EUROPE. Lagardère Travel Retail is rolling out WeChat Pay across its European duty free shops as part of its strategy to grow its Chinese customers.
The service will launch first at Paris Roissy Charles De Gaulle Airport Terminal 1 shops in time for the Chinese New Year. The stores are operated by Société de Distribution Aéroportuaire (SDA) – the joint-venture between Lagardère Travel Retail and Groupe ADP. WeChat Pay will roll out to other locations in due course.
The secure payment system for smartphones, which is popular in China, boasts 600 million active users. The service is integrated with Tencent’s WeChat app, the most popular ‘smart’ social network in China with nearly a billion users. Over 70% of transactions in China are conducted via mobile phones. Users can make payments with a QR code generated on their smartphones.
In addition to the app, Lagardère Travel Retail’s strategy to expand its Chinese clientele includes initiatives such as a custom offering for Chinese customers, recruitment of Chinese sales advisers and partnerships with Chinese tour operators.
The retailer also offers services such as ‘Click&Collect’ to provide passengers with a convenient airport shopping experience.
