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Keynote address
As an ambitious programme of enhancements to Dubai’s infrastructure continues, the objective of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing is to welcome 20 million visitors to the Emirate by 2020 – the key goal of Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020. In the conference’s opening address the corporation’s CEO, Issam Kazim, will explain how DCTCM is building government and private sector partnerships to continually enhance Dubai’s destination offering along with its status as a “must-experience” destination, resulting in continuous additions to the city’s destination offering.
Travalo
Ramesh Cidambi
Ramesh Cidambi is the Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Duty Free (DDF) and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations, reporting to the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO.
His responsibilities include both the retail and leisure businesses operated by DDF.
Prior to his promotion to his current role, Ramesh held a variety of senior positions in the company with responsibility for areas such as information technology, logistics, retail development in both of Dubai’s airports covering over 40,000sq m of retail space, and the DDF Leisure business through the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and The Irish Village Bar and Restaurant (in two locations).
Ramesh has been with DDF for over thirty years, during which time the company has grown to become one of the world’s largest airport retailers in a single location with sales of over US$2 billion in 2019.
He also maintains his links with the domestic retail market through the chairmanship of the Merchants Advisory Board and as a Board Member of Dubai’s Retail Business Group. He holds an MBA degree from Utah State University and a B.S. degree from Loyola College (Chennai, India).
Ramesh’s main interests outside work are sailing (with his wife Alpana) and the practice of Iyengar yoga.
Phillip Morris
Tarek Yassine Hamila
Tarek Yassine Hamila has held several leadership positions since joining Hamila Duty Free in 1998, and now serves the company as Chief Executive Officer.
Hamila Duty Free was founded by Yassine Hamila in 1983, with a downtown duty free shop targeting diplomatic missions in Tunisia.
As leader of the company, Tarek Yassine Hamila has positioned Hamila Duty Free for its next generation of growth and led the company’s focus on development, spreading its operations to sea ports, ship chandling, ferries, airlines and airports. He has grown the business by over 700% over the last decade and recently achieved another milestone in the history of the company following its victory in the tender to operate duty free at five Tunisian airports, in partnership with ATÜ Duty Free (the joint venture between TAV Airports and Unifree Duty Free) and Gebr Heinemann.
Tarek Yassine Hamila earned a Business Administration degree in Marketing and Management from Webster University, Bellevue, Switzerland. He is also owner end CEO of YKH holding, a group of 13 companies present in the sectors of commerce, services, real estate and manufacturing.
Clarins 2014
Michel Mignot
Michel Mignot has 40 years of experience in the premium and luxury goods business. Upon graduating from the Paris Chamber of Commerce Business School in 1973, he joined the finance division of Parfums Christian Dior, overseeing the company’s profitability in international markets. In 1981 he moved to the company’s export division, where he became Area Director, Travel Markets.
Shortly after gaining his MBA from INSEAD, in 1990 Michel joined Chanel as Export Director, a post he held until 2005, when he was appointed International Director in charge of both travel retail and local markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. He retired from the role in 2012 and now works as a consultant to brands wishing to develop their presence in travel retail and international markets.
Michel was a member of the TFWA Management Committee for 12 years.
diageo
