INTERNATIONAL. Amid soaring industry interest in the inaugural Moodie Davitt Travel Retail Expo, to be held in September and October, a detailed initial Information Briefing presentation is now available to potential exhibitors.
Over 80 brand companies have registered their interest in taking a ‘Virtual Stand & Experience’ and many of the world’s leading travel retailers, food & beverage operators and airport companies have expressed their commitment to attend (see details below). As reported, Seva Group is a landmark partner of the event. Enquiries continue to pour in each day.
Aer Rianta International CEO Ray Hernan today became the latest leading travel retailer to commit his management and buying team to virtual attendance, joining a growing line-up of the world’s most powerful operators (see list below).
The ‘live’ component of the Expo has now been extended to three days (currently set for 9-11 September but adjustable in light of an evolving COVID-19 situation), followed by a 30-day follow-up showcase when all Virtual Experience Stands will remain online 24 hours per day.
Additionally, full Virtual Stand & Experience technical details will be available from next week. As reported, The Moodie Davitt Report has appointed Singapore-based integrated retail, marketing and design agency FILTR as its Virtual Stand & Experience Partner for the Expo. Travel retail’s first Virtual Expo, Symposium and Awards event is being driven by VFairs, a long-established 5-star rated virtual event platform.
FILTR, which already works with a range of brands across global travel retail, will provide an Account Manager for every exhibitor to guide them through all the technical aspects of the Virtual Stand & Experience creation and ensure that their presentations are curated to a high standard. FILTR will also provide a full press centre service at the expo to ensure maximum visibility worldwide for exhibitors.
The Virtual Expo will be zoned by areas such as digital and technology; health & wellbeing; beauty; wines & spirits; hospitality (F&B to lounges to airport hotels); fashion & accessories; confectionery and fine foods; and watches & jewellery.
Accessible pricing in a year of austerity
Three Virtual Stand & Experience options are available to suit various budgets, in a pricing structure that very much reflects the difficult times in which the industry finds itself. Pricing tiers are differentiated by number of virtual touchpoints, size and location, starting at US$7,500 for Silver and rising to US$25,000 for Platinum.
There are no hidden costs to provide a high-quality presentation, though if an exhibitor has unique curated needs, additional services are on offer from FILTR.
Strong symposium, awards and social elements
Excitingly, The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo will embrace the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards; and the inaugural Sightlines Awards – dedicated to airport advertising & communications. And, in a key addition to the symposium side of the programme, a session themed ‘Road to Recovery’ will feature major presentations by industry leaders across airports, retailers and brands; and by Bain & Company Italy.
The symposium will also include findings from ‘The Trinity Initiative’ – a project being launched this week by The Moodie Davitt Report in association with industry stakeholders (with partnership from Bain & Company) to identify the most equitable and sustainable airport contract models of the future.
Several brands have also expressed interest in hosting virtual events, along the lines of The Moodie Davitt Report’s hugely successful Virtual Wine O’Clock that is being repeated this week and next across different time zones.
Buyers can visit without leaving their desks
As reported, travel retail’s first Virtual Expo will allow retailer and airport delegates from all over the world to visit exhibitors – offering an unrivalled level of direct buyer & airport contact – free of charge.
As a result, many of the world’s leading travel retailers have already committed to sending their full management and buying teams. They include Aeropuertos Argentina, Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, China Duty Free Group, Dubai Duty Free, Ever Rich Duty Free, King Power Group (HK), King Power International (Thailand), King Power Traveler, Ontario International Airport (California), Qatar Duty Free, Shenzhen Duty Free and 3Sixty Duty Free. The Moodie Davitt Report will use its unrivalled contacts in the retailer community to encourage attendance.
Leading trade associations, including ASUTIL and ACI, have also supported the initiative. ASUTIL for example, is providing complimentary access to the Virtual Expo to all its retail members (exhibitors are encouraged to provide multi-lingual materials on their Virtual Stands). The Moodie Davitt Report has made available free promotional facilities at the Expo to support the membership drives, role and events of leading associations (including TFWA) and will also make a substantial commitment to a nominated sustainability cause to underline the event’s environmentally friendly credentials.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “This is a show for our times. A complement to existing ‘physical’ shows such as The Trinity Forum and TFWA World Exhibition, it is an environmentally friendly, cost-conscious show that brings together the whole airport eco-system from retail through food & beverage and airport advertising. The technology is proven and easily manageable, the cost base hugely attractive, the potential buyer reach vast.
“We are thrilled with the reaction to date. The industry trusts us to deliver a very different kind of experience and we will do exactly that.”
Key points about The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo • Buyers and airports attend for free – all at the click of a mouse. No travel, no hotels, no entertainment (though we think you’ll find it fun), no taxis. No stress, and no lost time on flights. |
Each exhibitor will receive complimentary advertising in the official Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo Guide as well as maximised publicity through The Moodie Davitt Report and official media partners, which to date include Chinese WeChat B2C platform Globuy, Vane Media of the US, and Travel Markets Insider. Travel retail’s leading filmmaker, Peter Marshall of Marshall Arts and TRUnblocked, will be providing bespoke services to those seeking additional video collateral for the Expo at a special exhibitors’ rate.
Note: Exhibitor registration for the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo opens on 20 April. Places are limited. To pre-register your interest in advance as either a delegate (for which registration opens later) or as a potential exhibitor, please contact Gemma Aldridge at Gemma@moodiedavittreport.com and/or Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com
