah Branquinho, economist David Williams, Managing Partner and Head of Industries at Oliver Wyman & author Gilles Roucolle, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg.

The conference will once again be moderated by journalist and presenter Stephen Sackur.   

The TFWA link to the speakers can be found here.

 

​During the week you will also find insightful workshops run by TFWA, the details of some are below with more details to follow :​

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29th September 2025, 08.00 – 09.00 hrs : “Workshop 1, to be confirmed”,

Auditorium Jean Mineur, Level 3, Palais des Festivals

29th September 2025, 17.00 – 18.00  hrs : “Workshop 2, to be confirmed”,

Auditorium Jean Mineur, Level 3, Palais des Festivals

30th September 2025, 08.00 – 09.00 hrs : “Workshop 3, to be confirmed”,

Auditorium Jean Mineur, Level 3, Palais des Festivals

30th September 2025, 15.00 – 16.00  hrs : “Workshop 4, to be confirmed”,

Auditorium Jean Mineur, Level 3, Palais des Festivals

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Details for the TFWA i.Lab workshops are currently not available.  The TFWA i.Lab runs alongside the traditional exhibition and is a fast growing part of the travel retail week.  The i.Lab centres on innovation within our sector and expands knowledge of the traveller experience.

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EXHIBITORS

A complete list of exhibitors is available here.

A complete list of iLab exhibitors will provided by TFWA nearer the time of the show.

 

TRAVEL​

​What can we do now ... we recommend you book accommodation as quickly as possible and sites like  www.booking.com are useful as they still have a number of hotels and private rentals that offer free cancellation up to 30 days before the show.

​​​​​The TFWA website also has additional information about  travel options including the TFWA partners.

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​​​For preferential airline rates with Air France and KLM details will be published shortly.

 

Where is Cannes airport ... nowhere, Cannes doesn't have an airport so you will need to fly into Nice.  The TFWA provide on the days prior to the show beginning and the Monday in addition to the final day a free shuttle bus service for show ticket holders which departs from Nice airport and stops at all the major hotels plus the Palais des Festivals.  The multilingual TFWA staff are located in the arrivals hall, land side terminal areas and in the outside areas so they are easy to find.  

​​​The details for the free shuttle service will be found at the TFWA website nearer the time with the service covering Nice airport to the Palais, Nice airport to a selection of hotels, Hotels to the Palais,  Opening cocktail and the Palais to Nice airport.

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If you are not able to use the TFWA shuttle service then there are regular bus options (Bus 81 formerly referred to as Express Bus 210 and which leaves from terminal 1 in the high season and which runs every 45 minutes with the journey taking approximately 45 minutes.  Single fares are Euro 19,00 (valid April 2024).

Tickets can be purchased online niceairportexpress.com, at the airport or directly from the driver.
Ticket windows are opened daily 08:00-19:30 at terminal 1 (bus station Exit A0) & terminal 2 (between Exits A2/A3).

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​​​A download of the Bus 81 information sheet will be available here shortly.

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A link for the Nice fancile website page - Coming soon

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A link will soon be published for transport options in and around Cannes. 

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Helicopter and limousine options are also available for those who want that little extra luxury.

 

Suntransfers give online quotations for private transfers without initially having to give personal details or flight details.

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There is now a Nice Saint-Augustin railway station with a link to from Nice Airport and Cannes. You have a short 10 minutes walk from T1, or catch a tram from T1 or T2. This line will run up to three trains per hour and the journey only takes 22 minutes!  

 

A link for Nice airport can be found here.

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​​Taxis from the centre of Cannes to Nice and vice versa cost approximately Euro 85 each way with Uber costing approximately Euro 50,00 (2025 rates).  ​​Uber rates can be cheaper than traditional taxis although advisable to check nearer the time.

 

​If you are travelling by car we will shortly be publishing the French toll rates ... below are the 2025 rates for your advanced information :​

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Cote D' Azur Toll Charges:

​A7 Montpellier - Aix-en-Provence,  €9.40 although you can also use the parallel minor roads.

A54 Aix-en-Provence - Toulon, €7.60 

A7 Lyon - Aix-en-Provence, €23.50 although the parallel roads are also convenient

A8 Toulon - Italian border costs €11.30 but consider the parallel roads

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Toll Roads from Nice Airport

Nice - Menton (A8), €2.20

Nice - Cannes (A8), €2.90

Nice - Aix-en-Provence (A8), €16.70

Nice - Frejus (A8), €5.80

Nice - Marseille (A8) and (A7) €19.60

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​MEETINGS

​Planning meetings .... We are now 3 months from the show so whilst most people will not be planning their meetings yet, we advise to begin forming a plan and to begin approaching decision makers that you would like to - ideally – meet.  Meetings planned 4 weeks before the show will be possible but with limited success with key players having meeting calendars nearly fully booked by the beginning of September at the latest.

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​For brands and distributors attending the show and who are looking at entering travel retail be realistic about the chances of getting meetings with the key accounts.  The show is shorter than average domestic shows and realistically key accounts have 2 days to see everyone.  If you are lucky enough to obtain a meeting with a key travel retail account then budget a maximum of 1 hour and expect them to be 15 minutes late and leave 5 minutes ... meetings with such people are extremely valuable and many visitors will be envious that you have managed to obtain a meeting but being realistic about timings is always advisable.  

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​There is also the option to benefit from the TFWA ONE2ONE meeting service - more details to follow.

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THE CLASSIC MISTAKES 

​​​​​​Apartment shows , good or bad idea ? ... Yes on paper the costs are less than exhibiting and the apartment can also sleep members of staff but we can simply say that excluding very rare occasions apartment shows simply do not work.  The reasons why apartment shows are not advisable are in principle weather related :

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Nice weather : Clients and prospects don’t want to walk to your apartment and stay in the vicinity of the Palais where they can enjoy walking the harbour and probably are enjoying an extended lunch.

Bad weather : Clients and prospects will not want to walk to your apartment and get soaked

 

Additionally apartment shows exclude all "walk by" business which at the show is a huge source of networking and unscheduled business opportunities.

 

We fully appreciate that if you don’t have a booth then an apartment as a “booth in lieu” seems like a workable alternative but spend the budget more effectively with a table reserved at one of the cafes nearby where you can hold meetings and clients are by far more likely to turn up.

 

​​If you are planning on having an apartment show then do not publish details all over social media, and in particular Linkedin, with the TFWA logo, motto and 2026 image.  This "piggy backing" is rightly frowned upon and such a tactic will simply generate a negative image for your organisation as the practice, which TFWA rightly so strongly disagree with, has been discouraged in the press over the past years.  There are subtle ways to promote your apartment without implying any direct connection to the TFWA show ... we will let you work that out ! 

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​Meeting red flags ... beware of the unknown contact that requests a meeting and do your background checks to find if the person/organisation have a genuine interest in travel retail - TFWA have a superb registration that "weeds out" those not genuine visitors but unfortunately some get through the filter.  There are always cases of unscrupulous people that request meetings during the show so that they can justify in their company travelling to Cannes based on a calendar full of meetings ... they simply don't turn up on your booth and enjoy a week in the south of France. These "contacts" block valuable windows in your schedule that can be used for more productive contacts.

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A simple Linkedin " mutual contacts" check can highlight those people that are not genuinely active in our sector ... contact us and we will be happy to cross reference any suspicious contacts against our extensive travel retail contact network, free of charge.

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​We noticed in recent years a new trend of sitting at a table in Cafe Roma with a sign saying for example "Distributor looking for new brands" ... we strongly advise against such blatant marketing in the same way that we advise against approaching red badge holders (indicating a buyer) when they are outside of the halls.  

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Service provider red flags .... as with any major international trade fair they are a number of service providers (rental accommodation, logistics, warehousing in Cannes, demonstrators etc. etc.) that claim to be TFWA show experts or TFWA authorised and whilst there are many that are there are also many that are not.  We would always recommend checking credentials of service providers and if in doubt contact the TFWA offices to check whether claims of an affiliation are genuine.

As a sign of the importance that the organisers place on caution TFWA run a web page dedicated to the subject , we will publish a link nearer the time.

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We repeat that we an independent / unaffliated organisation

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SOCIAL EVENTS​​

​​​​​​​All work and no play ... certainly not and the TFWA social/networking is as legendary as the show itself whether its the iconic Camel club back in the 90s to the more recent Scene followed now by the hugely popular "TFWA Lounge"  located on the beach if front of the Carlton hotel - it is highly recommended !

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​The TFWA Lounge is divided into 2 times :

18.30 hrs - 21.00 hrs : After work session​​​

22.00 hrs - 01.00 hrs : Night time session .. extended to 02.00 on 1st October

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​On the 27th September the Carlton beach location will host the Welcome Cocktail party (cocktail attire) .

Remember that you will need your exhibition badge in order to enter the TFWA Lounge ! 

 

​Over the coming month we will publish details of social events, for example ...

 

27th September 2026 : “Yes We Cannes!” blind football & wheelchair rugby tournament

 

​​There are also a number of bars and clubs that the trade show visitors frequent with the Irish bar Morrison's (10 Rue Teisseire, 06400 Cannes) being extremely popular with its 2 bars and outside drinking area.

 

If your organisation wishes to promote an event then please contact is at info@jes-travelretail.com.

 

​GALA EVENTS

​Gala events ... There are 2 gala/award events during the exhibition week :

​​TRB Awards : Learn more here

29th September from 18:45-23:00

Hôtel Martinez in Cannes

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Frontier awards : Learn more here

30th September 2026

Palm Beach

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​The organisers of gala events may be registered as a French company and therefore under French tax law all invoices will include French VAT (20%).  We can unfortunately not advise on local VAT reimbursement procedures however in our home country of German we can confirm that reimbursement is possible via the online Elster portal.

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​RESTAURANTS 

​The choice of restaurants in Cannes is extensive and given the location can be expensive however there are also some excellent 3 course menu options which we would recommend.  Walk the main road from the Palais to the old town and you will see a large variety of restaurants offering menus from approximately Euro 35,00 per person.

 

A list of the top 20 restaurants on Tripadvisor based on total ratings will be published shortly, below are the 2024 top restaurants :

Valid : 29th June 2026

Source : Trip advisor

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1.   Mademoiselle Gray Plage Barriere 

2.   La Cantine Provencale

3.   Le Rendez-vous Des Copains

4.   Cote Marche Bistrot Cannes

5.   Scallini

6.   Yvans

7.   Astroux et Brun

8.   Medami

9.   Le Pompon (Michelin)​​​

10. La Piazza

11. La Mome

12. Cheer Mamma

13. Gusti Italiani

14. Chai Dee

15. Le Roof Restaurant

16. La Palme d'Or (Michelin)

17. Nabucco

18. Hyde Beach Cannes

19. La Plage du FFestival

20. L'Assiette Provencale 

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If you have any restaurant tips then let us know and, subject to space on the page, we will let everyone know.

 

​HOTELS 

​Where should we stay ... a classic mistake is to misjudge the length of the famous Bouvelard de La Croisette (Croisette) along the sea front as whilst the walk is scenic take into account that temperatures will be high even at the beginning of October, you will be wearing trade fair clothes and more than likely be loaded down with samples and catalogues.  A walk along the Croisette in the morning is nice, returning after the show to get changed is tiring, walking back to have dinner/drinks is hard work and the walk back again to sleep is foot based torture. 

When looking at accommodation outside of Cannes take into account taxi fares as 4 trips a day will, over the course of the show, be considerable.

Best locations are the old town, Bd. Carnot or the streets parallel to the Croisette although if arriving by car take into account that parking options in Cannes are very limited within walking distance of these area although if you can find parking then rates are "standard" for such a location at approximately Euro 32,00 per day (2026 rates).

For those looking at attending with a larger number of staff there are options to rent out villas in the surrounding area and these not only prove to be more cost effective but also gives staff a superb opportunity to enjoy the down time in amazing surroundings.

​​TFWA have previously had official partners for hotel accommodation and we will be confirming that this remains valid for 2026 in the next weeks.

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Based on the filter 1 adult, rated 8 or higher, 4 star or higher and under 3kms from the centre of Cannes :

Booking : 27th September - 1st October 2026

Valid : 29th June 2026

Source : Booking.com

1.  Residence Veles Plage (free cancellation)

2.   Hotel Chateau de la tour Cannes 

3.   La Bastide de L'Oliveraie

4.   Residhotel Les Coralynes

5.   Hotel Gallie Cannes

6.  Hotel Abrial by Soniho 

7.   MOB Hotel Cannes

8.   Art Hotel

9.   Ibis style Cannes Le Cannet

10. Radisson Hotel Cannes Seaside (free cancellation)

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We did not included privately hosted apartments as we have the experience that private hosts can cancel a booking at very short notice and whilst Booking.com provide support to find alternatively accommodation at this inconvenience is not useful during such a major trade show week.  If you are lucky enough to find a privately hosted apartment then congratulations as this can be a cost effective way of staying near the show.

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CONTACT DETAILS IN AN EMERGENCY

​There is 1 consulate in Cannes for Republic of Ireland citizens however in Nice there are over 30 consulates, more details for Nice and Cannes to follow.

Ireland Honorary Consutlate in Cannes 

Address: St. Michel 69, Avenue Du Roi Albert La Californie 06400 Cannes France

Telephone:+ 33 6 77 69 14 36

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​European emergency number : 112

Fire and rescue: 18
Police: 17
Ambulance: 15
People who are hard of hearing can text: 114

Municipal police: +33 800 117 118 (freephone)
National police - Central police station: +33 4 93 06 22 22
State police: +33 4 93 68 01 01
Cannes Town Hall: +33 4 97 06 40 00

House call emergency: 36 24
A & E (Cannes Simone Veil Hospital): +33 4 93 69 71 50
Hand emergency (private Cannes Oxford Hospital): +33 4 92 98 40 27
Out-of-hours chemists: 32 37 (Audiotel 0.35 € inc. VAT/min) or www.3237.fr

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CANNES & THE SURROUNDING AREA

The weather forecast for Cannes wil be published nearer the time.

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Cafes and restaurants ... the list of cafes and restaurants around Cannes is as you can imagine extensive but for a coffee and excellent networking potential Cafe Roma opposite the Palais is always a good starting point - not the cheapest by far but worth the investment.  As with any major town  the restaurants are not cheap although with some shopping around you can find menu offers - Euro 40,00 for 3 courses last year was possible - although for any of the restaurants close to the Palais it is recommended to book in advance. 

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We will be publishing a list of events being held in Cannes and the surrounding area over the next weeks.

Visiting outside of Cannes ... The south of France is a stunning coast line and there are a number of places that we recommend visiting if you have time before or after the show, here are just a few that we know of :

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​Monte Carlo, naturally this home to the rich and famous is worth a visit as is a trying your luck in the famous casinos.

 

Antibes, offers old town enclosed by 16th-century ramparts with the star-shaped Fort Carré that overlooks luxury yachts moored at the Port Vauban marina. The forested Cap d’Antibes peninsula, dotted with grand villas, separates Antibes from Juan-les-Pins and is a stunning drive into the city.

 

​Gasse, the home of perfume and featured in the novel Perfume by Patrick Suskind's the town is worth visiting and we highly recommend the museum in the old town where you can view the history of perfume.

 

Nice, where you probably have flown into,  was founded by the Greeks and later a retreat for 19th-century European elite with the city having a long tradition of attracting artists.  The harbour of Nice is worth a visit as is the nearby market area.

 

Saint Tropez, if you have any money left after Monte Carlo then visit St Tropez to continue watching the rich and famous, the cafes around St. Tropez provide superb "people watching" potential.

 

​Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is lesser known but equally exclusive as Monte Carlo having in 2012 been named the second most expensive residential location in the world after its more famous neighbour.  We can highly recommend the harbour area and path along the coast.

 

 

 

​We hope that this was informative and we look forward to providing you with more details on the show over the coming months ! 

​​​Do you have any tips for the show that you would like us to share with the wider travel retail sector, then contact us for them to published free of charge and help us make 2026 another fantastic TFWA World Exhibition and Conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promote your show booth with direct links, document downloads and email details.

The website is viewed in 108 countries with the highest traffic in the months before the show.  

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For marketing options please get in touch
 

Email : info@jes-travelretail.com
 

or via the website below.​

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