UAE. Dubai Duty Free has launched its ‘Year of the Dog’ campaign with a Chinese-themed celebration at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.
The event was attended by the Dubai Duty Free team, lead by Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, and guests from the Dubai Chinese Consulate and Chinese media.
Consul General Lingbing Li, Vice Consul General Li Tan, Commercial Consular Lei Jin, Consul Qun Zhang and Deputy Consul Weiyun Deng represented the Chinese Consulate.
Dubai Duty Free attendees included Chief Operating Officer Ramesh Cidambi; Executive Vice President-Corporate Services Salah Tahlak; Executive Vice President-Commercial Nic Bruwer and other company officials.
The Chinese New Year celebration commenced with a traditional dragon dance taking place from T3’s Concourse B to Concourse C. Dubai Duty Free management and guests took part in a ceremonial ribbon and cake cutting.
Traditional Chinese calligraphy and tea-making ceremonies also took place while a Dubai Duty Free Chinese staff member entertained attendees with a violin performance.
[The video above highlights Dubai Duty Free’s Chinese New Year celebrations and promotions]
“We are delighted to be joined by the Chinese Consul General, Ms. Lingbing Li; Vice Consul General Mr. Zhenshan Wang; and Vice Consul General Ms. Li Tan, along with other officials from the Chinese Consulate and the media to launch the celebration for the Chinese New Year,” commented McLoughlin.
“This is the most significant festival on the Chinese calendar and celebrated not only in China but around the world.
“China is a very important market for Dubai Duty Free and every year we try to come up with innovative promotions and activities to provide our Chinese customers with a memorable shopping experience during this festive period,” he added.
Consul General Li added: “We are delighted to join Dubai Duty Free in celebrating the Chinese New Year at Dubai International Airport. Chinese New Year remains one of the most important occasions for the Chinese and Dubai Duty Free acknowledges the significance of this holiday to its customers through traditional festivities and offering special initiatives. We wish Dubai Duty Free continued success.”
For the Year of the Dog campaign, Dubai Duty Free has joined Union Pay International to offer customers a chance to win either a Huawei Mobile Mate 10 or Dubai Duty Free gift cards valued from Dh30 (US$8.20) to Dh188 (US$51), between 31 January and 2 March.
Themed retail areas will feature products popular among Chinese travellers across Dubai Duty Free’s stores at the airport. Design elements include traditional Chinese imagery in red and gold, signifying good fortune and joy. Members of Dubai Duty Free’s Chinese staff will also dress in traditional costume.
Promotions include a -20% discount on top-selling Chinese cigarettes. Dubai Duty Free’s product range also includes brands that have designed Chinese New Year packaging, such as Bateel, Godiva, Patchi, Lindt, Lancôme and Givenchy.
As part of the celebration, the Dubai Duty Free executive team presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the first group of Chinese staff to join the company that have completed 10 years of service. Dubai Duty Free employs almost 5,900 staff including 693 Chinese nationals.
