INTERNATIONAL. Lotte Duty Free of South Korea, the world’s second-biggest travel retailer, and Jose Maria ‘Chim’ N. Esteban III’s Landmark Management Services and Regent Travel Retail Group have become the latest operators to join a wave of support for the inaugural Moodie Davitt Report Virtual Travel Retail Expo.
As reported, the industry’s pioneering Virtual Expo, a complement to existing physical shows such as The Trinity Forum and TFWA World Exhibition, will be held via a live event (9-11 September) and a 30-day follow-up showcase in which all exhibitors can still engage with retailers and buyers worldwide.
Retailers will not have to spend a single cent in attending – registration is free, and the virtual format means no travel & entertainment nor accommodation costs, and no time lost from the office.
Chim Esteban said: “This is a perfect example of ‘adapt to survive’. We will certainly have all our teams participate. We urgently need this initiative so we can stay connected with the trade. Moodie Davitt has given us a venue without risk to health and cost. Tremendous!”
Lotte Duty Free, arguably travel retail’s most advanced omnichannel player, said, “We will encourage all our buyers to attend.”
Other airports and retailers to confirm attendance to date include Aeropuertos Argentina, Aer Rianta International, Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, China Duty Free Group, Dubai Duty Free, Ever Rich Duty Free, King Power Group (HK), King Power International (Thailand), King Power Traveler, Ontario International Airport (California), Qatar Duty Free, Shenzhen Duty Free and 3Sixty Duty Free. The Moodie Davitt Report will use its unrivalled contacts in the retailer and airport community to encourage attendance.
Exhibition places are limited. Almost 100 brand and service companies have now registered their interest in taking a ‘Virtual Stand & Experience’ and many of the world’s leading travel retailers, food & beverage operators and airports have expressed their intention to attend. Enquiries continue to pour in each day.
As reported, Seva Group, the powerful distribution specialist owned by Severino Pušić, is a landmark partner of the event. The fast-expanding travel retail distribution group has operations in Panama’s Colón Zone, to service Latin America; Sydney, Australia; the Dubai Free Zone; its Dutch headquarters and a state-of-the art warehouse and distribution centre in Ploče, Croatia, which services global accounts. Seva Group also opened its first duty free store in 2018– in Metković, at the Croatian road crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Three Virtual Stand & Experience options are available to suit exhibitors’ budgets, in a pricing structure that very much reflects the difficult times in which the industry finds itself. Pricing tiers are differentiated by number of virtual touchpoints, size and location. A detailed Information Briefing presentation is now available to potential exhibitors and, excitingly, next week technical details will be revealed, including a range of Virtual Stand & Experience templates created by Singapore and London-based integrated retail, marketing and design agency FILTR, The Moodie Davitt Report’s Virtual Stand & Experience Partner for the Expo.
Critically, every exhibitor will have their own individual Account Manager, provided by FILTR. The agency will also provide a full press centre service at the Expo to ensure unprecedented visibility worldwide for exhibitors. This will include complimentary advertising in the official Expo Guide, and extensive coverage across The Moodie Davitt Report’s preferred B2B and B2C media partners in China, South Korea, and the travel retail channel.
Jing Daily, Larry Warsh’s acclaimed multi-lingual B2B title for the Chinese luxury, shopping and travel retail sectors, today became the latest media house to become a preferred partner.
Advancing aviation and travel industry interests for all stakeholders
Leading trade associations, including APTRA, ASUTIL and ACI, have also supported the initiative. ASUTIL for example, is providing complimentary access to the Virtual Expo to all its retail members (exhibitors are encouraged to provide multi-lingual materials on their Virtual Stands). All ACI events, physical and virtual, will be heavily promoted by the organisers.
The Moodie Davitt Report has made available free advertising (from now) and promotional facilities at the Expo to support the membership drives, role and events of all leading associations (including the Duty Free World Council and TFWA). We will also make a substantial commitment to a nominated sustainability cause to underline the event’s environmentally friendly credentials.
Newly appointed Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) President Sunil Tuli, King Power Group HK CEO will deliver a pre-recorded address at the Virtual Travel Retail Symposium that accompanies the Expo.
“This is a truly non-parochial, pan-industry event – embracing airports, brands, retailers (including those from airlines and cruise companies), F&B operators and other service providers,” said The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie. “We will be championing the work of industry bodies and, via free promotional opportunities and the Virtual Symposium, reaffirming their critical role.”
Strong symposium, awards and social elements
The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo will embrace the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards; and the inaugural Sightlines Awards – dedicated to airport advertising & communications. And, in a key addition to the symposium side of the programme, a session themed ‘Road to Recovery’ will feature major presentations by industry leaders across airports, retailers and brands, and by Bain & Company Italy.
The Symposium will also include findings from ‘The Trinity Initiative’ – a project being launched today by The Moodie Davitt Report in association with industry stakeholders (with partnership from Bain & Company) to identify the most equitable and sustainable airport contract models of the future. Bain & Company Italy partner Mauro Anastasi, a key driving force behind The Trinity Initiative, will deliver an important presentation on its findings and recommendations.
Several brands have also expressed interest in hosting virtual events, along the lines of The Moodie Davitt Report’s hugely successful Virtual Wine O’Clock held twice in recent weeks and again (as Whisky & Wine O’Clock) in Asia Pacific on Wednesday, 22 April.
Each exhibitor will receive complimentary advertising in the official Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo Guide as well as maximised publicity through The Moodie Davitt Report and official media partners, which to date include Chinese WeChat B2C platform Globuy, Vane Media of the US, and Travel Markets Insider, also of the US. Travel retail’s leading filmmaker, Peter Marshall of Marshall Arts and TRUnblocked, will be providing bespoke services to those seeking additional video collateral for the Expo at a special exhibitors’ rate.
Note: Exhibitor registration for the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo opens on 20 April. As mentioned, placed are limited. To pre-register your interest in advance as either a delegate (for which registration opens later) or as a potential exhibitor, please contact Gemma Aldridge at Gemma@moodiedavittreport.com and/or Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com
Key points about The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo • Buyers and airports attend for free – all at the click of a mouse. No travel, no hotels, no entertainment (though we think you’ll find it fun), no taxis. No stress, and no lost time on flights. |
