Sky Connection creates a buzz at Hong Kong International

The following two tabs change content below.
Martin Moodie is the Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Report.

Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)

 

piper_small

The Moodie Blog is in Hong Kong, en route to the annual TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore.

The world may be going through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression but you wouldn’t know it from walking around Hong Kong International Airport. As usual Airport Authority Hong Kong and its commercial partners have decided the best form of defence is attack – in this case through heightened promotions, continued investment and a major focus on creating a constant but diverse consumer experience. On Friday there were two major shop openings – Fauchon with Aelia and Lagardère Services Asia Pacific – which we’ll report on in our next Blog.

When I first touched down on Thursday, after the long flight from Heathrow Airport, the only real change from my last, pre-crisis visit was the number of passengers and staff wearing face masks, in deference to the swine flu scare.

My first stop as I was preparing to transit to the Macau ferry was the Sky Connection wines & spirits store. What an excelllent retail offer this has become. It’s a super mix of standard, premium and ultra-premium spirits across all categories, supported by a wine offer that’s arguably second to none in the airport world.

 

johnnie-walker_small3

Some strong promotions are located on the outskirts of the shop to lure passengers in. Some of the displays, from Martell, Royal Salute, Johnnie Walker and Piper Heidsieck in particular, are simply top notch.

There’s also a marvellous, circular central area dedicated to Moët Hennessy. Called Espace (and pictured below), it brings together all the luxury brands of the Moët Hennessy wines & spirits portfolio in a shop-in-shop concept. It’s designed to create a luxury retail environment for wines & spirits and it does that and much more besides. In fact it lifts the whole ambience of the store.

moet_henessey_ap_feb09_01moet_henessey_ap_feb09_02[To listen to The Moodie Podcast recorded in the Sky Connection store, click on the following link – http://www.moodiereport.com/podcast/Podcast175.mp3