TFWA China Reborn
TFWA China's Century Conference 2019
From analysis of China’s ever-evolving travellers and retail trends to updates on the country’s flourishing duty free and travel retail scene, the 2019 TFWA China’s Century Conference (5-7 March in Sanya Haitang Bay) is the ultimate briefing on the industry’s most influential market.

mobile payScale, complexity and speed of change are just three of the challenges facing anyone marketing to China, yet duty free and travel retail professionals can’t afford to ignore the country and its outbound consumers. Such is the Chinese traveller’s purchasing power that retailers adapt their in-store offer to his or her taste, recruit Chinese-speaking staff and accept payment via WeChat and Alipay, while brands hone their Chinese social-media strategy and launch New Year gift packs. Timely, authoritative market intelligence is key to the success of these initiatives, which is where TFWA China’s Century Conference comes in.

speakersThe event offers a uniquely comprehensive briefing by leading industry players and commentators. China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen will share his thoughts on the future of travel retail in China. The country’s outbound passengers will be profiled in a session on Free Independent Travellers by Ctrip’s Kevin Guo, with their airport expectations discussed by Masanao Tomozoe, President and CEO of Central Japan International Airport Co (Nagoya) and Eudes Fabre, CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail China. 

speakersDomestic trends inevitably shape traveller habits, so two sessions on younger consumers will explore the findings of new TFWA / APTRA-commissioned research into their attitudes, while current shopping tendencies are examined by Mirko Wang, CEO of shopping comparison app Jessica’s Secret. Completing the domestic-market picture, senior WeChat and Alibaba executives will review retail’s developing blend of physical and digital, and the impact of Key Opinion Leaders on consumers wary of traditional marketing methods will also be examined.

China’s thriving duty free and travel retail sector gets extensive coverage. The burgeoning cruise channel, anticipated to attract 4.5 million Chinese passengers next year, will be evaluated. David P W Jea, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou International Airport, will present this fast-growing tourist gateway. Its counterpart in Xian also goes under the microscope, and there will be updates on current travel trends within China plus emerging destinations.

The two-day programme includes ample scope for networking, and TFWA’s ONE2ONE personalised appointment service will be on hand to arrange introductory meetings.   

View the Conference programme