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The Moodie Report Seoul Bureau is open for business.
I’ve arrived at the Grand Hyatt, where I will be joined by many industry colleagues over coming days. This year’s Trinity Forum has attracted over 500 delegates, an incredible number, with a very encouraging mix of airports, retailers and other service providers, and brands.
This morning I met with Yulim Lee (below), Manager International Relations at Incheon Airport, who, along with her colleagues, is doing an amazing job in making this demanding event happen.
Later I lunched with her, and two colleagues from Incheon International Airport Corporation’s (IIAC) fast-growing Overseas Business Group, my old friend Bum-Ho Kim (Director) and Mira Jung (Manager).
I also caught up with Sang-Ho Lee, Incheon International Airport’s Deputy Director, Concession Planning, who told me that he believes the airport will generate a +14-15% increase in duty free sales this year, off a world record US$1.53 billion in 2011. The new Louis Vuitton shop (the world’s first Vuitton store in an airport) alone is expected to attain some US$100 million in sales this year – absolutely remarkable.
Like all the IIAC team, Sang-Ho (below) is modest about past achievements but also determined to raise the bar – both in quality and sales terms – significantly in the future. The corporation has particularly exciting plans for the new passenger terminal due to open in 2017, while it’s also determined to raise its food & beverage game to the heights of its duty free offer.
You’ll hear much more about all that next week at The Trinity Forum. See you in Seoul.
