Semi-Annual Meeting 2012
 Each year the FDFA owner/operators meet for a one day meeting to discuss business, government relations and other key topics that are relevant to the land border duty free industry. In the last several years, the FDFA was meeting in Ottawa, in order to tie in government relations presentations/receptions with the semi-annual meeting. The 2011/2012 board decided that while hosting government relations receptions, etc. is still important, the semi-annual can be located as a separate and distinct meeting.
Therefore, this year, the members are heading to lovely San Francisco, California on February 17th and 18th. Why San Francisco? San Francisco hosts the largest gift show in the U.S., in which many of our members will be attending the day after our semi-annual meeting. This respective meeting has confirmed over 17 stores attending and a wonderful line-up of speakers. We are also very thankful to Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail, who will be hosting our operator's dinner on February 17th. Additionally, the FDFA will also be hosting our members for a tour of Alcatraz on Friday, February 17th.
Who is presenting at this year's FDFA Semi-Annual meeting?
David Goldstein, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada
 Mr. Goldstein will be presenting to the FDFA Operators for the first time and will be discussing Canada's tourism objectives, where we are now, what the hopes are for the future and how the duty free industry is part of the overall vision. David Goldstein is a veteran lobbyist and leader in Ottawa, and brings a dynamic and progressive outlook for the future of tourism. Given duty free's obvious relationship with tourism, and US/CDN tourism's importance to our industry – this presentation will sure to be relevant and insightful to our members.
Mr. Simon Kennedy – Senior Deputy Minister, Industry Canada
 The FDFA is very honoured that Mr. Kennedy has agreed to speak to our operator delegates in San Francisco regarding the government's prime initiative – the Perimeter Vision. Mr. Kennedy is the key spokesperson for Canada on the Perimeter Vision.
What is the Perimeter Vision?
The Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the US issues a Declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, which called for the development of a joint action plan.
Work on that plan has now been successfully completed. The action plan provides a practical road map for enhancing security while speeding up legitimate trade and travel across the Canada-US border.
How will this impact the duty free stores?
Given the objectives of the Perimeter Vision, Mr. Kennedy will be speaking to our members about how the Perimeter Vision will impact our industry. Based on the objectives of the Perimeter Vision and the harmonization of regulations at the border between the US and Canada, we will be asking Mr. Kennedy to address the allowance issue i.e. will it be increased? We are also very interested to assess his position on the facilitation of better ease for travellers at the border and how this will be implemented. Overall, this is an significant initiative that will have massive impacts to our border and given the location of our stores, we are very pleased to be hearing from the front lines of our government decision makers on how this affect our stores in the future.
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