In Crisis – Travel Retail Voices: Christine Keeling, Long Haul Spa

Christine Keeling: Wellbeing products are set for strong growth in the post-COVID-19 era

There’s something that’s goin’ round, that’s shutting our borders down
It’s a bad time for our sick and our old
CNN’s nightly lullaby, tells of hundreds more that’ve died
I shut off the TV and think all alone, how long can this go on? – Jeff Orson, Pray

Welcome to In Crisis – Travel Retail Voices, our podcast series in which we speak to industry executives around the world to see how they and their businesses are coping with the COVID-19 crisis.

Today’s episode features Christine Keeling, Founder of Long Haul Spa, a Brisbane, Australia based beauty and wellness brand, launched in 2018. Canada-born Christine, a former flight attendant and software executive, says her mission is to turn “soul-sucking, complexion-destroying long haul flights” into comfortable ‘me time’ for passengers


The business got off to a highly promising start, its skincare set which offers travellers an “in-seat spa session”, proving appealing to retailers and consumers alike.

Long Haul Spa is an exhibitor at the inaugural Moodie Davitt Travel Retail Virtual Expo in October; Tel: +61 498 961 376;  Web: https://longhaulspa.com/; Email: chris@longhaulspa.com

But what happens to such a fledgling business if suddenly there are few or no travellers? Welcome to the unfortunate realities of COVID-19. But as Christine told Martin Moodie from Brisbane by phone, she’s now even more convinced that her product, built on a wellbeing premise, is the right product for the right time.

In February, Long Haul Spa expanded its reach in Asia Pacific by partnering with Singapore Airlines’ omnichannel business KrisShop. The new listing covers Singapore Airlines, Silk Air and Scoot.

Previously on In Crisis – Travel Retail Voices

May 12: Kevin Chiang, Ever Rich Duty Free

May 2: Robbie GillThe Design Solution

May 2: Michael Ripfl, Umdasch, The Store Makers

April 29: Heidi van Roon, Spark Business Services Group

April 25: Rüdiger Behn, Waldemar Behn

April 23: James Prescott, Harding Retail

April 22: Eugene Barry, Dubai Airports

April 21: Lal Arakulath, Kreol Group

April 21: Scott Collier, Toronto Pearson International Airport

April 20: Lisa Bauer, Starboard Cruise Services

April 17: Dan Cappell, Ontario International Airport

April 13: Gautom Menon, Wild Tiger Beverages

April 13: Sarah Branquinho, Duty Free World Council

April 10: Sinead el Sibai, Dubai Duty Free

April 7: Jonathan Holland of Jonathan Holland & Associates, Singapore.

April 7: Rob Wigington, Executive Director at the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association, US.

April 7: José Luis Donagaray and Inés Sisto Patron, ASUTIL

April 5:  Stewart Dryburgh, Nestlé International Travel Retail,

April 4: Pier Giuseppe Torresani, Masi; and Steve Corrigan, long-time duty free drinks executive

April 2: Founder of Duty Free Global, Barry Geoghegan

April 1: Vice President of Miami-based Essence Corp, Patricia Bona.

29 March: William Grant & Sons President Asia Pacific Doug Bagley

29 March: PMA Canada National Director – Duty Free Jeff Orson

27 March: Paul & Shark Global Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli

26 March: King Power Traveler President Rakhita Jayawardena

25 March: Public health expert Dr. David Heymann

24 March: King Power Group (Hong Kong) Group Chief Executive Officer Sunil Tuli

22 March: The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie

21 March: China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen

20 March: Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin

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