Cannes Do

06 October 2005 By db staff writer

d=”standfirst”>Luxury goods, nights on the town and gastronomy par excellence – oh, and there’s also a duty free exhibition to squeeze into your busy schedule. Here’s our guide to Cannes 05

CANNES is arguably one of the world’s most luxurious locations. Holiday destination to a million millionaires, their yachts and sun-dried wives, it also plays host, not only to a plethora of stars each year at the film festival, but also a myriad perfume, cosmetic, luxury goods and drinks brands each October at the Tax Free World Association (TFWA) Exhibition. This year the exhibition (the annual travel retail and duty free trade show and conference, to give it it’s official title) will be held from October 28 to November 4 and, as in other years, will take place at the Palais des Festivals. So what to expect for attendees at this year’s extravaganza? In drinks terms there are some exciting newcomers to the show, including the Russian Wine and Vodka Company (RWVC) with its Vodka Flagship brand. The company claims it is a genuine Russian vodka with deep Russian roots and in its home country it sells some 3.7 million cases and is exported to over 30 countries. There is new packaging to be seen on the company’s stand along with the full Flagship range. Tequila Herradura will also be at the show for the first time as will the Grandes Distilleries Pereux of France, while Diageo will be making a welcome return to the exhibition this year. Chivas Brothers, Maxxium, William Grant & sons, Whyte & McKay, Inverhouse Distillers and Morrison Bowmore are among the other spirits producers exhibiting. In beer terms all the big boys will be showing their wares with Carlsberg, Heineken, Inbev and Scottish and Newcastle all making an appearance. Of course, tax-free shopping would be nothing without Champagne. As Myriam Renard, duty free travel retail and airlines manager at Champagne Vranken Monopole says, “We have a strong international vocation and consider the duty free/travel retail market as a key channel of distribution in the luxury environment.” Vranken Monopole can be found in the Red Village on stand H22. Other Champagne houses present include Moët et Chandon, Champagne Laurent Perrier and Champagne Nicholas Feuillatte. The latter will be unveiling three of its new products: Diva, the new gift case for its prestige cuvée Palmes D’or; Cuvée 225 its first cuvée aged in wood; and One Fo(u)r, a new range of funky quarter bottles. At your service For weary visitors to the exhibition there is a range of services to help lighten the load of a busy networker. Business and exhibition services are available on Level 1 of the Palais and will include the TFWA lounge for members and buyers. For all delegates there is a concierge service, which will provide facilities for restaurant bookings, tourist information, car rental, taxi hire and catering for private events as well as gift and flower delivery, spa and hairdressers appointments – for anyone lucky enough to have the time! In the business centre there is a fax and photocopying service, computer access, stamps and stationery and a meeting room for rent, as well as secretarial staff on hand to help. There’s also a separate internet centre and services desk offering a helicopter service, shuttle buses and a photographer, among other things. On Level 3, press and media will be able to find the press centre and there is the Duty Free World Council Lounge. Other on-site services include a limousine service, a shuttle service to and from the airport and the Palais des Festivals and major hotels in the area. As well as cellular phone rental and a recruitment service courtesy of BeThe1. See www.twfa.com for further information on all of the above. db 29 of the Palais and will include the TFWA lounge for members and buyers. For all delegates there is a concierge service, which will provide facilities for restaurant bookings, tourist information, car rental, taxi hire and catering for private events as well as gift and flower delivery, spa and hairdressers appointments – for anyone lucky enough to have the time! In the business centre there is a fax and photocopying service, computer access, stamps and stationery and a meeting room for rent, as well as secretarial staff on hand to help. There’s also a separate internet centre and services desk offering a helicopter service, shuttle buses and a photographer, among other things. On Level 3, press and media will be able to find the press centre and there is the Duty Free World Council Lounge. Other on-site services include a limousine service, a shuttle service to and from the airport and the Palais des Festivals and major hotels in the area. As well as cellular phone rental and a recruitment service courtesy of BeThe1. See www.twfa.com for further information on all of the above. db Friday October 28 and Saturday 29 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion Sunday 30 08.00 Sporting events 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion 19.30 Opening cocktails – Martinez Hotel Monday 31 08.30 Access to exhibition hall (exhibitors only) 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion 09.30 – 11.15 Conference – Grand Auditorium 11.00 – 18.00 Opening of exhibition to visitors 16.00 Airline workshop – venue TBC 22.00- 02.00 The Scene – Noga Hilton Beach, La Croisette Tuesday 01 09.00 ETRC tobacco workshop – Auditorium 1, Level 4 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion 09.00 – 18.00 Exhibition 22.00 – 02.00 The Scene – Noga Hilton Beach, La Croisette Wednesday 02 08.00 – 09.00 Asia Pacific Workshop – Majestic Hotel 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion 09.00 – 18.00 Exhibition 22.00 – 02.00 The Scene – Noga Hilton Beach, La Croisette Thursday 03 09.00 TFWA Annual General Meeting 09.00 – 18.00 Registration – registration pavilion 09.00 – 18.00 Exhibition 20.00 Le Premium Evening – Quai Laubeuf 22.00 – 02.00 The Scene – Noga Hilton Beach, La Croisette Friday 04 09.00 – 12.00 Registration – registration pavilion 09.00 – 12.00 Exhibition PROGRAMME FOR TFWA WORLD EXHIBITION 2005 FRENCH FANCIES As one of the world’s most extravagant playgrounds for the rich and famous Cannes certainly isn’t short of anything to offer in the gastronomy department. So if you wish to give yourself a bit of a treat while in town or are able to make some use of the company credit card why not give some of the world’s most famous eateries a go? At the top of the wish list sits La Palme D’or, which hardly needs an introduction. Sitting on the second floor of the Martinez Hotel (73, La Croisette, 06406 Cannes Cedex, tel: +33 (0)4 92 98 73 00) it has a long and established international reputation for seriously good food. It does a Croisette et Gormandises lunch menu everyday for €55 including wine and coffee. There’s also the option of the Villa Des Lys, which is situated in the Majestic hotel (10, La Croisette, BP 163, 06407 Cannes Cedex, tel: +33 (0)4 92 98 77 00) where chef Bruno Oger cooks up some serious delights in the culinary department, and last but not least there’s the Royal Gray at the Hotel Gray d’Albion (38 Rue Des Serbes, Cannes, tel: 33 (0)49 299 7979). Tuck into a French feast of Provencal snails and mushrooms flavoured with fresh herbs followed by stew of duck leg, white beans and mushrooms and finish off with Ms Tatin’s famous warm apple pie with its two creams.