CHINA. The Moodie Davitt Report’s weekly WeChat Official Account continues to go from strength to strength, not only building its own presence and voice in China but also driving a surge in traffic on MoodieDavittReport.com
The Moodie Davitt Report is the only international travel retail media title to offer a WeChat platform.
The title, published every Monday, is published under the direction of Penelope Zhou, our Hong Kong-based Chinese Editor and company Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, also based in Hong Kong.
For editorial or native content enquiries please contact Publisher Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com.
Here are some highlights of the past two editions.
Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex unveils TimeVallée collection of top luxury watch brands
13 June was a red-letter day in the development of Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex, as the travel retailer formally opened the Timevallée luxury watch concept at its Sanya store.
Richemont-owned TimeVallée is an innovative multi-brand boutique concept offered to all luxury watch brands and operated by external independent partners. TimeVallée boutiques introduce fine timepieces through an upscale and engaging store experience designed to go beyond traditional retail norms.
The TimeVallée collection, sited on the first floor of the Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex features Baume & Mercier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin, all renowned for a long history of high-end watchmaking and creative culture.
CDFG President Charles Chen paints bright picture for wines & spirits in Hainan duty free
Elsewhere in Hainan, China Duty Free Group (CDFG) President Charles Chen shared some fascinating insights into the beneficial impact of Hainan’s offshore duty-free policy on the wines & spirits sector.
Speaking via video link at the French Association of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS) Annual General Meeting, Chen also emphasised the promising prospects for the global alcoholic beverage market.
“The implementation of Hainan’s offshore duty free policy has tapped into the huge potential of duty free shopping among Chinese consumers,” said Chen. “This also puts Hainan in the spotlight of the global tourism and retail industry, drawing attention from recognisable brands around the world.”
Diageo and China Duty Free Group reveal luxury spirits pop-up in Haitang Bay
In a story that bears testament to Chen’s ‘bright picture’ for wines and spirits, Diageo Global Travel, in partnership with China Duty Free Group (CDFG), opened a Johnnie Walker pop-up store at the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haitang Bay, Hainan.
The store, open throughout June, majors on luxury spirits from the Johnnie Walker range, led by Johnnie Walker Blue Label, along with exclusive limited editions from the wider Diageo portfolio. These include a series of single malts curated by Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, in a collection that explores unusual age points and experimental maturation techniques.
Giorgio Armani Beauty lines enjoy the limelight with China Duty Free Group in Haitang Bay
May was a big month for Giorgio Armani Beauty in Sanya as L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific and China Duty Free Group mounted spectacular showcases for new feminine fragrance My Way and ultra-premium skincare range Crema Nera.
The My Way pop-up featured a captivating outdoor podium at the CDF Mall in Haitang Bay. The podium featured a 3-metre My Way flacon, a VR travel experience, and a personalisation zone where customers received a polaroid to commemorate their My Way experience.
The exclusive Crème Nera pop-up kicked off on 1 May, during the Golden Week holidays, and was hosted at the Sanya EDITION Hotel. Guests to the exclusive activation embarked on a personalised skincare journey through a series of immersive activities. It also featured an interactive masterclass that allowed them to discover the science and reviving properties behind Crema Nera.
FAQ steps up digital presence in China
FAQ, the Foreo-owned anti-aging device has stepped up its presence in China by opening with the CDF Online shop on the retailer’s WeChat Mini Program. The brand also inaugurated its long-awaited FAQ Tmall Store on 19 May.
FAQ has made rapid progress in China travel retail since its launch at the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo last October. It already enjoys a strong offline presence with China Duty Free Group (CDF Group) in the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex and the retailer’s Mova Mall store in Haikou.
New Milan-Haikou cargo charter route brings key goods directly to duty free retailers in Hainan
In a big boost for travel retailers in Hainan, a newly-launched a new fashion tie-up has launched the first international freight charter flight route directly from Milan to Haikou, the China News Network reports.
On 7 June, the China-Europe Fashion Express platform – formed in May and unveiled at the recent China International Consumer Product Expo in Hainan – introduced the Milan-Haikou international cargo route.
Gebr. Heinemann announces Macau opening
Moodie Davitt WeChat also reported on major news from Gebr. Heinemann which announced that it will be opening a new downtown duty free store in Macau this autumn.
The Macau store, located within the Lisboeta Hotel, will feature 780sq m of space mainly dedicated to perfumes & cosmetics.
The shop will expand Gebr. Heinemann’s presence in Greater China and at the same time give the company a foothold in a very popular destination for Chinese travellers.
The Moodie View
In his latest The Moodie View column, The Moodie Davitt Report Founder and Chairman Martin Moodie said that the COVID-19 crisis is far from over and that booking an offshore summer holiday is “unlikely to happen for most”.
Moodie references a recent ForwardKeys survey that states that the level of international air travel this summer (1 June-31 August) is set to be just under a quarter (23%) of pre-pandemic numbers (2019).
ForwardKeys said that the main reason for such low numbers is not so much COVID-19 itself but governmental reaction to the virus and the travel restrictions imposed in response.
Moodie said, “For the travel retail sector, the real winners out of this ongoing dire situation will be domestic travel locations, led by Hainan in China and Jeju in South Korea. Hopefully some more international air travel ‘bubbles’ — as seen between New Zealand and Australia – will be created soon.”
