INTERNATIONAL. More leading names have joined a powerful speaker line-up for the Knowledge Hub for the second Moodie Davitt Travel Retail Virtual Expo, with others to be named in coming days. The event takes place on 11-15 October, with registration open and available here.
As reported, the Knowledge Hub will feature a diverse range of high-quality speakers under the pillar themes of the event: Lead. Inspire. Transform.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker promises to be a major highlight, against the backdrop of the company’s continued investment in the airline network, Hamad International Airport and Qatar Duty Free’s expansion. As reported, Qatar Duty Free is marking its 21st anniversary this year in style by unveiling an enhanced retail portfolio of 21 new shopping and food & beverage outlets.
Qatar Duty Free is returning as a Diamond Partner of the 2021 event, and as co-host with The Moodie Davitt Report of The QDF Factor, a hugely popular addition to the inaugural programme in 2020.
Heathrow Airport Retail & Property Director Fraser Brown will assess the future for travel and travel retail at the UK’s leading airport post-pandemic and post-Brexit. Click here for the cover story from our most recent eZine, in which Fraser Brown takes an upbeat long-term view of our sector despite the current challenges.
This year’s Virtual Expo Knowledge Hub will carry a special focus on food & beverage, a critical element in the consumer experience. Among the confirmed speakers is Óscar Vela, Chief Executive of travel dining and retail specialist Areas. More will be named shortly.
As the full impact of the pandemic hit last year, Expedia Group Senior Director North American Market Management and Lodging Silvia Camarota, aided by a network of like-minded friends and associates, set up Women in Travel Thrive, with a mission to help reduce the impact that the crisis has had on women’s career progression.
Camarota and fellow Thrive member, Aer Rianta International Retail Analytics Manager Mary Wyse, will be key speakers within the Knowledge Hub programme. Click here for a recent interview with Silvia Camarota.
As reported, a high-calibre Knowledge Hub programme with a difference – and many new faces – is promised by organisers The Moodie Davitt Report and support partner FILTR.Qingwa. Each day will feature sessions dedicated to the Lead, Inspire and Transform themes, as noted above, with speakers drawn from both inside and outside the travel retail community.
Other speakers as reported include:
• Michael Schriver, President North Asia, Louis Vuitton (Speaking in a personal not corporate capacity): One of the most knowledgeable and respected voices in Asia’s luxury retail sector and former President Worldwide Store Operations and Chief Operating Officer at DFS Group.
• Phillip Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer at IPP Travel Retail and Vice President Business Development Imex Pan Pacific Group, Vietnam: Imex Pan Pacific has emerged as one of Asia’s most visionary corporations, with interests spanning luxury, retail, airport management, mixed-use leisure developments, food & beverage, technology, media and more.
• Ray Gaul, CEO and Co-founder at Retail Cities: Retail Cities is a global retail data and insights firm, primarily focused on fast growth industries and markets. It is the urban retail authority and our passion is addressing our clients’ business questions in retail with our expert, unbiased and fact based approach. Ray Gaul Ray is the former VP Retail Insights, EMEA at Kantar Consulting where he spent 20 years.
More additions will be named in coming days, with the full agenda published shortly.
The Knowledge Hub at the 2020 Virtual Expo received widespread praise for the depth and insight of its programme. It featured 42 Knowledge Hub sessions that attracted 30,051 views, and 32 Experience Hub sessions with 9,147 views.
As reported, all registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event. Participants are in with a chance to win tickets for the leading retailer’s popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively.
Click here to register for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021.
