TFWA China Reborn
ccc
From a focus on luxury and the trappings of wealth to a preference for exploration and experience over possessions, nowhere are consumer tastes evolving faster than in China. The third TFWA China’s Century Conference (7-9 March in Guangzhou) will examine the current state and future direction of duty free and travel retail’s most influential market.

building

One measure of China’s importance is the calibre of the companies involved in the forthcoming Conference. Leading retailers DFS Group and Lagardère Travel Retail (respectively Gala Dinner- and Platinum sponsors) join event host Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co, landlord at one of the country’s fastest-expanding airports and home to China Southern Airlines, in supporting the 2017 edition. The programme, to be published shortly on tfwa.com, will explore the latest infrastructure developments and retail opportunities in China, while also charting Chinese consumer preferences as they develop. With contributions from other prominent airport stakeholders Shanghai Airport Authority, Beijing Capital International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, the debate will be well-informed as well as lively.

The recent rise of off-airport and downtown stores has highlighted the potential outside the aviation sector, too. Here, the Conference will address two new topics increasingly relevant to those targeting Chinese travellers. Asia’s cruise industry goes from strength to strength, and Starboard Cruise Services, a major player in this channel with a regional base in Hong Kong, will offer delegates its perspective on a market rapidly gaining momentum. And as a world leader in high-speed rail, China boasts an extensive network with over 20,000 km of track linking major cities and tourist destinations. The scope for brands and retailers to engage with passengers is vast.

Hotel

Held at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Guangzhou, the third TFWA China’s Century Conference will provide a uniquely incisive assessment of present and future trends in this crucial market with its travelling consumer. Industry professionals with an interest in China or Chinese passengers should mark their diaries now.