Over the course of four days, the international air cargo community arrived in Miami, where more than 3,500 delegates from more than 80 countries gathered for a conference, exhibition and networking sessions.
“The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is a global association dedicated to the air cargo industry. Our goal is to represent all sectors of the air cargo industry,” said Glenn Hughes, Director General of TIACA.
“As attendees walked around the event, they could see airlines, freight forwarders, trucking companies, IT suppliers, equipment manufacturers, airports – everyone was here.
“One of the things that was most important to us was that we wanted this event to be specific to the industry, to this industry, so we created an environment where people could come to do business, network, get reacquainted with past business partners and meet future business partners.”
“If you come to a TIACA event, you have a lot of people to meet, but if you are looking for content or to learn something, we also have the conference program. The two aspects together are what makes this event so successful,” explained Stephen Polmans, TIACA President.
Addressing issues
At the heart of the event was a dedicated program of talks and discussions, covering topics of great relevance to the industry today, designed to be thought-provoking and challenging.
“We talked about how we could respond to the increased demand generated by e-commerce, without sacrificing or jeopardizing long-standing relationships with other traditional customers,” Hughes explained.
“In the Digital Transformation Committee, we looked at innovation and have we embraced the technology that will come tomorrow. We also had great discussions about enabling airports and collaborative environments for airports because airports are so important to keeping this industry at the forefront of what is happening.
Bring people together
Alongside serious discussions on airports, regulatory and business issues, digital innovation, sustainability, industry forecasts and much more, attendees also had the opportunity to mingle and network while playing golf, enjoying sunrise yoga sessions or attending evening receptions, recognizing the value of facilitating networking. Which can lead to lifelong business relationships.
“When you’re touring, the thing I hate is the idea of silence. I want to hear people interact. I want to hear people shake hands again and say, ‘Great, I’d love to work with you.’ I want to hear people say things like, ‘I didn’t really think about that,’ or “That’s a great perspective” because it means the industry is attractive.
“Ultimately, we wanted to make this event more than just an exhibition, but an experience,” Hughes said.
“We are very pleased that this event has set such a high bar for future air cargo forums,” Polmans added.
“I have to thank the TIACA team: Glenn, Kenneth, Rachel, Riley and MGME because day in and day out they did an amazing job in making this happen.
“We look forward to continuing to grow and develop this brand as the premier global event for the industry.”
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