Engaging, Educational, Interactive: Virtual Travel Retail Expo Experience Arena set to wow

Virtual Travel Retail Expo visitors can enjoy dynamic digital events, featuring virtual tastings, product showcases and informative webinars at the new and improved Experience Arena

INTERNATIONAL. The upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October) will feature 28 engagement sessions from 20 companies in the new-look Experience Arena, one of the event’s most exciting and engaging components.

Attendees can attend the sessions live or watch them ‘on demand’ at any point during the week or in the six-week, post-event ‘encore’ period that follows.

Visitor registration is open here. The event is run by The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA, with co-organiser Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development. Registration is free for all travel retailers and airport companies.

The Experience Arena programme features a diverse line-up of presentations across categories. Each presenting brand promises to wow Expo attendees with dynamic and interactive digital events. The Experience Arena will also host several virtual lounges for networking and serve as a platform to launch, promote and educate visitors about products and services through virtual masterclasses, tastings and live demonstrations.

Either pre-recorded or live, these 30-minute segments will be streamed to a global audience. Below we present more of the highlights you can look forward to [Click here to read more about previously announced Experience Arena sessions]. 

Day 1: 11 October, Monday

Wangfujing: Building a New Wangfujing Duty Free

14:00 SGT | 07:00 GMT +1

While powerful Chinese retailer Wangfujing Group is a relative newcomer to the travel retail sector, it is clearly intent on stamping its mark on the channel. In this session, Wangfujing Group will outline its strategy to building an exciting Wangfujing Duty Free operation based on a deep understanding of the Chinese consumer and strong support from the Beijing Government.

The illuminating session will be led by Wangfujing Group Vice President Grace Zeng and Chief Operating Officer Cathay Sun. Ms Zeng has served as Deputy General Manager, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection and Member of the Party Committee of Wangfujing Group since 2013 and held several leadership roles in the company.

With a rich experience in prestige cosmetics, luxury business management and a deep understanding of the Asian market, Ms Sun joined Wangfujing Group as Chief Operating Officer in 2020. Earlier she spent ten years at P&G where she led a team of 700 staff.

(Left) Wangfujing Group Vice President Grace Zeng and (right) Wangfujing Group Chief Operating Officer Cathay Sun will outline how the retailer is shaping an ambitious new Wangfujing Duty Free division

Proximo: A Guided Tasting of Bushmills Whiskey Black Bush 8020 and Dobel 50 Cristalino luxury tequila

19:00 SGT | 12:00 GMT +1

Proximo will showcase the travel retail-exclusive Bushmills Black Bush 8020 PX Cask Reserve and Cristalino Tequila brand through a virtual tasting session 

Proximo Spirits is inviting Expo attendees to discover a new travel retail-exclusive blend from Bushmills and learn all about the luxurious Cristalino Tequila brand through a guided virtual tasting experience.

The session, led by Proximo Tequila Advocacy and Activation Manager Stelios Papadopoulos and Bushmills Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador Lauren McMullan will highlight the unique flavour profiles of the two expressions.

Papadopoulos, the only non-Mexican to be given a tequila connoisseur title by the Mexican government, will expand on the popularity of the Cristalino Tequila brand as he guides guests through the powerful flavours of Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Anejo tequila.

Meanwhile, McMullan, who was born just 12 miles from the Bushmills distillery, will offer an exclusive first look at the channel-exclusive Bushmills Black Bush 8020 PX Cask Reserve.

(Left) Proximo Tequila Advocacy and Activation Manager Stelios Papadopoulos and (right) Bushmills Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador Lauren McMullan

Diageo: A global travel retail product reveal

21:00 SGT/14:00 GMT+1 

Hosted by Diageo No & Low Alcohol Brand Ambassador Christie Knight and Diageo Global Travel Retail Marketing and Innovation Director Dafydd Pugh Williams, this session will showcase a brand new global travel product reveal.

Knight has held On-Trade Specialist and Brand Ambassador roles throughout her career in Diageo and has recently stepped into the role of No & Low Alcohol Brand Ambassador. She oversees Seedlip, Æcorn, Tanqueray 0.0% & Gordon’s 0.0% Gin.

Dafydd Pugh Williams has over 15 years of experience in the drinks industry and a wealth of knowledge in developing creative strategies based on future trends. He leads a talented team in Diageo Global Travel to drive growth and ensure that Diageo is operating in a responsible way, ensuring that alcohol plays a positive role in society.

(Left) Diageo No & Low Alcohol Brand Ambassador Christie Knight and (right) Diageo Global Travel Retail Marketing and Innovation Director Dafydd Pugh Williams will introduce a new global travel retail product from Diageo

Stoli Group: Sustainability: One Vision. One Mission.

22:00 SGT| 15:00 GMT+1

While many companies are planting trees to offset emissions, Stoli Group is challenging the mindset and has committed to changing the way the spirits company is doing business for good.

This session, led by Stoli Group Global Sustainability Leader Elisa Whitehouse will shed light on how the company has committed to building a sustainable future. With sustainability at the heart of the group’s DNA, Stoli Group will share its ambitious plan to deliver one vision and one mission: to establish the most powerful and sustainable ultra-premium spirits and wines portfolio by 2025.

Day 2: 12 October, Tuesday

Spark Group of Companies: Activations in a New Retail Era – Designing a New Promotional Framework

11:00 SGT / 04:00 GMT+1 

How can brands and retailers best prepare for a new in-store and in-person sales and promotional experience while managing costs?

What supports are needed for operational efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability all while keeping consumer behaviour front and centre.

This webinar, led by Spark Founder and President Heidi Van Roon, will outline a new framework that serves the retailer, the brand, the staff, and the consumer with a focus on sales in the retail landscape.

Lagardère Travel Retail: Duty Free, the next big step for Lagardère Travel Retail in China

12:00 SGT / 05:00 GMT +1 

Lagardère Travel Retail Asia Vice President of Merchandising Terry Chua will outline the retailer’s next big move in China

In recent years, Lagardère Travel Retail China has been heavily committed to duty paid retailing, a channel which has emerged as an increasingly significant growth driver for the company.

Now, Lagardère is taking its next big step into China’s travel retail sector, a great space for industry stakeholders to work together and raise the bar in terms of quality, execution and brand image.

In this engaging session, Lagardère Travel Retail Asia Vice President of Merchandising Terry Chua, formerly Vice President of Perfumes & Cosmetics and General Merchandise of China Duty Free Group, shares his thoughts on Lagardère’s next move in China.

Lindt & Sprüngli: Travel the world with Lindt Chocolate

14:00 SGT / 07:00 GMT+1 

Audiences will experience a (virtual) day in the life of a Lindt Maître Chocolatier

Confectionery company Lindt & Sprüngli invites Expo attendees to virtually experience a day in the life of a Lindt Maître Chocolatier, who are responsible for creating the company’s confectionery products.

The Lindt Maître Chocolatier will give visitors an inside look into how each Lindt chocolate is created.

He will take audiences on a trip around the world and share inspirations behind typical sweet surprises from different regions, using Lindt Chocolates.

Diageo: Introducing the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Experience
15:00 SGT/ 08:00 GMT +1

Diageo Global Scotch Ambassador Ervin Trykowski will take Expo audiences ona mind-bending journey to discover the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Visitor Experience

Don’t miss out on an exclusive behind the scenes look at Diageo’s brand new Johnnie Walker Princes Street Visitor Experience. Transport yourself into the heart of Edinburgh during our Experience Arena session with Diageo Global Scotch Ambassador Ervin Trykowski and walk through the brand-new Visitor Experience with Edith Bowman.

Along with his role as Diageo Global Scotch Ambassador, Ervin Trykowski is an award-winning bartender, presenter, educator and mastermind of creative experientials. Erv is a pioneer of the new age of Scotch – repositioning Scotch as a category poised to take over the world and creating mind-bending Scotch experiences and activations that inspire and provoke.

Fekkai: Discover Fekkai Clean Sustainable Hair Care & Styling

18:00 SGT / 11:00 GMT+1

Fekkai, one of the world’s first sustainable, professional salon brands to deliver high-performance haircare, will be hosting a virtual Q&A with its Founder Frédéric Fekkai. Attendees are invited to discover the world of Fekkai and learn about its salon-tested collections and its mission to help make the beauty industry cleaner and more sustainable, one bottle at a time. Click here to read our interview with Frédéric Fekkai.

Fekkai will be joined by Commercial Officer Crystal Wood and Head of business Development Courtney Bostick.

Day 3: 13 October, Wednesday

One Red Kite: People Power – Recruiting for the Travel Retail Industry

15:00 SGT / 08:00 GMT +1

In this illuminating Experience Arena Session, One Red Kite Director Jill Brocklebank will shine the light on ‘The People Factor of Travel Retail’. The session will discuss the role and value of people in the channel and what that means in the reshaped world in which we live and work. The session asks what will recruiting look like in the future and what challenges are being faced in the market now?

Brocklebank has had a long career within the travel retail sector, working for World Duty Free before moving on to The Estée Lauder Companies. Passionate about people, she established a bespoke travel retail recruitment service, where she connects the right talents to the right businesses in the industry.

One Red Kite Director Jill Brocklebank will underscore the power and value of people in travel retail

Day 4: 14 October, Thursday

Jägermeister: A live masterclass with Global Brand Ambassado Nils Boese

16:00 SGT / 09:00 GMT +1

Jägermeister is inviting Expo attendees to join a live virtual masterclass and discover the story behind this world-renowned brand.

Led by Jägermeister Global Brand Ambassador Nils Boese, who will be broadcasting live from Berlin, the interactive masterclass will reveal the secrets behind the brand’s recipe and its 12-month ageing process. It will also showcase the Jägermeister, Jägermeister Manifest and Jägermeister Cold Brew Coffee expressions.

Jägermeister Global Brand Ambassador Nils Boese will lead Expo attendees through a live masterclass to learn all things Jägermeister

Lagardère Travel Retail: Digitalisation Opportunities in Travel Retail

17:00 SGT / 10:00 GMT +1 = live

Lagardère travel Retail North Asia CIO Zhu Gang will highlight the benefits of going digital in travel retail in this informative session

While the travel retail sector has historically relied on business travel and tourist traffic, the global pandemic has caused a profound shift. With those travellers still facing constraints even in the post-COVID period, how does Lagardère Travel Retail maximise opportunities in digitalisation and beat the competition?

Led by Lagardère travel Retail North Asia CIO Zhu Gang, this session will explore what benefits the travel retail community can gain by advancing its digital credentials.

Gang was appointed Lagardère North Asia CIO in July 2021 and oversees IT function and digital strategy, leading the roll-out of Lagardère’s digital transformation.

Gang has accumulated 24 years of experience in IT. Before joining Lagardère Travel Retail, Gang held leadership roles in well-respected global companies such as L’Oréal, GE, Richemont and Shiseido.

The Dalmore Ensemble Collection — A Multi-Sensory Virtual Experience

18:00 SGT / 11:00 GMT+1 

Whyte & Mackay is inviting Expo attendees to experience a ‘symphony of sensations’ at The Dalmore Ensemble Collection Virtual Experience. Audiences will see, hear and enjoy the new line by joining Global Single Malt Specialist Stephen Martin, as he reveals the latest travel retail exclusive collection from The Dalmore Distillery.

The three new, beautifully orchestrated Single Malts are presented with bespoke music and art commissioned from award-winning creatives, offering an uplifting, multi-sensory feast for the senses.

A symphony of sensations: Whyte & Mackay Global Single Malt Specialist Stephen Martin will be introducing the new travel retail exclusive range from The Dalmore

Ahmad Tea – Tea Discovery Experience

 10:00 SGT / 12:00 GMT+1

Ahmad Tea Head of Global Marketing Tracey Wakelin, Ahmad Tea Senior Tea Taster Dominic Marriott and Cambridge Tea Consultant Joyce Maina will be sharing the company’s love of extraordinary tea with an immersive and interactive virtual Tea Discovery Experience.

Attendees will be able to explore Ahmad Tea’s wonderful selection of quality teas in this intimate tasting experience. The session draws upon four generations of expertise to seek out the world’s finest tea gardens. It aims to inspire tea drinkers everywhere with Ahmad Tea’s passion, dedication to quality, commitment to community and the environment, and ceaseless exploration of new flavours and blends.

(Left to right) Ahmad Tea Head of Global Marketing Tracey Wakelin, Ahmad Tea Senior Tea Taster Dominic Marriott and Cambridge Tea Consultant Joyce Maina will host an immersive virtual tea tasting 

 

 

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