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One of the traditional highlights of the TFWA Asia Pacific show is the annual China Duty Free Group (CDFG) dinner at The China Club.
As always this year’s dinner was marked by superb hospitality, including a sumptuous eight-course meal.
Marketing Director Antonio Hao (below with me after the event) told guests that CDFG had opened 16 new stores in 2009, growing turnover by +7.3% despite the economic crisis.
He said that the company’s Sanya Bay store on the resort island of Hainan had opened in just 100 days, “which is really a miracle”.
Just as importantly, the group has opened three schools through its China Duty Free Hope Foundation, set up in response to the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, southwest China.
Many a glass of Moutai was raised (and downed) last night as CDFG honoured its closest business partners – of which The Moodie Report is proud to be counted as one. It was a show of great Chinese spirit in more ways than one.
[Catherine Bonelli of Lacoste Travel Retail and Joël Lafon of Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail celebrate winning some great prizes on offer last night].