The Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October) continues to gain momentum with several inspirational social and business leaders added to the Knowledge Hub speaking program and more exhibitors signing up, reports event organizers/owners, The Moodie Davitt Report and event partner FILTR.QINGWA.
The deadline for exhibitor bookings is August 16.
Lagardère Travel Retail China has become a Platinum Partner and exhibitor within the Hainan Discovery zone at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. Drinks company Campari, which won five global design, experience and marketing awards for its Fly Campari Group Virtual Stand during the inaugural Virtual Travel Retail Expo last year, returns this year as a Gold Partner.
Mast-Jägermeister is another big name to return. Jägermeister, one of the world’s biggest-selling spirits brands, will be showcased via another high-impact Gold virtual stand. Other partners include confectionery & food leader Mondelez World Travel Retail (Gold) and German eyewear specialist Rodenstock (Silver), each returning having exhibited successfully at the 2020 event.
Taipei-based travel retailer Ever Rich Duty Free has confirmed its presence as an exhibitor within the newly developed Retailer Empo-rium, alongside other leading retailers. To see an up-to-date list of retailers, please click here.
Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB) has become a Co-Organizer of the Expo and Host of a major standout of the event, the Hainan Discovery zone.
Lead, Inspire, Transform
The Knowledge Hub will feature a diverse range of high-quality speakers under the pillar themes of the event: Lead. Inspire. Transform.
Under Inspire, the opening day of the Knowledge Hub (October 11) will feature Tegla Loroupe, Founder & President of the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation & Chef de Mission for the Olympic Refugee Team in Tokyo.
Tegla is a former champion Kenyan long-distance track and world record-holding road runner and a passionate global spokes-woman for peace, women’s rights, education for all and recognition and compassion for the displaced.
Later during the first day under the Lead theme, Mignon Bucking-ham, CEO, Airport Dimensions will then present a special session on Envisioning The Airport Experience of The Future – a Consumer-centric View. Airport Dimensions is a global leader in delivering airport lounges and traveler experiences.
Mignon Buckingham has played a significant part in the growth of Airport Dimensions’ parent company Collinson for over 20 years.
This session leverages consumer research especially commissioned for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, and will focus on understanding traveler needs, demands and aspira-tions for the airport experience of the future.
Day Two, the Knowledge Hub will provide a special session under the Transform theme led by Marc-André Kamel, Global Head of the Retail practice and leading member of Bain’s Full Potential Transformation practice. He will be joined by Mauro Anastasi, Partner, Bain & Company Italy and Jack MacGowan, Director, Castlepole Consulting.
The trio will offer a key follow-up to the Trinity White Paper written by Anastasi and MacGowan that was published earlier this year in association with The Moodie Davitt Report.
Among other findings, the paper said that travel retailers need to embrace digitalization (CRM, data-enabled commercial decision making, omni-channel focus etc.) to a much greater degree, in a way that is customized for the channel. Kamel will address what this means in practice and how such a vision can be achieved.
Registration
All registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event. Participants are in with a chance to win tickets for the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively. Click here to register.
For exhibitors, the event features a range of Virtual Stands at different price levels, each offering a high-class digital experience, and visibility to the global travel retail community. As noted above, the booking deadline is August 16.
For details on exhibiting or sponsoring the Virtual Travel Retail Expo please email Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com or Sarah@MoodieDavittReport.com
