Global presence, local support: ALTAVIA Group launches dedicated travel retail division

INTERNATIONAL. ALTAVIA Group has officially launched its new travel retail arm, ALTAVIA Travel Retail. The new division promises to “offer new perspectives” and provide solutions that enhance travellers’ online and real-world journeys in a transformed travel retail world.

The ALTAVIA Group has over 2,500 employees and is present in 45 countries supporting retailers and brands in travel retail and beyond.

ALTAVIA Travel Retail brings the company’s travel retail experts together under one umbrella. It offers a broad range of services including strategy and concessions’ master planning, store design, temporary and permanent point-of-sale management, online and offline activations, digital and social media activations and global production management.

With five regional offices and a team comprised of 12 different nationalities, ALTAVIA Travel Retail combines a vast global presence with a localised approach  

ALTAVIA Group Founder and CEO Raphaël Palti commented, “For years now, ecommerce, sustainability, multi-channel retail and shifts in consumer behaviours have disrupted traditional retail and our teams have been supporting retailers and brands in their transformation with bespoke solutions at every stage of the value chain. With the unique positioning of ALTAVIA Travel Retail, we now aim to support the transformation of the travel retail channel.”

The group is consolidating its travel retail expertise by combining its HRG, ODG Agency and Creative Capital subsidiaries. HRG is a UK-based retail and shopper marketing agency, ODG is a Dubai-based brand agency and Creative Capital is a Shanghai-based design agency.

The newly-formed ALTAVIA Travel Retail team comprises 12 different nationalities based in London, Dubai, Hong Kong and soon Singapore.

The new travel retail arm combines ALTAVIA Group’s HRG (UK), ODG (Dubai) and Creative Capital (China) subsidiaries

ALTAVIA Travel Retail Head Hugo Vanderschaegh commented, “Thanks to our experience with all the key stakeholders of the industry; GTR brands, retailers, food service companies and hub operators, we have a comprehensive view of the travel retail ecosystem. Today, with ALTAVIA Travel Retail, our clients will benefit from our global presence and a true online/offline expertise to better craft every touch point of the traveller’s journey.”

According to the company, a localised approach is better suited to address the specific needs of its travel retail clients. It also notes that understanding the regional and cultural context of the travel retail consumer is central to its approach.

ALTAVIA China Business Managing Directors Jing Legrand and Louis Houdart explained, “Our experience of working with local brands in China for years has helped us to build a deep knowledge of the Chinese consumers who account for many today’s global travellers and shoppers.”

Sustainability is one of the key pillars of the newly-formed ALTAVIA Travel Retail, which developed the sustainability strategies of numerous high-profile travel retailers in Asia and Scandinavia.

ALTAVIA Travel Retail Europe Business Manager Lucy Tugwell commented, “For over ten years now we have been partnering with global brands to deliver strategy, creative and implementation across permanent, promotional and category projects. Our strong understanding of the channel, the changing landscape and shopper missions allows us to create and deliver platforms both physically and digitally that draw in the traveller and create engagement which in turn drives sales and brand awareness.

“Our new offering as Altavia Travel Retail, will now more than ever, allow us to not only continue to build on the support we can offer to brands but also enable us to forge stronger relationships between them and the retailers through our enhanced understanding of their joined-up objectives,” she added.

ALTAVIA Group was founded in 1983. In 2020, the company reached a turnover of €650 million (US$776 million).

The Moodie Davitt Report and ALTAVIA Travel Retail this week launch Design Curated;, a new regular eNewsletter series that offers a curated selection of stories focused on design in travel retail and beyond.

Note: As with all Moodie Davitt Report media, Design Curated is free of charge. If you would like to be added to its mailing list (or to those for any other Moodie Davitt titles), please click here.

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