The Australian Airports Association Retail & Commercial Forum heads to Sydney for the first time in 2025, at the Sofitel Wentworth from 22-23 July with the popular Ground Transport Forum preceding on 21 July.
The Forum’s theme for 2025 is ‘Lessons from Within & Beyond the Airport Environment’.
Hosted and co-organised in a partnership between the Australian Airports Association (AAA), The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, the fast-growing forum is now in its fourth year and will be held at Sofitel Wentworth in the heart of Sydney’s CBD with support from this year’s Host Airport, Sydney Airport.
“The AAA Retail & Commercial Forum has fast-emerged as the must-attend annual event for our greater region’s airport commercial sector and we are thrilled Sydney Airport, and the city of Sydney will host in 2025,” AAA Chief Executive Simon Westaway said.
“There will be a diverse, compelling program including the latest insights and trends from Australian and our near region airports.
“Australian airports are on the move with many rapidly passing pre-COVID travel peaks and setting new passenger volume records and accommodating strong growth,” Westaway said.
Australian airports see record passenger volumes
Australian airports are seeing record passenger volumes again flowing through terminals from continuously growing international and domestic flights. This includes on the trans-Tasman route, burgeoning international and domestic connections and fresh connectivity into the South Pacific.
The 2025 Forum will again bring together industry experts from across the breadth of non-aero industry and airports of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia.
In addition, duty free operators, specialty retailers, food & beverage (F&B), foreign exchange, advertising concessionaires, ground transport providers and much more will join this diverse and impressive audience of industry influencers.
Following record attendance for the 2024 Forum in Melbourne, the 2025 Australian Airports Association Retail & Commercial Forum promises to be even bigger in the nation’s largest aviation gateway of Sydney.
Ivo Favotto, managing director of The Mercurius Group said: “The Forum is the perfect place for networking and business development. For airports seeking to improve commercial revenue streams, for concessionaires hoping to win business at airports, and for brands and suppliers seeking to build relationships with either airports or concessionaires.
“An exciting array of speakers will address retail technology, the future of payments, consumer insights, the evolution of commercial partnerships, the outlook for duty free, specialty retail, food & beverage and more,” Favotto said.
Key event in the airport calendar
The Moodie Davitt Report president Dermot Davitt said the forum had established itself as the key event in the Australasian airport commercial sector’s events calendar.
“We expect strong participation from across the industry trinity of airports, concessionaires and brand owners, alongside other service providers, as we take the Retail & Commercial Forum to new heights in Sydney,” Davitt said.
Host Airport and major Forum sponsor, Sydney Airport, is excited to bring the dynamic airports and aviation event to Australia’s largest air travel gateway.
“Sydney Airport is proud to host the Australian Airports Association Retail & Commercial Forum in 2025, marking its first time in our vibrant city,” Mark Zaouk, group executive – Commercial at Sydney Airport said.
“Commercial services are vital to the success of airports, and the pace of change in this space continues to accelerate,” Zaouk said.
“This event is a cornerstone for industry collaboration, providing a platform to share insights, foster innovation, and explore new opportunities. We look forward to welcoming leaders and partners from across the region to Australia’s leading aviation gateway.”
Small Airports Benchmarking masterclass
2025 will see the return of the anticipated Small Airports Benchmarking study masterclass, with an expanded remit to encompass airports managing up to two million annual passenger movements.
Rebranded to Regional Airports Commercial Revenue Study (RACRBS), in 2025 it will also offer detailed benchmarking of essential commercial revenue streams for regional airports, encompassing retail, food and beverage, advertising, car parking, car rental, ground transport, and property.
The study serves as a vital tool for regional airports throughout Australia, NZ and the Pacific, enabling them to assess their commercial performance and identify strategies for improvement.
In addition, the popular Ground Transport Forum will be held on Monday 21 July, preceding the AAA Retail and Commercial Forum. It complements the array of topics at the AAA Retail and Commercial Forum, while also providing an essential platform for attendees to discuss important ground transport developments.
Further details and registrations will be available soon.
Featured image: The recently relaunched Sofitel Wentworth will be home to the Australian Airports Association Retail & Commercial Forum in July.
