Pre-registration for the 2019 TFWA China’s Century Conference, which will be held in partnership with APTRA at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Sanya, Haitang Bay from March 5-7, is now open at www.tfwa.com.
China Duty Free Group (CDFG), Central Japan International Airport Co. (Nagoya), Alibaba, Ctrip.com and Lagardère Travel Retail are among those companies taking to the stage at the Conference. The Department of Commerce and Department of Finance of Hainan Province will Co-Host the event with TFWA and Sanya Phoenix International Airport is the Official Airport of this year’s event. CDFG has also confirmed its support as Diamond Sponsor; Cartier and Interparfums have joined as Platinum Sponsors.
Among the highlights of the conference on Day 1, CDFG President Charles Chen will share his vision of the future of travel retail in China. Kevin Guo, General Manager of Strategic Cooperation and Marketing Innovation for Ctrip.com, will examine the latest travel and shopping trends among Chinese tourists, while Masanao Tomozoe, President and CEO of Central Japan International Airport Co. (Nagoya) and Eudes Fabre, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail China will discuss the changing tastes of Chinese travelers.
The conference will preview highlights from an exclusive research study commissioned by TFWA and APTRA and conducted by Counter Intelligence Retail, which looks at new trends and perceptions among young Chinese consumers. Speakers including Mirko Wang, CEO of popular shopping comparison app Jessica’s Secret will offer additional insight. A panel of senior executives from WeChat and Alibaba will offer their perspectives on the rise of e-commerce and resulting changes to consumer behavior.
Day two of the conference will explore further core themes affecting the Chinese market, ranging from the growing influence of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to new opportunities arising from the growth in the cruise market in China. Economist and author Ann Lee will explore how the world is conducting business with China, and Dr. Eve Ren, President of the Institute for Tourism Studies, and Andrea Belardini, CEO Asia, ME and Australia at Dufry, will analyze the future of Chinese domestic tourism and resulting opportunities in travel retail.
Other confirmed sponsors of the event include luxury travel retailer DFS and fashion accessories brand Furla, who will sponsor the Gala Dinner and day one lunch respectively. Joining them are Coccinelle as Lanyard Sponsor and Shiseido as Conference App Sponsor, while Mondelez will support the coffee break on the first day of conference and jointly sponsor delegate gifts alongside Rituals. Also supporting the conference are Guangzhou Feishang as Conference Portfolio Sponsor and PVH brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger as Hostess Outfit Sponsors.
Attendees can register for TFWA’s ONE2ONE personalized appointment service, through which they can apply for private meetings with other registered delegates. Full details of the ONE2ONE service and social activities are available on TFWA.com.
Alain Maingreaud, TFWA President, said: “As we mark the 40th anniversary of the Chinese duty free and travel retail industry, TFWA China’s Century Conference looks set to be as compelling as ever. I’d like to thank all our sponsors and speakers for supporting the event, which will provide delegates with exclusive insight into this fascinating and fast-evolving market.”
