Virtual becomes reality: From Miami to… planet earth – 3Sixty Free joins wave of support for Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo

ONLINE.  Miami-based airport and airline retailer and supplier 3Sixty Duty Free has become the latest travel retailer to commit to ‘sending’ a full management and buying team to the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo to be held on September 9-11.

As reported, the event has already attracted the commitment to attend (virtually) of China Duty Free Group, Dubai Duty Free, King Power Group (HK), King Power International (Thailand), King Power Traveler, Ontario International Airport (California), Qatar Duty Free, and Shenzhen Duty Free.

Travel retail’s first Virtual Expo will allow retailer and airport delegates from all over the world to visit exhibitors; enter closed chat rooms with them; view new launches and existing products in brochure, video and pictorial form; and much more besides in a private business format.

Two brand companies have already agreed to exhibit – SEVA Group, the fast-expanding travel retail distribution group and border shop retailer with operations in Panama, Sydney, Dubai and Croatia: and Glenfiddich-to-Hendrick’s independent brand owner William Grant & Sons. The Moodie Davitt Report is also in discussions with another 35 brand companies.

South American duty free association ASUTIL has committed to supporting the event (all its retail members management and buying teams will be able to attend for free) and also taken up the offer of a complimentary promotional area. The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo will intensively promote the critical work, role and physical events of trade associations such as ACI, ASUTIL, APTRA, TFWA and others to help rejuvenate the sector after the devastation caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Virtual becomes reality: The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo is born

All exhibitors will receive a full ROI analytics and lead report detailing all attendees who visited their virtual stand. An auditorium will host the award ceremonies and conference presentations, all themed around the theme of ‘The Road to Recovery: How the new industry landscape needs to look’.

Sector digital pioneer Benny Klepach says, “We’re in; we’re bringing the whole team”

Crucially, delegate attendance will be free to airports, retailers and other commercial service providers, thus ensuring that these key sectors of the travel retail community can get together without having to leave their desks.

3Sixty Duty Free Chairman Bernard ‘Benny’ Klepach, whose company has been at the cutting edge of new-age travel retail with its embracing of the omnichannel concept in locations such as Singapore, told The Moodie Davitt Report: “We’re in; we’re bringing the whole team. It’s a great concept.”

Since announcing the virtual Expo, which is designed to complement existing physical events such as The Trinity Forum, TFWA World Exhibition and various ACI conferences, The Moodie Davitt Report has been overwhelmed with inquiries. An initial presentation package is currently being finalised and will be sent to all those to have registered interest next week.

The Moodie Davitt Travel Retail Expo will also embrace the 2020 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards, previously scheduled for 2-3 September in Istanbul (cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis), and the inaugural Sightlines Airport Advertising & Communications Awards & Workshop.

The Moodie Davitt Report is in talks with several trade associations to help promote their crucial roles, activities and events at the Travel Retail Expo. All trade associations will be offered complimentary advertising space.

We are also talking to several digital services providers to enhance the format, quality and reach of the Expo and are pleased to announce that travel retail’s leading filmmaker, Peter Marshall of Marshall Arts and TRUnblocked, will be providing bespoke services to those seeking video collateral for the Expo at a special exhibitors’ rate.

Marshall said: “This is another important and major innovation from Moodie Davitt which meets the needs of the industry and am delighted to be associated with this project. I see The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo as being perfectly timed to correspond with the industry rebuilding itself. Simply put, this Expo ticks all the boxes – providing a great platform for the industry to get together in a way that best matches time, cost and connectivity.”

Virtual becomes reality: The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo is born

Media partners

Several media titles have also signed as official Media Partners. They include Globuy, “the KOL of Chinese travel retail”, which has a monthly audience of 1 million views for its WeChat social media platform promoting new launches, product availability, promotions, and special offers. Globuy will work with The Moodie Davitt Report to ensure maximum brand visibility in China to Virtual Expo exhibitors.

Others are Lois Pasternak’s Travel Markets Insider, an invaluable and trusted information source for travel retail in the Americas; and Vane Media, Cristina Alcivar’s innovative North American media house which focuses on airport wellbeing services (from spas to therapy dogs) and will give particular coverage to exhibitors from the wellbeing space.

Registration to open this month.

Registration for the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo will open on 15 April. To pre-register your interest in advance as either a delegate or as a potential exhibitor, please contact Gemma Aldridge at Gemma@moodiedavittreport.com and/or Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com

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