Travel Retail FORUM 2026
28-29 | October | 2026
Gdańsk | Sopot, Poland
Where the Future of Travel Retail Meets the Baltic Coast
Join the leading gathering of the travel retail industry in Central and Eastern Europe.
For two days, Gdańsk and Sopot will bring together airport executives, retailers, international brands, airlines, technology providers and industry experts to discuss the future of travel retail and create new business opportunities.
Hosted by Gdańsk Airport and organised by CEETRA, the Forum combines high-level conference sessions with outstanding networking experiences in one of Europe’s fastest-growing aviation regions.
Partners:
The 2026 edition will focus on the future of travel retail, business growth, new commercial opportunities and innovations that are transforming the way passengers shop while travelling.
The Forum will also provide an excellent opportunity for brand owners and manufacturers to gain a deeper understanding of the Travel Retail sales channel. Participants will learn how airports and duty free environments can support brand development, what today’s travellers expect from retail experiences, and how brands can successfully enter and grow within one of the world’s most dynamic retail channels.
For the first time, the conference programme will also feature a dedicated Travel Retail & Tourism module. Airport representatives, tourism organisations, destinations, airlines and industry experts will explore how closer cooperation between travel retail and tourism can help promote destinations, stimulate passenger traffic, create stronger visitor experiences and unlock new business opportunities for all stakeholders.
Whether you represent an airport, travel retail operator, global brand, airline, tourism organisation or technology company, this is where the industry’s most important conversations will take place.
Travel Retail Forum 2026 is the leading Travel Retail event in Central and Eastern Europe.
Who Should Attend?
During Travel Retail Forum 2026 you will:
- Discover the latest trends shaping travel retail across Europe.
- Learn from leading airports, retailers and global brands.
- Explore innovative commercial and digital solutions.
- Exchange ideas with decision-makers from more than 15 countries.
- Build valuable business relationships during carefully designed networking events.
- Experience the unique atmosphere of Gdańsk and Sopot on the Baltic coast.
The number of places is limited.
Don’t wait until the last minute.
Participation Fee
Standard Participant: 490 EUR
CEETRA Member (up to two participants): Free of charge
The fee includes:
- airport tour (for interested participants)
- opening dinner
- full access to the conference programme
- transfers from airport to Sheraton Sopot Hotel (28 and 29.10)
- Guided Walking Tour of Gdańsk (for interested participants)
Gdańsk – Sopot | 28-29 | October | 2026
Agenda
Day 1 – 28 October 2026
- 15:30 – 18:00 – Guided Walking Tour of Gdańsk
- 19:00 – 22:00 – Opening Dinner & Networking
Day 2 – 29 October 2026 (Sheraton Sopot)
- 09:00 – 09:30 – Registration & Morning Coffee
- 09:30 – 15:30 – Travel Retail Forum 2026
- 16:30 – 19:00 – Behind-the-Scenes Gdańsk Airport Tour
Venue
Sheraton Sopot Hotel
Powstańców Warszawy 10, 81-718 Sopot, Poland
Located directly on the Baltic shoreline, next to Europe’s longest wooden pier, Sheraton Sopot Hotel offers an exceptional setting for business events. Combining premium conference facilities, elegant accommodation and the unique atmosphere of Poland’s most famous seaside resort, it provides the perfect environment for learning, networking and building lasting business relationships.
Accomodation
Official Conference Hotel – Sheraton Sopot Hotel
Sheraton Sopot Hotel is the official venue of Travel Retail Forum 2026. To ensure a comfortable stay for all delegates, we have secured a special conference rate of PLN 550 per room, per night, available exclusively to registered participants.
Delegates can book their accommodation directly using the dedicated reservation link below.
Special Conference Rate
- PLN 550 per room / night
- Available at Sheraton Sopot Hotel
- Exclusive rate for Travel Retail Forum 2026 delegates
Conference Programme
Programme Highlights
Travel Retail Forum 2026 will once again bring together leading industry experts, airport executives, travel retail operators, global brands, airlines and tourism organisations to discuss the trends shaping the future of Travel Retail across Central and Eastern Europe.
The full conference programme and speaker line-up will be announced by the end of August 2026. In the meantime, we are pleased to present the key themes that will define this year’s Forum.
Market Intelligence & Industry Outlook
The Forum will open with an exclusive market overview presented by m1nd-set, one of the world’s leading Travel Retail research companies.
The session will explore the latest consumer behaviour, passenger expectations, shopping trends and market performance across Central and Eastern Europe, providing valuable insights for airports, retailers and brands.
European Travel Retail: Regulatory & Policy Update
Presented by ETRC – European Travel Retail Confederation
Travel Retail operates in one of the world’s most dynamic regulatory environments. This session will provide an update on the latest legislative developments in Brussels, upcoming policy changes and the issues expected to shape the future of the European Travel Retail industry.
Travel Retail Meets Tourism (New for 2026)
For the first time, Travel Retail Forum will introduce a dedicated conference stream exploring the growing relationship between Travel Retail and tourism.
Industry leaders will discuss how airports, tourism organisations, destinations and commercial partners can work together to attract more visitors, strengthen destination brands and create new commercial opportunities.
The session will also feature unique insights based on Visa’s international payment data, demonstrating how tourism and consumer spending analytics can support better business decisions for both the Travel Retail and tourism sectors.
Generation Z – The Future Consumer
Generation Z is already transforming retail.
This session will examine how younger travellers are changing shopping behaviour, digital engagement and purchasing decisions, and what brands and airports need to do to remain relevant for the next generation of consumers.
Gdańsk Airport Commercial Success Story
Hosted by Gdańsk Airport
Discover how one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing airports is developing its commercial strategy, enhancing the passenger experience and creating new opportunities for retailers, brands and commercial partners.
Innovation & Business Growth
Artificial Intelligence, digitalisation, personalisation and new retail technologies are reshaping the passenger journey.
Leading industry experts will present practical examples of how innovation is helping airports and retailers increase passenger engagement, improve operational efficiency and drive commercial performance.
Airports of Tomorrow: Beyond Aviation Revenue (New)
As passenger expectations continue to evolve, airports are increasingly looking beyond traditional aviation income.
This session will explore how airports can maximise non-aeronautical revenues through smarter retail concepts, food & beverage, passenger services, digital innovation and stronger partnerships with commercial stakeholders.
Real-life case studies from airports across Europe will demonstrate how commercial excellence can become a key driver of long-term growth.
Why Central & Eastern Europe Matters
Central and Eastern Europe remains one of the fastest-growing aviation and Travel Retail markets in Europe.
Airport leaders and industry experts will discuss the region’s development potential, new passenger flows, infrastructure investments and why international brands should pay closer attention to the opportunities emerging across the CEE market.
From Destination to Shopping Basket
One of the newest concepts introduced at this year’s Forum will explore how tourism promotion and airport retail can successfully support each other.
How can destination marketing influence passenger spending?
How can airports become ambassadors for their regions?
How can tourism organisations, airports, brands and retailers work together to create better passenger experiences while generating additional commercial value?
This session will bring together representatives of airports, tourism organisations, global brands and Travel Retail operators to discuss practical examples of successful collaboration.
More to Come…
Additional keynote speakers, panel discussions and case studies will be announced over the coming weeks.
The organisers reserve the right to update the programme.
Speakers
SOON
Andrzej Miłaszewicz
Central and East European Travel Retail Association. (CEETRA)
Andrzej Miłaszewicz- Managing Director Operations & Development , Chairman of Central and East European Travel Retail Association. (CEETRA)
30 years’ experience in Retail, 15 years in Lagardere Travel Retail Poland. Managing operations and development of all formats of stores at the Airports, Railways, Metro, Malls and City.
Before for 14 years CEO Lagardere Duty Free in Poland. As a Board Member and now since 2 years as a Chairman of CEETRA, takes an active role in supporting travel retail industry in the Region, by enhancing its share of voice on the relevant forums.
He started his professional career in FMCG in big distribution, being the part of the management team in Carrefour Poland.
Education: master degree of Warsaw School of Economy (SGH)
Zoltán Keresztessy – CEO of Klikkmánia
Zoltán Keresztessy – CEO of Klikkmánia, a digital and performance marketing agency – has over 18 years of experience in marketing, digital communication, and business development.
Throughout his career, he has led and contributed to the marketing activities of numerous international and Hungarian companies, including Unilever, NNG, and PFR Group. He spent more than five years driving the retail marketing success of Budapest Airport, and through Lapker Zrt., managed the Costa Coffee and Relay travel retail operations.
Zoltán has extensive expertise in integrating the latest digital channels – particularly social media, AI-powered tools, and influencer marketing – into brand communication strategies. His professional focus centers on content-driven marketing, the role of artificial intelligence in marketing automation, and its impact on consumer behavior and commercial performance.
Bianka Pivarcsi – Head of Marketing at Budapest Airport
I have nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, and I have already spent more than 10 years in aviation and the travel retail industry. I joined Budapest Airport in 2015 as event and PR manager. From 2021, I was responsible for retail marketing and since 2023, I became head of marketing at BUD.
Together with my team we are responsible for destination, airline, tourism, and cargo marketing, we are supporting the Mobility and Airport Development areas with different marketing tools and we are taking care of the passenger experience as well. In 2022, BUD’s retail marketing team won the Frontier Award in the category of Campaign of the Year, with the “Live consciously. Think Green” campaign and in 2024, we won the Best Marketing Award at Routes Europe and became the overall winner at Routes.
Wassim Saadé – Founder & CEO, Vasco Tax Free
Wassim Saadé is a tech entrepreneur and specialist in travel retail innovation. As founder and former CEO of Inflyter, he pioneered the digital duty-free model, introducing mobile pre-ordering and seamless product collection for travelers across major international airports. Under his leadership, Inflyter partnered with global operators, brands, and airports to modernize the traveler experience and bridge the gap between digital engagement and physical retail.
Building on this foundation, Wassim now leads Vasco tax Free, a fintech platform redefining the VAT-refund ecosystem through open, API-based infrastructure. By enabling merchants, payment providers, and airports to offer compliant, transparent, and frictionless VAT-free shopping, Vasco is helping reshape how travelers shop across borders.
Wassim holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and Computing from Imperial College London. He combines deep technical expertise with hands-on industry experience to turn regulation into opportunity and promote more connected, data-driven, and traveler-centric commerce worldwide.
Wojciech Czernek – CEO of Baltona S.A.
An accomplished retail leader with over 25 years of experience in managing and growing retail chains. Since 2021 he has served as President of the Management Board of PHZ Baltona S.A., focusing on business transformation and expansion, as well as creating modern shopping experiences for customers.
Throughout his extensive career he has successfully led companies such as TOYS’R’US Poland, served as CEO of BILLA Ukraine, and held roles with Ahold Polska, NOMI S.A., and Makro Cash and Carry Poland.
He holds an Executive MBA from the French Institute of Management in Warsaw. Known for
his strategic mindset, team leadership, and ability to drive change, he combines passion with
precision in developing innovative retail solutions.
Paweł Zagrajek – Commercial Deputy Director at CPK
Paweł Zagrajek is the Commercial Deputy Director at CPK and also teaches as an assistant professor at the Warsaw School of Economics. With over 20 years of experience in the air transport industry, he’s built expertise in both passenger and cargo traffic. Over the years, Paweł has worked with airlines, ground handling companies, the Polish Civil Aviation Authority, and the European Commission. He’s also served as an alternate representative to the ICAO Council and contributed to the Air Transport Regulation Panel, along with several other international aviation bodies.
Paweł has published widely on air transport topics and is passionate about shaping the future of aviation.
At CPK, he’s in charge of airport commercialization, including the passenger terminal.
Dr. Peter Mohn – CEO of M1nd-set
Dr. Peter Mohn is the Founder and CEO of m1nd-set, a leading Swiss-based travel retail and travel market research agency. With a PhD in Business Psychology from the University of Göttingen and more than 25 years of experience in international market research, he has built a distinguished career focused on understanding global consumer behavior. Before founding m1nd-set in 2007, he worked with several international research firms, developing deep expertise in brand and customer insights.
Under his leadership, m1nd-set has become a trusted global consultancy, working with more than 25 airlines, various aircraft manufacturers, 100 international brands, and many of the world’s leading travel retail operators. The company also serves as the official research partner of most major travel retail associations. Dr. Mohn continues to shape the industry through data-driven insights and a deep understanding of the psychology behind traveler behavior.
Dr. Patrick Bohl – Director of Business Development at EVIA AERO
Dr. Patrick Bohl is the Director of Business Development at EVIA AERO, a German company pioneering sustainable regional air transport through electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Dr. Bohl has held positions at British Airways and at Malév Hungarian Airlines where he led operational and commercial departments. Mr. Bohl was the Head of Retail and Property Management at Budapest Airport, where he managed commercial development, retail partnerships, and the airport’s real estate business unit.
He holds a doctorate in business administration and serves as a professor in Marketing Management at Corvinus University of Budapest.
At EVIA AERO, Dr. Bohl focuses on developing partnerships with airports for zero-emission flying, aiming to drive the energy transition and strengthen local economies.
Nick Taylor – Director of The Design Solution
Nick is a Company Director at The Design Solution with over 20 years of experience in the design of major retail projects worldwide. He has led projects for some of the largest global retailers such as Aer Rianta, Avolta, CDFG, EverRich and King Power (Thailand).
From working with some of the leading international brands such as Hennessey, Remy and JTI on airport duty free projects, Nick has developed an in-depth understanding of brand requirements, retail strategies, and the latest merchandising concepts.
His extensive experience in designing for the duty-free sector is key to the success of his projects. He is directly responsible for the retail design of each store and is the primary interface with both the client and contractors.
Maciej Adamaszek – Founder / CEO / Sales & Marketing Leader
Maciej began his professional career at the age of 21 while studying at the University School of Physical Education in Wrocław. He built his expertise in sales from the ground up — progressing from sales representative to sales director at leading FMCG corporations including Mars, Cadbury, and Gerber, operating across Poland and Central Europe.
After more than a decade in the corporate world, he became an entrepreneur and investor in the hospitality and food service industry, co-creating and developing several successful ventures in Poland and abroad.
Following two years of intensive research into the European men’s cosmetics market, he launched TRUE men skin care — one of the first premium men’s skincare brands in Poland, dedicated to quality, performance, and authenticity.
Privately, Maciej is a proud father of two daughters, a sports enthusiast, padlist, triathlete, marathon runner, and full-distance IRONMAN finisher.
Jarosław Bogucki – Director of Integracja LAB
Jarosław Bogucki is an expert in architectural accessibility for people with reduced mobility and the employment of people with disabilities. Director of Business Development at the Integracja Foundation. Graduate of remedial education at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. Since 2016, he has actively implemented Building Without Barriers certifications in the Polish commercial real estate market.
He is a volunteer and organizer of events for people with disabilities and young people. He has implemented professional activation projects carried out by PSONI and the Friends of Integration Association.
He has also led a team of job coaches who support the employment of people with intellectual disabilities and conducted training on savoir-vivre towards people with disabilities, employing people with disabilities, human rights, and diversity management. He is also a happy father of two.
Katarzyna Zubrzycka – Sr. Director, Cross Border & Acceptance, Strategic Initiates, CEE, Visa
She has been working for Visa since 2018. Katarzyna leads Cross Border and Acceptance, both in the area of F2F payments and eCommerce in the region of Central Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia).
She has more than 20 years of professional experience in banking, acquiring, digital payments, loyalty programmes, marketing and FMCG sectors. She has held director positions at Raiffeisen Polbank, Polbank EFG, POLCARD/First Data Polska, Premium Club and AmRest, among others.
She is a graduate of the University of Wrocław in English Philology, Wrocław University of Economics in Economics and Harvard Leadership Academy in Harvard Business School. She holds an MBA from the School of Business – National Louis University.
In 2021-2024, she was listed as one of the 20 most influential women in the payments industry according
to the cashless.pl portal ranking. She actively supports women in business, also by participating in the TOP Women in e-business program organized by the Women in e-business Foundation.
She is actively involved in national and international initiatives in the area of digital payment development, innovation and digitalisation, among many she was involved in driving solutions to improve merchants’ payment acceptance, e.g. by transforming their smartphone into a payment terminal, supported the launch of Visa Mobile on the Polish market – a new standard for card payments online, supported the development of electromobility and Visa’s efforts to implement a standard of seamless and interoperable payments at electric vehicle charging points.
Bence Biró – Managing director Heinemann
Bence Biró managing director of Heinemann Budapest, is an internationally renowned retail manager with extensive experience in food retail, customer services, fashion, and travel retail. Bence has worked in several European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary) as sales & operations director for global brands such as METRO Cash & Carry, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Superdry, and MOL Group. Currently, as managing director of Heinemann (duty-free) Budapest, he is happy to share his experiences and provide insight into the world he has experienced during his nearly 20-year career in commerce.
Csaba Simonidesz
Based at Prague Airport, Simillair also operates at Budapest Airport and all key Polish airports, providing brand activations for all major international brands in Global Travel Retail. At the Perfume&Cosmetics category, they manage activities for Chanel, LVMH, Coty, L’Oreal, Shiseido and many more, with all key LTC brands as Brown-Forman, Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, JTI, Mondelez, Mars etc. also are in their extensive portfolio. Simillair is also managing the Visual Merchandising of adidas in seven CEE countries, starting from Hungary all the way up to the Baltics.
Before dedicating his career entirely to the travel retail sector, until 2014, Csaba was co-owner and Managing Director at Rafinanz Orbico Kft, the appointed corporate distributor of Procter&Gamble products in Hungary, also responsible for distributing Braun, Oral B and Duracell brands in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Register Today
Join the leading Travel Retail event in Central & Eastern Europe and become part of the conversations shaping the future of the industry.
Meet airport executives, travel retail operators, global brands, airlines, tourism organisations and industry experts from across the region.
Whether your goal is to grow your business, discover new market opportunities or build valuable partnerships, Travel Retail Forum 2026 is the place to be.
Why register?
- Gain practical insights from leading industry experts.
- Meet key decision-makers from across Central & Eastern Europe.
- Discover the latest market trends and business opportunities.
- Build new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships.
- Experience three days of high-quality content and networking in Gdańsk and Sopot.
Why register?
- Gain practical insights from leading industry experts.
- Meet key decision-makers from across Central & Eastern Europe.
- Discover the latest market trends and business opportunities.
- Build new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships.
- Experience three days of high-quality content and networking in Gdańsk and Sopot.
Places are limited.
We encourage you to register early to secure your participation.
Experience the Atmosphere
Travel Retail Forum is more than just a conference—it’s where industry leaders meet, exchange ideas and build long-lasting business relationships.
Take a look at the highlights from our previous editions and discover why professionals from across Central & Eastern Europe choose to join us every year.
Organizer
CEETRA – Central and Eastern European Travel Retail Association. A regional non-profit association bringing together duty free and travel retail leaders from 14 CEE countries.
Become a Partner / Sponsor
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to showcase your business to travel retail professionals.
As an event partner, you will benefit from:
- Maximum brand visibility before, during, and after the Forum.
- Direct access to industry decision-makers.
- Strategic networking in an exclusive group of key market players in the CEE region.
Strengthen your position in one of the world’s most dynamic retail channels.
info@ceetra.org
+48 691 748 684

