Travel Retail FORUM 2025
(archive)

29–30 | October | 2025

Budapest

Meet the leaders of travel retail in the heart of Central and Eastern Europe.

Two days that can open new opportunities for your brand.
Connect with airport executives, duty free operators, international brand representatives, and industry experts.
Return from Budapest with knowledge, inspiration, and contacts that will fuel real business growth.

Partners:

It’s where you will:

 

  • Gain the latest market insights and trend updates.
  • Take part in high-level debates with industry leaders.
  • Build valuable relationships in an intimate networking setting — from a Danube river cruise to a gala dinner at the historic Gundel Restaurant.

CEETRA Travel Retail Forum 2025 is the key duty free and travel retail event in the CEE region in 2025.

Who Should Attend?

 

The Forum is designed for:

  • Airport executives and commercial managers — particularly from Central & Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
  • Travel retail operators — in airports, seaports, and railway hubs.
  • Brands active in duty free channels, or planning to expand into this sector.

If your goal is to grow sales among travelers and increase brand visibility across the CEE region — this event is for you.

 

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: forum participation, conference materials, Danube cruise, opening dinner, coffee breaks, and lunch.

Budapest | 29–30 | October | 2025

Agenda

Agenda

 

Day 1 – 29 October 2025

  • Arrival and registration
  • 16:30 – Danube River Cruise
  • 19:00 – Opening Dinner & Networking at TwentySix Restaurant

Day 2 – 30 October 2025

09:00–16:00 – Travel Retail Forum 2025

  • Keynote presentations
  • Expert panel discussions
  • Showcases of innovative solutions

Venue

Marriott Hotel, Budapest
Budapest, Apáczai Csere János u. 4, 1052 Hungary

A luxury location overlooking the Danube, featuring modern conference facilities and ideal spaces for business networking.

Accomodation

If you would like to book a room for the Conference, please contact us by e-mail: Krisztina.Vargha@marriott.com

Conference Programme

During the Travel Retail Forum in Budapest (29–30 October 2025), invited experts, industry leaders, and brand representatives will discuss the key challenges and opportunities shaping the travel retail market across Central and Eastern Europe.

09:30 - 09:35 | Welcome speeches

Andrzej Miłaszewicz – CEETRA

09:35 - 10:00 | The state of the industry in Europe, with a special focus on Central & Eastern Europe (Opening presentation)

Peter Mohn – m1nd set

10:00 - 10:45 | Changing Consumer Behaviour & Spending Patterns (Panel Discussion)

The session will open with the latest market data and trends from 2022–2025, presented by Peter Mohn (m1nd-set), providing a solid analytical foundation for further debate. Building on these insights, Peter will moderate a panel of industry experts exploring how rapidly evolving consumer behaviour is reshaping duty free and travel retail. Travellers are spending differently, shifting product preferences, and rethinking purchasing priorities. The discussion will highlight which segments are losing ground, which are gaining momentum, and what these shifts mean for operators, suppliers, and airport managers.

Peter Mohn – m1en set – MODERATOR
Wojciech Czernek – Baltona CEO
Razvan Horga – CEO – Oradea Airport | Romania
Pivarcsi Bianka – Head of Marketing | Budapest Airport

 

10:45 - 11:00 | Travel and Payment Intentions in CEE, Visa Study 2025

Katarzyna Zubrzycka – VISA

11:30 - 12:00 | Sense of Place 2.0 – Local Identity and Innovative Design as a Passenger Magnet (Presentation)

How can airports successfully combine developing consumer trends and authentic local identity with modern retail store design to attract passengers and increase conversion? This session will present an airport case studiy showcasing how culture aesthetics and consumer trends can be integrated into airport store design and commercial spaces. The focus will be on new formats, smarter store layouts, and innovative UX solutions – from digital signage to interactive zones – that elevate both the shopping experience and commercial results.

Nick Taylor – The Design Solution

12:00 - 12:45 | Opportunities for Brands in Travel Retail (Panel Discussion)

This session is dedicated to brand owners and managers – both those already present in airport retail and those seeking to enter this unique channel. Participants will learn how to expand brand presence, build effective cooperation with operators, and identify the key success factors in driving sales and recognition. The Forum will place a strong emphasis on brands, their role, and their potential in shaping the passenger experience.

Csaba Simonidesz – Simillair – MODERATOR
Maciej Adamaszek – True
Bence Biró – Heinemann Budapest
Keresztessy Zoltán – CEO of Klikkmania.

13:30 - 14:00 | Digital Innovation in Retail & Passenger Flow Optimization (Presentation)

Digital transformation is redefining the way airports, operators, and brands engage with travellers. This session will explore innovative tools such as pre-order platforms, self-service kiosks, digital signage, and data analytics that help optimise passenger flow, increase conversion, and enhance the customer experience. Case studies will demonstrate how these solutions deliver tangible benefits across the entire travel retail ecosystem.

Wassim Saadé – Vasco Tax Free

 

14:00 - 14:45 | Smart Commercial Strategies for Small & Medium Airports
  • management models for the commercial side of airports (operator vs. in-house operation)
  • the impact of decisions on expanding commercial areas, number of outlets, or partner selection on revenue performance,
  • the role of passenger data and research in shaping commercial strategies,
  • best practices from CEE and other regions that could be applied to small and medium-sized airports.

Krzysztof Domagalski – Szczecin Airport 

14:45 - 15:15 | The Inclusive Journey: Designing Accessible Travel and Retail Spaces at Airports

A journey begins with experience and designing accessible airport environments can make travel safer, more intuitive, and more enjoyable for everyone.

This session will explore key elements of an inclusive travel experience, including access to information, intuitive wayfinding, universal design, and empathetic customer service. Drawing on insights and recommendations from the SWITCH to Inclusive Design 2.0 report, the presentation will highlight practical solutions that airport operators and travel retail partners can implement to enhance accessibility based on “Integracja” Foundation experience.
The session will conclude with a roadmap for integrating accessibility into every aspect of the organization, from infrastructure design to everyday service delivery.

Jarosław Bogucki – Fund. Integration

15:15 - 15:45 | CPK commercial strategy (presentation)

The presentation will highlight how a greenfield airport creates a unique opportunity to design retail and F&B spaces strategically from the ground up. It will showcase how the CPK plans to leverage passenger flow, smart zoning, and digital solutions to build a vibrant commercial ecosystem. 

Paweł Zagrajek – CPK

The programme will be further expanded with additional exciting topics to be announced in the coming weeks.

The organisers reserve the right to amend the programme.

The Travel Retail Forum offers practical insights, inspiring case studies, and networking with key decision-makers from across the CEE region.

Speakers

Andrzej Miłaszewicz

CEETRA

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Bence Biró

Heinemann Budapest

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Bianka Pivarcsi

Head of Marketing at Budapest Airport

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Jarosław Bogucki 

Director of Integracja LAB

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Maciej Adamaszek

Founder / CEO / Sales & Marketing Leader

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Nick Taylor

Director of The Design Solution

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Patrick Bohl

Director of Business Development at EVIA AERO

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Paweł Zagrajek

Commercial Deputy Director at CPK

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Wojciech Czernek

CEO of Baltona S.A.

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Wassim Saadé

Founder & CEO, Vasco Tax Free

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Zoltán Keresztessy

CEO of Klikkmánia

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Peter Mohn

CEO of M1nd-set

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Katarzyna Zubrzycka

Sr. Director, Cross Border & Acceptance, Strategic Initiates, CEE, Visa

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Csaba Simonidesz

Partner at Simillair Promotions

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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.