CEETRA
& Friends
2026
10–12 | June | 2026
Slovenia | Julian Alps | Kranjska Gora
Meet the leaders shaping the future of airports and travel retail in the Julian Alps.
Three days of strategic insight and shared experience in one of Europe’s most inspiring Alpine destinations.
Connect with airport executives, travel retail and F&B leaders, airlines, consultants and industry organisations in a highly curated setting.
Return from Slovenia with fresh perspectives, new partnerships, and conversations that turn into long-term cooperation.
Partners:
It’s where you will:
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Explore the key shifts shaping airports, travel retail and passenger experience.
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Take part in open, high-level discussions based on real case studies and industry data.
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Build meaningful relationships in a curated setting — from conference debates to shared Alpine activities and evening gatherings.
It is not a traditional conference, but a platform for dialogue, cooperation and forward-looking thinking among those who shape the future of airports, travel retail and mobility.
CEETRA & Friends Slovenia 2026 is a boutique international gathering where strategic industry content meets networking through experience — set in the heart of the Julian Alps.
Who Should Attend?
The event is designed for:
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Airport decision-makers and senior leaders — from large, regional and smaller airports
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Travel retail and Food & Beverage professionals developing commercial strategies
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Airlines and mobility stakeholders influencing passenger journeys
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Consultants and experts in commercial planning, revenue optimisation and passenger experience
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Brands active in travel retail, or planning to expand into the airport environment
If you are looking for more than another industry event — and want a trusted space for real exchange and long-term partnerships — CEETRA & Friends is for you.
The number of places is limited.
Don’t wait until the last minute.
Participation Fee
Non-CEETRA Participant: 490 EUR per person
CEETRA Member: Free of charge
The participation fee includes: full access to the conference programme, participation in all networking activities, and group transfers on the route Ljubljana Airport – Kranjska Gora – Ljubljana Airport (at designated times).
Accommodation is not included.
Kranjska Gora | 10–12 | June | 2026
Agenda
Day 1 — 10 June 2026
Arrival of participants and hotel check-in
- 15:00–19:00
Participant registration
Location: Ramada Resort Hotel lobby - 15:40–18:00
Excursion to the charming Alpine village of Mojstrana (bus transfer)
Meeting point: Ramada Resort Hotel lobby - 19:00–22:00
Welcome Reception & Alpine BBQ
Location: Ramada Resort – terrace
Day 2 — 11 June 2026
- 08:00–09:00
Participant registration - 08:30–09:00
Morning coffee & networking - 09:00–14:15
Main Conference Day
Conference sessions and moderated debates
Location: Ramada Resort Kranjska Gora – Oval Hall (Alpine View)
Afternoon Activities
- 13:30–14:15
Lunch - 14:25–18:00
Via Ferrata
Meeting point: Ramada Resort Hotel lobby - 14:45–18:00
E-bike Tour
Meeting point: Ramada Resort Hotel lobby - 18:45–22:00
Dinner
Transfer by bus from Ramada Resort Hotel
Day 3 — 12 June 2026
- 10:00–13:00
Optional Airport Tour – Ljubljana Airport
Venue
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia — Julian Alps
A distinctive Alpine destination offering an inspiring setting for strategic discussions, high-level networking and shared outdoor experiences.
Transfers will be provided on the route Ljubljana Airport – Kranjska Gora – Ljubljana Airport (at designated times).
Accomodation
Conference Programme
During CEETRA & Friends Slovenia 2026 (10–12 June 2026), invited experts, airport leaders, travel retail and F&B professionals will explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the airport commercial ecosystem.
More programme details will be announced soon.
08:30 - 09:00 | Welcome Coffee & Registration
09:00 - 09:15 | Welcome speeches
- Andrzej Miłaszewicz – CEETRA
- Jurgen Deischl – Fraport Slovenia
- Luka Vrancič – Kranjska Gora
09:15 - 10:15 | Airport Commercial Ecosystem – F&B & Travel Retail
Partner: m1nd-set
- Synergies between Food & Beverage and Travel Retail, understanding the according behavior and decision-making processes, and implications for commercial space planning and revenue optimization
- Airport commercial environments are evolving rapidly, with Food & Beverage and Retail increasingly seen as interconnected components of the passenger experience rather than isolated revenue streams. While airports are experimenting with different concepts and layouts, there is limited empirical understanding of how passengers move between F&B and Retail, the factors driving these behaviors, and the potential implications for commercial planning and revenue maximization. m1nd-set has conducted a pioneering and comprehensive survey on this subject and will present key insights.
10:15 - 10:35 | Travel Retail in Europe 2026: Key Political Trends, Regulatory Outlook & What It Means for the CEE Region
Partner: ETRC
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments shaping the European travel retail landscape, with a focus on key trends, regulatory changes, and emerging challenges. Drawing on insights from across the industry, it will highlight how these dynamics are influencing airports, operators, and brands. Particular attention will be given to the implications for the Central and Eastern European region, including growth opportunities and market-specific considerations. The session will offer valuable context to support strategic decision-making and future collaboration across the ecosystem.
10:35 - 10:50 | Coffee & Networking
10:50 - 11:35 | Operating Through Permanent Disruption: When Crises Cascade Across the Travel Ecosystem
Times are very turbulent (VUCA/BANI), and our industry, whose mission is to connect the world by enabling travel, is particularly exposed to risks arising from geopolitical developments and legal regulations.
It started with the COVID-19 pandemic, after which we expected a “new normal,” but before we recovered from the challenges of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine erupted, then the war between Israel and Hamas, and now the destabilization of the entire Middle East. Somewhere along the way, we were faced with the WHO’s attempt to introduce anti-tobacco regulations.
Our business, airports, airlines, and retail, form a system of connected vessels: mutually interdependent and, in different ways, sensitive to the risks posed by the political, legal, and business reality around us.
That is why it is so important that, as we build a business ecosystem, we understand how our businesses respond to unexpected situations and what consequences, as a result of our economic interconnections, will cascade to other participants in our market.
11:35 - 12:00 | LJU airport retail throughout the day
Host:
Urška Binter – Head of Commercial
Ljubljana Airport’s retail offering is designed to support the passenger experience throughout the entire journey, combining food & beverage, travel essentials, and local products in an easy‑to‑navigate setting. This is complemented by flexible parking solutions and well‑integrated advertising formats that enhance convenience and brand visibility without disrupting passenger flow. Together, these key non‑aeronautical drivers shape a service‑driven and balanced airport environment that we are constantly refining.
12:00 - 12:30 | Visa Data Solutions on Tourism – including data related to Slovenia
Leveraging proprietary VisaNet data, Visa will deliver insights into Slovenia’s tourism landscape.
The presentation will examine recent trends, primary travel corridors, and critical consumer spending patterns – including what tourists purchase and when.
This session will demonstrate the value of VisaNet data as a strategic tool for tracking and analyzing tourism activity across markets.
12:30 - 13:00 | Elevating the Airport Experience: Data-Driven Insights by Arhea & Fraport Slovenija
Host:
Petra Oseli – Business development and research manager
Arhea is the leader in travel and tourism research in Slovenia, with partners in Adriatic, Mediterranean and CEE region.
In cooperation with Fraport Slovenija, they established an end-to-end passenger research process, that supports the development of the airport in line with growing passenger numbers and transforming passenger profiles. The research tracks and segments passenger base, including their behaviour and airport experience, as well as tracking their satisfaction. Additionally, it allows the airport to validate their improvement ideas before implementation. Tracking has been evolving since 2019 into a comprehensive continuous study and monitoring of the passenger expectations and response to changing travel trends and airport environment, in order to not only serve the airport management, but also its partners, especially airport retailers. Fraport management team can track the results through a BI dashboard allowing them swift decisions, while Arhea takes care of continuous quality control, including the sample structure that is adapting to the flight schedule.
Today, the airport research team is one of the most experienced expert field teams in the industry, responsible for ensuring the quality of data collection while acquiring the large sample that represents the Airport Ljubljana passenger population. This includes responding to ad hoc requests to deep dive in specific topics of experience by observing the passenger behaviour and interviewing, or to track other topics like measuring airport advertising awareness and effectiveness.
Arhea is also testing new approaches and technologies for passenger engagement and their response to surveys, as well as offering full service in other fields of research, like web intercept surveys on websites, engagement of email lists and onboarding regular passengers to online research communities. Arhea is also a specialized provider of mystery shopping in travel and hospitality, with a strong expert team of consultants and researchers for supporting destination management in tourism.
Airport managers and retailers will get key steps and requirements to setup such tracking on any airport – from team and organization to research design and quality control.
13:00 - 13:30 | Airport F&B Beyond Retail: Trends, Design and Commercial Opportunities
Host: Primož Černigoj
13:30 - 14:30 | Networking Lunch – Time to Connect
Airport Tour - Ljubljana Airport
The Airport Tour at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport will give CEETRA members and CEETRA & Friends participants a unique opportunity to explore the main airport in Slovenia, operated by Fraport Slovenija, with special focus on the commercial and travel retail areas.
The visit will demonstrate in practice how the modern integration of retail and F&B concepts enhances passenger experience and creates new business opportunities for airports, operators, and brands.
The programme will be further expanded with additional exciting topics to be announced in the coming weeks.
The organisers reserve the right to amend the programme.
The Travel Retail Forum offers practical insights, inspiring case studies, and networking with key decision-makers from across the CEE region.
Speakers
(under construction)
Andrzej Miłaszewicz
CEETRA
Peter Mohn
CEO of M1nd-set
Wojciech Czernek
CEO of Baltona S.A.
Urška Binter
Head of Commercial
Petra Oseli
Arhea
Jürgen Deischl
CEO & Managing Director of Fraport Slovenija
Piotr Giźiński
VISA
Nicole Regecova
Policy and Communications Officer, European Travel Retail Confederation
Andrzej Miłaszewicz
Central and East European Travel Retail Association. (CEETRA)
Andrzej Miłaszewicz- Managing Director Operations & Development , Chairman of Central and East European Travel Retail Association. (CEETRA)
30 years’ experience in Retail, 15 years in Lagardere Travel Retail Poland. Managing operations and development of all formats of stores at the Airports, Railways, Metro, Malls and City.
Before for 14 years CEO Lagardere Duty Free in Poland. As a Board Member and now since 2 years as a Chairman of CEETRA, takes an active role in supporting travel retail industry in the Region, by enhancing its share of voice on the relevant forums.
He started his professional career in FMCG in big distribution, being the part of the management team in Carrefour Poland.
Education: master degree of Warsaw School of Economy (SGH)
Dr. Peter Mohn – CEO of M1nd-set
Dr. Peter Mohn is the Founder and CEO of m1nd-set, a leading Swiss-based travel retail and travel market research agency. With a PhD in Business Psychology from the University of Göttingen and more than 25 years of experience in international market research, he has built a distinguished career focused on understanding global consumer behavior. Before founding m1nd-set in 2007, he worked with several international research firms, developing deep expertise in brand and customer insights.
Under his leadership, m1nd-set has become a trusted global consultancy, working with more than 25 airlines, various aircraft manufacturers, 100 international brands, and many of the world’s leading travel retail operators. The company also serves as the official research partner of most major travel retail associations. Dr. Mohn continues to shape the industry through data-driven insights and a deep understanding of the psychology behind traveler behavior.
Wojciech Czernek – CEO of Baltona S.A.
An accomplished retail leader with over 25 years of experience in managing and growing retail chains. Since 2021 he has served as President of the Management Board of PHZ Baltona S.A., focusing on business transformation and expansion, as well as creating modern shopping experiences for customers.
Throughout his extensive career he has successfully led companies such as TOYS’R’US Poland, served as CEO of BILLA Ukraine, and held roles with Ahold Polska, NOMI S.A., and Makro Cash and Carry Poland.
He holds an Executive MBA from the French Institute of Management in Warsaw. Known for
his strategic mindset, team leadership, and ability to drive change, he combines passion with
precision in developing innovative retail solutions.
Urška Binter – Head of Commercial
Ljubljana Airport’s retail offering is designed to support the passenger experience throughout the entire journey, combining food & beverage, travel essentials, and local products in an easy-to-navigate setting. This is complemented by flexible parking solutions and well-integrated advertising formats that enhance convenience and brand visibility without disrupting passenger flow. Together, these key non-aeronautical drivers shape a service-driven and balanced airport environment that we are constantly refining.
Petra Oseli – Arhea
Jürgen Deischl – CEO & Managing Director of Fraport Slovenija
Jürgen Deischl is a seasoned aviation executive with deep industry expertise and a strong personal passion for aviation. As CEO and Managing Director of Fraport Slovenija, he brings a clear strategic perspective and extensive international experience, contributing to the continued growth and long-term development of Ljubljana Airport.
A licensed pilot, he holds a diploma in Tourism Management as well as degrees in Business Administration and Aerospace Engineering. Prior to his current role, he built a broad career across the aviation sector, including positions at Lufthansa German Airlines and Condor Flugdienst GmbH, followed by several leadership roles within Fraport AG.
His experience at Fraport spans key areas such as segment controlling, commercial management within central infrastructure, and strategic initiatives. He also led Frankfurt Airport’s Investment & Project Controlling Department and headed the Aviation Development Division. In this role, he played a key part in shaping Fraport’s sales strategy, driving the marketing of Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, and advancing the strategic development of the customer experience at one of Europe’s leading aviation hubs.
Piotr Giźiński – VISA
Graduate of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the University of Warsaw.
He began his career in 2003 at Citi Handlowy, working in marketing for deposits and consumer loans. He later managed the card and cash loan portfolio at Bank Millennium, and from 2009 led the Payment Cards Department at Lukas Bank, where he was responsible for product development, sales, and card portfolio management. In 2012, he became Director of the Payments and Card Operations Centre, overseeing the development of payment solutions, operational processes, and projects including acquiring and Lean Management initiatives.
He joined Visa Europe’s Warsaw team in March 2016, supporting clients in specialized consulting projects. Since 2019, he has led the Data Monetization practice, working with the Data Science team to develop Visa data-based tools for the retail sector and public institutions across eight CEE markets. Since 2022, he has coordinated the development of this practice at the European level.
Nicole Regecova, Policy and Communications Officer, European Travel Retail Confederation
Nicole Regecová has been Policy and Communications Officer at the European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) since 2022. In this position, she contributes to the organisation’s policy and communications work across a range of issues affecting the duty free and travel retail sector, including sustainability, digital consumer information, and wider EU regulatory developments. She also supports ETRC’s external communications, events, and advocacy. Prior to joining ETRC, Nicole served at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Belgium, with a focus on public relations and external communication.
Chris Dunham-Haigh
Executive Director
Montenegro Duty Free – ARI
Joined ARI (Aer Rianta) in 2024 and was appointed Executive Director of our Balkans business; Montenegro Duty Free. Prior to ARI I worked for Marks and Spencer in the UK holding a variety of leadership positions. Exceptionally proud to lead our business and people here in Montenegro, developing with them our presence and continued growth. Firm believer in the use of new technologies, such as RFID supply chain and better efficient processes that can allow us to focus on more commercial relationships and improve the customer journey in our stores. Supporting local brands and startups is a real focus of mine such as bringing the first Montenegrin gin to the market and developing a sense of place and customer experience across our global estate.
Passionate about getting the basics right and then seeing how we can translate the journey of a passenger into a successful customer throughout the airport journey. Currently redesigning our main store in Podgorica using the emotions of the current world traveler and having a flexible store environment approach that can adapt depending on the evolvement of the passenger.
During 2025 our Montenegro Duty Free business was successful in winning several awards including the Best International Management from Solvent Ratings, Top 10 businesses in Montenero and The Golden Gazelle award. Recently won International Manager of the Year in Montenegro and recently won the Innovation for Europe award at the Moodie Davitt Travel Retail Superstar awards.
Jakub Malecki
General Manager Romania & Moldova, LOT Polish Airlines
Jakub Malecki is responsible for the commercial development, market strategy and key partnerships of LOT Polish Airlines in Romania and Moldova. He brings over 30 years of experience in the international aviation industry, with expertise in airline sales, network development, stakeholder relations, and cooperation with travel industry partners and regional airports across Europe.
Based in Bucharest, he leads LOT’s commercial activities in both markets and works on strengthening air connectivity between Romania, Moldova and LOT’s global network through Warsaw, supporting the growth of passenger traffic and regional economic ties.
Primož Černigoj
Project Manager and Consultant
PROprima d.o.o. Joined PROprima d.o.o. in 2010 as a Project Manager and Consultant for professional kitchen equipment. Prior to this, I worked for Gasting d.o.o. for nearly a decade managing similar technology projects. With over 20 years of experience in technological design, I am exceptionally proud to support investors, operators, and chefs in choosing the adequate type of equipment, balancing demand, quality, and cost. Firm believer that planning is the starting point to realize ideas and dreams, analyzing different solutions and inventing new products to ensure investor satisfaction. Supporting teams of architects and engineers from conceptual design to commissioning and handover is a real focus of mine.
Passionate about regular education, personal development, and applying detailed knowledge of HACCP principles and food distribution systems to my projects. Currently overseeing several major investments, including a complete professional kitchen renovation for a private client and preparing the building permission design for an automotive industry staff canteen serving 600 guests per day. My approach involves comprehensive supervision during both the planning and implementation phases to ensure the technological processes meet the highest standards.
During my career, my work in professional kitchen design has been successful in winning several industry awards, including the FCSI Best Kitchen Design in Madrid (2015) and the FCSI Best Kitchen Design in Warsaw (2014). I have also been recognized as an authorized expert by the Slovenian Chamber of Engineers since 2006 and have been a proud member of the Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) since 2010.
Sebastian Gościniarek
Sebastian Gościniarek is the founder and partner at BBSG Sp. z o.o., a consulting company specializing in providing services to entities from the aviation industry. Now he is working solely for the CPK / Port Polska project.
The list of clients for whom he works includes airports, airlines, handling companies, public local government and government entities, as well as private investors in Poland and the CEE region (the Baltic States, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova). His professional experience includes development strategies, business plans, market analyzes, planning and development of infrastructure.
In addition to working for clients, Sebastian is also involved in a number of opinion-forming initiatives in the field of legal solutions and the definition of standards and good practices in the aviation sector. He is an author of numerous articles and commentaries in the press, radio and television, and co-author of works on infrastructure development in Poland (eg the White Book of Infrastructure, ZDG TOR, 2013; Conditions for the implementation of a systemic project: launch of the Central Communication Port, Sobieski Institute, 2017).
In addition to his professional work, he is also involved in educational initiatives by giving lectures at the Lazarski University.
Before BBSG, Sebastian was senior manager in the advisory department of PricewaterhouseCoopers, in the Transport Infrastructure & Public Sector (TIPS) team, where he was responsible for serving clients from the aviation and local government sectors. Sebastian was the coordinator of PwC’s consulting activities for the aviation sector in the Central and Eastern Europe region. Together with his team, he ran a centre of excellence and knowledge management for the aviation sector for the CEE region.
Organizer
CEETRA — the Central and Eastern European Travel Retail Association — is a regional non-profit platform bringing together airport, duty free, travel retail and industry leaders from across the CEE region.
Through initiatives like CEETRA & Friends, the association creates trusted spaces for dialogue, cooperation and forward-looking development of the travel ecosystem.
Become a Partner / Sponsor
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to position your brand within a highly curated gathering of airport, travel retail and mobility decision-makers.
As a partner of CEETRA & Friends Slovenia 2026, you will benefit from:
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Maximum brand visibility before, during and after the event
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Direct access to senior airport executives and commercial leaders
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Networking in an exclusive setting designed for meaningful, long-term cooperation
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Association with a boutique format where discussion, experience and trust come first
Strengthen your presence in the travel retail and airport commercial ecosystem — in an inspiring Alpine environment.

