CHINA. The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has announced details of its speaker programme for the third TFWA China’s Century Conference in March.
The organisation said influential figures from China’s duty free and travel retail sector would share their thoughts and experiences. Speakers will include China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen, DFS Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus, Lagardère Travel Retail Asia Pacific COO Emmanuel de Place, King Power Group (Hong Kong) Managing Director Sunil Tuli, Bally CEO Frédéric de Narp and China Southern Airlines Chief Marketing Officer Guo Zhiqiang.
The conference is being held in partnership with the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) and is being hosted by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co. It will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guangzhou between 7 and 9 March.
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen and APTRA President Jaya Singh will provide the welcoming addresses.
The organisers said a number of China’s airports would be in attendance, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Xiamen, Liaoning, Qingdao, Yichang, and Zhejiang.
The conference programme will also focus on the Chinese retail environment and its consumers, while exploring key emerging trends and the impact of new technology. TFWA said speakers would include Chinese entrepreneurs, authors and academics such as Helen Wang (author, consultant and founder of The Helen Wang Group), Dr Edward Tse, (founder and CEO of Gao Feng Advisory Company), and Alvin Wang Graylin (Chinese entrepreneur).
TFWA will also explore the burgeoning Chinese cruise market in a session led by Horizon Consumer Science Vice President Michael Feely and Starboard Cruise Services Vice President and General Manager Asia Emily Wong.
The conference will feature TFWA’s ONE2ONE meeting service and a social events programme. The event will kick off with an opening cocktail at the W Hotel Guangzhou, the first W hotel in mainland China. A gala dinner on the second evening will take place in the Onyx Ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Official sponsors include platinum partners Lagardère Travel Retail, China Duty Free Group and Interparfums. DFS Group will host the gala dinner. Other sponsors are Furla, Incheon International Airport, Mondelez, Harison, Guangzhou Feisun, Travalo, KT International, APTRA, Al Mazaya, Coccinelle, Lacoste, and Bally.
Footnote: The Moodie Davitt Report has produced a special print edition, with Mandarin translation, for the China’s Century Conference. The issue features an in-depth China report plus a major on-location report from South Korea and is out shortly. It will be available to read using our newly-launched Moodie Davitt Interactive service.
