2020 Programme

Registration

Welcome Cocktail

The Sand, Shangri-La Sanya Resort & Spa

Dress code : Casual
Beach shoes recommended

Sponsored by:

Coffee

Welcome from moderators

John Rimmer, Trevor Lai and Michele Miranda

Welcome addresses

Alain Maingreaud, TFWA President
Andrew Ford, APTRA President

Welcome remarks

by Yao Lei Deputy Director of Department of Commerce, Hainan Province

Welcome remarks

by Wang Huiping Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Director of Department of Finance, Hainan Province

Embracing the era of new travel retail

The pace of change in Chinese duty free & travel retail continues to accelerate. Faced with changing consumer needs and expectations, the market’s most successful companies are harnessing big data, e- and m-commerce in order to ensure the duty free offer remains attractive. To open the TFWA China’s Century Conference, Charles Chen, President of the country’s leading travel retailer China Duty Free Group, will explore how the human touch, sense of place, and digital technology are intertwined in the traveling consumer’s journey. He will also share his vision of the future of travel retailing in China at a time of rich promise.

Disrupting the market

As e-commerce continues to grow its share of wallet in China, retailers are being forced to update their strategies to marry the best of digital and physical. To lure shoppers today, retailers catering to Chinese shoppers need to redefine the retail experience. This session will hear from WeChat Pay International Business Development Director Stephanie Du, the multi-purpose app with over 1 billion monthly active users, on how new modes of consumption are shaping spending and perceptions among Chinese shoppers.

Coffee break

Hosted by:

Ctrip and the future of Chinese travel

Chinese travellers are heading to new destinations and exploring new interests. The growing importance of Free Independent Travellers, in particular, is forcing brands and retailers to reassess their approach to the market.

This session will feature China’s largest online travel agency Ctrip and the company’s General Manager of Strategic Cooperation and Marketing Innovation Kevin Guo. The company’s access to the travel preferences of millions of Chinese tourists gives it a unique perspective on the future of the sector.

Regional opportunities

Reputed among China’s most pleasant places to live and visit, the cities of Xian and Hangzhou are central to the country’s plans to drive inbound tourism. The cities’ airports are among China’s fastest-growing outside the main megalopolises. This session will hear from Hangzhou International Airport Deputy General Manager David Jea and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Deputy General Manager, Chief Operations Officer & Chief Commercial Officer Heinrich Gabel.

Lunch

Hosted by:

Understanding Young China - Part I

This session will hear highlights of an exclusive new research study commissioned by TFWA and APTRA to explore the trends, perceptions and expectations of young Chinese consumers in the 18-30 age bracket. The findings of the study will be presented by one of its authors, Research Director Stephen Hillam of NPD Travel Retail.  Providing a perspective from one of the world's leading luxury brands will be Cartier International Travel Retail Director Cécile Naour. 

Understanding Young China - Part II

The rise in spending power among young Chinese consumers is driving the rebound in the sale of premium goods. This session will look in detail at current shopping and spending trends among Chinese shoppers, both within China and abroad. Featuring Mirko Wang, CEO of shopping comparison app Jessica’s Secret and Robert Lee, Chairman of China National Service Corporation (CNSC).

Coffee, Networking and ONE2ONE meetings

Hosted by:

Gala Dinner

Northern Event Lawn, Grand Hyatt Sanya

Dress code: Smart Casual
Flat shoes recommended (suitable for the lawn)

Please note that any special dietary requirements must be advised by 6pm on Tuesday 5 March at the latest (TFWA registration desk). beyond that date, dietary options will depend upon what is available.

Hosted by:

Coffee, Networking and ONE2ONE meetings

Hosted by:

Welcome from moderators

Global China

While nationalist and protectionist policies gain ground in the West, is China the last defender of free trade and globalization? How will the current international political climate change how international companies interact with China? What is the business outlook for China today?

To explore the factors influencing the way the world is conducting business with China, the conference will hear from leading economist Ann Lee, author of the book What The US Can Learn From China.

China: an international perspective

The world’s biggest travel retailer, Dufry, has a keen understanding of Chinese traveller behaviour thanks to its presence within Greater China, Asia Pacific and beyond. In this session, the retailer’s CEO Asia, Middle East, Australia and Eastern Europe Andrea Belardini will offer an international retailer’s perspective on the potential of the China market, and of the steps our industry must take to keep pace with the country’s increasingly demanding and sophisticated consumers.

Chinese domestic travel: new frontiers

Investment in transport & tourism infrastructure within China has opened up a vast domestic travel market with rich potential for travel retail. This session will look at current trends, influential projects and emerging destinations, and explore the development of the Chinese duty paid market.

Featuring Dr Lianping Ren, Assistant Professor, Institute for Tourism Studies; and Sunil Tuli, Managing Director, King Power Group (HK).

The KOL wave

In recent years, the Key Opinion Leader (KOL) phenomenon in China has been central to the growth of the premium and luxury goods markets. As many Chinese consumers are suspicious of information distributed through traditional marketing channels, KOLs provide a form of advertising often seen as more genuine and trustworthy. Is the KOL wave a fad or here to stay? How can brands harness the power of KOLs while avoiding the pitfalls? In this session KOL expert Hu Yuwan, Chief Operations Officer of Daxue Consulting, will address these questions and more.

Lunch

Hosted by:

Open seas

By 2020, China’s Ministry of Transport expects the number of Chinese cruise travellers to reach 4.5 million. More and more Chinese tourists are opting to cruise to destinations in Asia, and capacity is growing rapidly to meet the demand. What are the opportunities for cruise operators, retailers and brands? This session will explore the potential of one of China’s fastest-growing tourism markets with MSC Cruises Head of Retail Adrian Pittaway and Rajshree Dugar, Associate Director Corporate Strategy & Business Development at leading operator Heinemann Asia Pacific.

Meeting new demands

How are airports and retailers catering to the changing tastes and expectations of Chinese travellers? This session will hear from some of the companies working to adapt their retail strategies to an increasingly demanding clientele. Featuring Masanao Tomozoe, President and CEO of Central Japan International Airport Co (Nagoya); Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Marketing Director Wieke Vrielink; and Eudes Fabre, CEO North Asia, Lagardère Travel Retail.

Keeping pace with change

China is considered by many observers to be the world’s innovation hub. The pace of change in the country is unrelenting, and its influence ever greater. In the final session of the conference, delegates will hear from Mike Walsh, author, futurist and CEO of business consultancy Tomorrow, on the technological advances that are shaping business, consumption and everyday life in China and beyond. Mike will offer insights on how brands and retailers can deliver in an age when consumer expectations have never been greater.

Closing remarks

by TFWA President Alain Maingreaud.