TFWA Workshop: Market Watch China

China’s travellers are once again reshaping global retail—this time setting the pace for what next-generation travel retail looks like. As expectations shift beyond price and product, the spotlight is moving to emerging brands, creative storytelling, and retail experiences designed to surprise, engage and endure. 

This TFWA Market Watch workshop explores the forces redefining China’s travel retail landscape—from Hainan’s role as a live testing ground for retail innovation to the growing influence of social media ecosystems and AI-driven consumer insights. Joining the discussion are Yvonne Chan, Chief Operations Officer of China Duty Free Group, offering the retailer perspective from the world’s largest travel retailer; Brian Lai, Founder of Brandstar, bringing insights into the power of China’s social media and digital engagement strategies; and Vince Li, Chief Scientist and AI Business Partner at DeepZero, exploring how data and artificial intelligence are shaping the next generation of retail experiences. 

As China’s inbound and outbound travel markets enter a new phase of growth, the session asks a critical question for the industry: how ready are we to deliver travel retail that truly feels next generation? 

The workshop will be moderated by Hannah Gao, China Chief Representative, TFWA.