Up close and personal in travel retail – Sponsored by Victorinox
The risk in describing Daxing is that you might run out of superlatives. It is an extraordinary testament to architectural genius; and a statement that airports can be beautiful as well as functional, soul-enriching as well as commercial and efficient.
It’s less than two months since I was here last but during that short gap CDF-Sunrise Duty Free has made impressive headway on the ambitious expansion and refurbishment of its beauty and fashion offer at Beijing Capital International Terminal 3.
The end result represents one of the world’s only skincare bio-discovery gardens, a place of wonder and great beauty. You could walk around the estate for hours, your jaw dropping at every turn.
Just about every kiwi from newborn child to old-age pensioner is tuned into the fortunes of national side, the All Blacks, who are pursuing an unprecedented third successive tournament triumph (#AllBlacks3peat).
When you look at the inflight screen flight path and you see the Antarctic looming up as next stop beyond your destination you know you’re a long way south.
Which airline could keep me connected for longest and with the best line speed? Cathay won hands down. I suspect I am not the only travel retail executive deciding that connectivity is key to choice of carrier.
If you watch one video of our industry this year, I suggest you make it this one.
The retailer’s decision not to bid on the Changi liquor & tobacco concession – which it has held unbroken since 1980 – came as a shellshock to everyone. Many tears were shed. The DFS team here is like family.
Severino is a charismatic but distinctly low-key man. His word is his bond and he believes passionately in his principles, in his company and in his people.
The Louis Vuitton store in T3 is a brilliant combination of a great brand proposition, an instagrammable experience and a thrilling affirmation of Changi Airport’s justifiably renowned shopping offer.
As always at HKIA there are plenty of ‘Opening Soon’ hoardings, such as the ones for Cartier and Miu Miu pictured. I love the way that Airport Authority Hong Kong never sees its job as done and constantly refreshes its retail and food & beverage offer.
“Finding an exit strategy is almost always the most difficult part of anti-government mobilisation, and it remains unclear how the spiral of violence can be halted now.”
This seems a sure-fire bet, with a return per square metre way better than most luxury boutiques.