News

QATAR. The next edition of The Trinity Forum, the world’s most influential airport commercial revenues and travel retail gathering, is to be held in Qatar’s capital Doha on 3-4 February 2026.

The move from the event’s recent late October or early November timing represents a return to The Trinity Forum’s long-standing early-year scheduling.

It is designed to ease pressure on industry executives attending a series of late-2025 events.

These include TFWA World Exhibition (28 September to 2 October); the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association Conference (traditionally late November) and the ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition 2025 (25-28 October), the last-named considered the most important global gathering of airport leaders and which this year is combined with the ACI North America Annual General Assembly.

The Trinity Forum is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and co-organised in a highly successful long term partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

Qatar Duty Free is the host for the 2026 event, as revealed during The Trinity Forum 2024 Gala Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, arranged superbly by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group.

The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie, who founded The Trinity Forum in 2003, said: “The Doha 2019 Trinity Forum will live forever in the memory of all those who attended. And given Qatar Duty Free’s and Hamad International Airport’s extraordinary progress since then, it is clear the 2026 follow-up will stake new, elevated ground in the history of this key sector event.

“Having spoken to multiple sector stakeholders, we know that in an overly cluttered industry calendar The Trinity Forum’s new – and permanent early-year – timing will be widely welcomed.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh commented, “We are thrilled to share that The Trinity Forum is returning to Doha in 2026! We welcome the revised timing as a brave and industry-friendly initiative that will maximise attendance not only at Trinity but also at other important sector events. It’s an outstanding example of putting industry rather than parochial interests first.

“After an incredible event here in 2019, it’s great to bring everyone together again. Since then, we’ve made huge strides in redefining what’s possible in travel retail. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been up to.

“On behalf of Qatar Duty Free, The Moodie Davitt Report and the respective ACI partners, we’re delighted to welcome both new and familiar faces to Doha for The Trinity Forum 2026. Get ready to experience the best of Qatari hospitality and prepare to be amazed.”

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Director General Stefano Baronci added, “We are excited for what promises to be an inspiring and impactful gathering, driving meaningful connections and advancing the future of aviation retail.

“Over the years, The Trinity Forum has evolved into a premier event for airport commercial excellence. It has become a must-attend gathering for industry stakeholders and experts to explore innovate business models and tap into emerging trends and markets.

“Along with our sister organisation ACI World, we are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report for our 2026 edition in Qatar, with Qatar Duty Free as our gracious host. We look forward to welcoming you in Qatar.”

ACI World Director General Justin Erbarcci said: “Qatar Duty Free’s selection as the host of The Trinity Forum 2026 is a perfect choice for the world’s leading airport commercial revenues conference.

“Together with our esteemed co-organisers, The Moodie Davitt Report and ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, we are thrilled to bring this prestigious event to Doha again. The Trinity Forum consistently provides a unique platform for collaboration among the world’s airports, brands, and concessionaires, alongside their partners, sparking innovative discussions that are transforming business models and the passenger experience.” ✈

AIRPORT WONDERS OF THE WORLD

As a taste of things to come for delegates to The Trinity Forum 2026, take a look at Airport Wonders of the World, a three-part film series launched last year with the first tri-partite edition dedicated to Hamad International Airport and Qatar Duty Free.

The Moodie Davitt Report is pleased to announce our continued support for the One Tree Planted initiative at next year’s Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards and The Trinity Forum.

As reported, the 2025 FAB event will be hosted by Spanish airport operator Aena in Barcelona, Spain on 25-26 June.

The Trinity Forum will return to Qatar next year, with Qatar Duty Free hosting the world’s leading airport commercial revenues event.

For each delegate attending either event, a tree will be planted, reaffirming the company’s long-standing commitment to ecological responsibility.

The campaign is also part of The Trinity Forest Project, a Moodie Davitt Report initiative that has led to the planting of more than 6,500 trees since the Virtual Travel Retail Expo in 2020.

Since 2019, The Moodie Davitt Report has planted one tree per delegate at its events, contributing significantly to global reforestation efforts.

As part of this year’s project, 271 trees were planted in the USA for FAB and 405 in Asia for The Trinity Forum.

The collaboration with One Tree Planted highlights a shared commitment to conservation, protection of endangered forests and combating climate change.

Over the past ten years, One Tree Planted has introduced more than 135.5 million trees across 82 countries, restoring over 292,864 acres of forest and making urban environments greener.

FAB and Trinity delegates will add to that number, with The Moodie Davitt Report pledging US$1 per individual registration, the cost of planting each tree.

Separate from events and as part of The Moodie Davitt Report’s carbon offset programme, we have also planted more than 800 trees so far with the charity Oblong Trees. You can see where those trees have been introduced across the world via this link. ✈

VIETNAM. At a glittering Trinity Forum Gala Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City on 6 November, two leading industry figures – Imex Pan Pacific Group Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen and outgoing Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh – were honoured with awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Airport Commercial Revenues Sector.

Each year The Trinity Forum recognises individuals who have stood out during their careers for achievement and excellence.

Assessing the career of Johnathan Hanh Nguyen – whose company co-hosted The Trinity Forum in Vietnam – The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “He has not only shaped the history of the aviation, tourism, travel retail and luxury sectors in his country but that of the nation itself.”

“It was Johnathan who effectively opened Vietnam to the world from the post-war blockades it was suffering so dreadfully from by convincing President Marcos of the Philippines to allow a Vietnam Airlines jet to fly into Manila from Ho Chi Minh City on 9 September 1985 and five days later return with vitally needed supplies.

“It was a momentous occasion in Vietnamese history and will never be forgotten by the nation. In the ensuing years Johnathan has continued to work on behalf of his country to advance its remarkable transformation this century into an emergent Asian economic powerhouse with aviation central to that dynamic.”

Moodie added: “His is the narrative of a man dedicated to his country while simultaneously building a business empire that has transformed the nation’s fortunes across multiple business sectors, nowhere more so than in aviation, tourism and travel retail.”

Besides his leadership of one of Vietnam’s most powerful companies, IPPG, Nguyen is also Chairman of Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) and of Cam Ranh International Airport Company.

Moodie also highlighted Nguyen’s philanthropic and wider Corporate Social Responsibility contributions to Vietnamese society, saying he was “truly a deserving recipient” of The Trinity Award 2024.

Of Jaya Singh, who retires in January 2025, Moodie said: “He has given tremendous service to our industry on so many levels, as a highly successful executive on one level over more than two decades for his company, and as a thoughtful, committed and passionate contributor to industry initiatives and causes.

“He has been a champion of travel retail even at the darkest of times for the channel, and an unrelenting supporter of charitable projects.

“He has been a leader of regional and international trade associations. I was going to say as a fierce advocate for the category he represents but there is nothing fierce about this man, just a quiet but always well-articulated wisdom.”

Moodie added: “His influence in the evolving Trinity debate over the years both in public and – less-known – behind the scenes has been immense. I, along with all those who know him in the travel retail community, will miss his contribution greatly. Just as I, in common with so many, have gained so richly from it.”

*Click here for our day-by-day coverage from The Trinity Forum on 5-6 November. ✈

VIETNAM. Welcome to our rolling coverage of The Trinity Forum 2024, live from the Gem Center in Ho Chi Minh City (5-6 November).

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

The Trinity Forum 2024 is co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG).

Look out for our full report in a special post-Trinity eZine, out later this month.

Wednesday 6 November

Qatar Duty Free announced as The Trinity Forum 2025 host

The Trinity Forum will return to Qatar in 2025, with Qatar Duty Free announced tonight as the host for next year’s event. The news was revealed during the Gala Dinner at the Gem Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

We are excited to take the travel retail industry to such an outstanding location. Qatar Duty Free unprecedentedly holds the titles of Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year from The Moodie Davitt Report-owned FAB Awards and Frontier Airport Retailer of the Year for the second consecutive year.

A full story will follow on our website.

Gala Dinner

16:30 Closing remarks

16:05 Case study: Denver International Airport

16:00 Dubai Duty Free draw

15:45 Reinventing the airport experience 

In this session, moderated by Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery, Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur and Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) Global Head of Category Development Nicola Wells discussed how travel retail stakeholders can reinvent and reinvigorate the airport experience to better meet evolving consumer behaviours and expectations.

“Do we really need to reinvent or do we need to reinvigorate. What can we do within the framework that exists?” asked Wells as she explored NITR’s ‘Antidote to Apathy.’

She said: “At NITR, our ambition is to make food the number one most purchased category in travel retail.”

“Food is the biggest driver across category spend and can help us during these challenging times. If we’re not reinventing, it’s about reinvigorating. Food can be an ambassador for sense of place, it can be used to surprise and delight, it can also blend and blur what was once one-dimensional.”

In a dynamic presentation, Kapur highlighted how concept and convenience are driving TFS’s F&B and lounge strategy. He said: “While we’re introducing several global F&B concepts to India for the first time, there’s plenty of excitement around curated concepts.”

Kapur highlighted several case studies including Samba Square in Goa, South Indian food concept idli.com and Bombay Brasserie. “Our ATV growth is +20% driven by premiumisation and concepts such as these,” he added.

“In our top six airports over the last 12 months, the top performing brands have been TFS-curated brands. This shows how curating, innovating and customising F&B are creating real value in these key markets.”

In addition to curated concepts, TFS is also bringing convenience and efficiency to travellers with a diverse menu of meals, beverages and quick-service options with delivery straight to the gate within 15 minutes.

“Lounges are something we are really passionate about as a business opportunity,” Kapur added. “Araya is our lounge brand and really showcases how we do lounges differently at TFS. Every airport should have its own sense of place and not a cookie-cutter lounge concept.”

TFS operates the Adani and Zero Eight Zero lounges in India, Global Lounge in Malaysia, and Kyra Lounge in Hong Kong among many others.

14:45 The Vietnam opportunity 

14:30 Airport Dimensions and SACSO announce Vietnam partnership

Global airport lounge and travel experience company Airport Dimensions has confirmed a strategic partnership with airport commercial services provider Southern Airports Services (SASCO), a subsidiary of Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

The partnership was announced on stage at The Trinity Forum this afternoon by Airport Dimensions President EMEA & APAC Errol McGlothan (pictured below right) and Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of Airports Corporation of Vietnam) Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Van Hung Cuong (left).

12:40 Future-proofing the travel retail opportunity

This session featured Newmark Executive Managing Director Simon Black; Suntory Global Spirits Revenue Growth Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Sagar and MATARAT Holding General Manager Commercial (Non-Aero) Marcus Spahn who talked about how the channel can evolve to maintain relevance in a changing world.

Spahn shared the key pillars of MATARAT’s Vision 2030 goal and the strategic ‘building blocks’ required to achieve that goal. He said: “What differentiates us from other markets is that we are operating as an ecosystem.

“We are looking at the wider infrastructure and socio-economic development of the entire Kingdom. By 2030, our ambition is to have an operational PAX capacity of 330 million. In terms of traffic development we want to cater to 250 international destinations. In terms of commercial, we’re aiming for 45% of non-aeronautical revenues, which is ambitious. Finally, we want to have four of our airports in the top 100 of Skytrax rankings.”

Customer-centricity, experiential, sense of place, digital, personalised, partnerships and sustainability are the building blocks of Spahn and MATARAT’s future-proofing strategy.

Black urged delegates to place people at the heart of their commercial strategies. He said: “The aviation industry is responsible for 87 million jobs and indirectly responsible for 300 million jobs worldwide. We must focus on our our passengers, partners, consumers, guests and employees to future-proof our amazing industry.

“We’re fortunate enough to live in an era with amazing technological advancement but that should not come at the cost of focusing on people. Physical retail is not dead. It will continue to have big relevance in the future.”

Sagar underlined travel retail’s role as a brand-building, profit-generation and talent-development channel and shared how brands can best capitalise the travel retail opportunity.

He said: “Brands need to adapt to changes in consumer behaviour, deliver value across key stakeholders and simultaneously navigate the external landscape.

“To adapt to changing consumer behaviours, brands need to keep up with the evolution of the consumer, then adapt their product offerings and shopping experiences accordingly. Brands need to be agile to navigate the external landscape which means embracing technology and being flexible amid global marketing changes and regulatory evolutions.”

12:00 Lagardère Travel Retail leader Dag Rasmussen gives an upbeat outlook for the industry

Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dag Rasmussen shared his customary optimism for the future of travel retail in an absorbing interview with Martin Moodie.

“If we do our job correctly, travel retail has a great future,” he said. “We need good strategy and understand the evolving nature of passengers; they have free time and passenger numbers will keep increasing even in the face of economic challenges. The fundamentals for success are there.”

Rasmussen said the decision of passengers to use retail and F&B in airports is made quickly, so how these concessions are presented, variety in product assortments, having well-trained staff and easy payment methods are key.

He noted an important target for Lagardère Travel Retail’s product assortment in duty-free stores is that 30% of the ranges should evoke a sense of place. “If you are surprised each time you enter a store, you will buy more. Duty-free stores should not be uniform across locations because then people will buy only what they need and consequently spend less.”

An interesting discussion ensued surrounding airport-retailer contracts and Rasmussen’s preference for a profit sharing model. “Then you have a full alignment in your objectives,” he said.

He added he believes the Minimum Annual Guarantee system is not fair in many cases. “We need a rebalancing of risk and reward,” he asserted.

11:20 How to keep pace with or supersede passenger traffic growth

SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney and Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi discussed how their respective businesses are driving penetration and conversion amid a challenging retail environment.

According to Cidambi, a drop in penetration and spend per passenger, alongside continuous price increases from brands have created a disconnect between passenger growth and sales for Dubai Duty Free. Commenting on how the retailer is navigating that landscape, Cidambi said: “We are talking to each and every employee to motivate them to drive penetration and conversion on the shop floor.

“The second aspect is communication. It’s a difficult time, spend and penetration is down and all of us need to sharpen up,” Cidambi added.

“The last aspect is to continue investing in the retail offer. We’re renovating our Arrivals stores in terminals 1, 2 and 3 with new stores in concourses B and A opening soon. As simplistic as this sounds, the reality is that if the offer is fresh and the retail area is attractive – passengers will spend more money.”

Food & beverage operator SSP recorded positive results this year. Coveney said: “We are a US$5 billion business and we recorded +17% sales growth in this year.”

What’s driving this performance? Coveney said: “We’re having good results on average spend. We operate six formats: bars, casual dining, quick-service restaurants, coffee shops, restaurants and lounges. We wanted to have more format-specific expertise in those six areas.

“I felt that we were not strong enough in our bar and casual-dining proposition and put a lot of effort behind that in terms of design capability, customer engagement and the brands we’ve pulled in globally and locally. As a result, we’ve seen a huge step up in sales for bars and casual dining. The essence is trying to understand who our customers are and what our clients are looking for.”

Partnership is crucial to the SSP approach, Coveney said: “We are committed to growing the pie together. To do that we need to think of the channel as a single system. This idea that the commercial model is fixed is a total nonsense. The models are innovating just as quickly as the customer propositions are innovating.”

10:00 ANARA on the big non-aeronautical revenue issues

9:30 Taking customer service to new heights

TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airport Holdings CCO Aude Ferrand talked about the pillars of TAV’s customer service strategy. She said: “From retail to lounges, TAV and Groupe ADP share the same mission and that is to create memorable experiences.

“The first part is to create memorable environments that answer all customer needs no matter what they are. Because customer travel will be memorable if all their needs are fulfilled.”

“Quiet assistance is another key element,” she added. “Services such as fast track, meet and greet need to be both efficient and discrete to propose seamless travel without intrusion.

“The third pillar is to have a ‘shop, dine and rest’ offer that caters to all customers while creating surprises. At Istanbul Airport for example, you can buy souvenirs at the bazaar but also discover luxury products in the boutique.

“The last one is personalised service,” she said. “We try to offer personalised service not just in travel retail but also in the lounges. This is more than WiFi and good food. For example, in the lounge we offer à la carte menus to give customers exactly what they want.”

As TAV welcomes the next generation of travellers it is focusing on emotions, personalisation and social & environmental impact to engage with Gen Z customers.

Ferrand believes that loyalty is “a never-ending story” and highlighted how segmentation and “glocalisation” are crucial to driving airport hospitality.

9:10 Walking the walk on consumer-centricity

Click on the YouTube video above to watch The Moodie Davitt Report’s full video tribute to Colm McLoughlin 

Underlining the importance of consumer-centricity in the airports of today and tomorrow, Griffiths said: “The Trinity needs to work as a circular whole that puts the customer first. In the post-COVID world, customer behaviours have been changed by technology and we have to embrace that. One of the biggest challenges is that many airports are at capacity, and we somehow have to make the best of what we’ve got.

“If we can allow brands the freedom to express themselves, give them the right location, create the right adjacencies, facilitate that efficiently through seamless operations then that’s the way forward.

“We can all do better by collaborating and using the science and marketing might that brands have invested in to create a completely holistic retail environment. This is a real call to action to get our act together, get around the table and change the world.”

Offering a final message to the industry, Griffiths said: “This is a time of great change and with great change comes great opportunity. To make the most of that – let’s make it happen together.”

{Another view of The Trinity Forum opening film, first shown yesterday}

Tuesday 5 November

Joyous scenes from The Trinity Forum cocktail evening, Rex Hotel

19:45 The Trinity Forum 2024 opening cocktail comes to life at the Rex Hotel

17:30 IPPG and CDFG sign strategic partnership

In an important moment, Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) and China Duty Free Group (CDFG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a strategic partnership between the respective companies. The MOU was signed by VIPs from both companies and witnessed by guests including Martin Moodie and Dermot Davitt from The Moodie Davitt Report.

Recognising the long-standing relationship and mutual interests between Vietnam and China, this MOU aims to foster deeper partnership between IPPG and CDFG.

According to the partners, the agreement will enhance mutual growth, explore business opportunities and promote tourism between the two countries, contributing to enhancing bilateral relations.

The MOU will bring together key players in the travel retail and tourism sectors, each with a proven track record of success and innovation.

16:35 Case studies in adapting to new consumer mindsets

This session, moderated by Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery, featured an impressive roster of speakers, including Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; CAVU Experiences Head of Growth Robert Hassard and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad General Manager Hani Ezra Hussin.

Brown presented how Heathrow is blending digital and physical innovation to address the issue of limited space. He said: “We are growing our passenger numbers as an industry, which is great, but for many of us in legacy airports we have a space problem. We have the capacity to process passengers but we are constrained in the space we need to host passengers. This is because hosting involves hospitality.”

Brown added: “So, we’ve got constrained terminals and we want to deliver great service and grow passenger spend. When you have limited space and you don’t have ‘elastic walls’, then I argue that digital can be your elastic wall.

“Digital gives us the ability to offer more in terms of range and price than a physical space can allow. Ultimately, leveraging digital can deliver a great experience for both the passenger and the shareholder.”

To maximise yield and optimise conversion, Heathrow has launched a digital ‘Curated Marketplace’ which brings together world-renowned retailers and service providers. He added: “We are also leveraging Heathrow’s fulfilment capability to create best-in-class convenience, single payment, click and collect, virtual retailers, order to satellite, lounge gate or even collect on return.”

For current physical operators at Heathrow, the Marketplace solution enables brands to sell an extended range of products or categories that are not stocked within their terminal stores.

CAVU Experiences Head of Growth Robert Hassard offered different case studies on how passenger perceptions of airport lounges have changed.

Hassard said: “During and after COVID, lounges became a ‘safe space’ with awareness growing significantly. Lounges searched per passenger has grown +76% in the pandemic years with demands for lounges at an all-time high. Access through partners continues to grow and ATV has grown +40% as passengers are more willing to pay for high-level experiences.”

He explained that lounges are facing a capacity crunch and offered solutions on how airport operators can meet growing demand. He highlighted pre-booking, good partnerships and customer data as key enablers to elevate the lounge experience.

Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) General Manager Hani Ezra Hussin illustrated how MAHB is showcasing Malaysia’s distinctive cultural heritage to stay “always in, in a world of always on travellers.”

She said: “Travel shopping is witnessing a shift from cautious and casual to intentional spending. With less dwell time and high digital distraction, travellers want to make the most of their available time and are expecting capsuled cultural shopping experiences.”

She also highlighted Malaysia as ‘Asia’s Cultural Melting Pot’ and underlined MAHB’s approach of bringing ‘Malaysian uniqueness’ to life by delivering authentic and immersive cultural experiences such as cultural heritage pop-ups.

In addition, she underlined MAHB’s diverse and locally driven F&B offer which comprises 40% local Malaysian delights and 60% international brands resulting in a +40% increase in F&B sales compared to 2019.

16:15 The human touch: Nurturing a service culture

Jaquie Scammell, award-winning author of Service Habits 2nd ed and The Future of Service is 5D, explored how the industry can better embrace a service-oriented culture.

Scammel is a thought-leader in the field of service and CEO and Founder of ServiceQ – a business which partners with organisations to reimagine their service culture by developing conscious service leaders, engaged employees and loyal customers.

Scammel said: “A service culture can have many different interpretations. To promote a service culture in your organisations: first, your employees need permission to step outside of their technical job and assist a travel customer. Second, they need you to be explicit about what that looks like.

“Third, they need you to share with them and inspire belief that their job is not just technical and that the other half of their job is to serve.”

She added: “Most of your customers have heightened emotions when in your care and are stressed out, even the frequent flyers. Things such as strict timings, deadlines, loud PA announcements, keeping an eye out for children/family and dealing with crowded spaces all contribute to airport anxiety. Thanks to the airport’s high-stress environment, customer expectations are evolving.”

Scammel then presented the results of Melbourne Airport’s ‘Stepping Forward’ programme, which has achieved strong levels of advocacy among travellers.

The programme emphasises airport reputation and status, customer happiness, cost savings of retaining staff and improves productivity and efficiency.

15:30 Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol on the state of the travel retail industry

15:00 Travel retail opportunities knock in Riyadh

14:30 Charting the evolving China travel retail market

China Duty Free Group (CDFG) Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun shared her insights into the continued recovery of China’s travel market.

Sun said: “While China’s overall travel market is undergoing a rapid recovery and domestic consumption is growing, consumer demand has not yet rebounded as strongly as expected.”

Commenting on how CDFG is capitalising on the rebound of China travel and growing demand for home-grown brands, Sun presented the retailer’s ‘China Chic’ approach covering beauty, athleisure, digital products and jewellery.

“Despite the challenging market environment marked by a slowing domestic consumption and waning consumer sentiment, we have witnessed a remarkable emergence of China Chic brands,” Sun said.

“These brands have captured the hearts of young consumers. Gen Z consumers account for 74% of total local brand consumption, making them the primary driving force behind this trend.”

CDFG is offering strong portfolio of C-beauty brands, offering dedicated spaces.

The retailer recently hosted the ‘China-chic: Jinjiang Athleisure Brands’ launch event in Haikou, showcasing a diverse range of Chinese brands including Xtep, FILA, 361, Kelme, Shua and Lilanz. It is also shining the light on Chinese jewellery maisons Lao Miao, Lukfook and Chow Tai Fook.

Sun added: “In the first three quarters of this year, we have introduced 165 new brands across various categories. More than 40% of these are Chinese brands. These initiatives have not only driven incremental sales, but also foster a strong sense of identity and belonging to our consumers.”

She also discussed how CDFG is placing more importance on experiential value as consumers, particularly VIP customers, begin to prioritise experiences. She said: “While still in the in the early stage, this trend is also emerging among Chinese consumers who are placing increasing importance on experiential value.”

Sun illustrated CDFG’s consumer-centric approach to innovation and highlighted the CDFG Membership programme as a case study. “Our membership base has grown to nearly 37 million, with over 10 million active members each with an average annual spend of more than US$571. Among them over 300,000 high-tier Platinum and Diamond members have an even higher annual spend exceeding US$7,100.”

An excellent case study for how CDFG is innovating in terms of retail experiences is the Malt & More Whisky by cdf.

Sun said: “This innovative and immersive whisky experience centre features five distinct zones: whisky culture and appreciation, brand personalisation, whisky knowledge, retail sales and interactive experiences. With a size of over 3,000sq m, the store aims to provide consumers with a more engaging experience to foster a broader whisky market.”

Sun also highlighted The Beauty Concierge and L’OCCITANE Hotel animation at the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex as two other excellent examples of CDFG’s omnichannel and experience-led innovation strategy.

14:30 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise draw 

13:30 Lunch sponsored by Qatar Duty Free

12:25 Vision 2034 – How will travel retail evolve over the next decade

In this session, The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and Cappell Consulting LLC Founder and President Daniel Cappell moderated a session with cross-category brand leaders and airport service providers to explore how the channel will evolve over the next ten years.

Speakers included L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific Managing Director Jesús Abia; Airport Dimensions CEO Mignon Buckingham; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh; and Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly.

Singh urged the industry to adapt to strengthen relevance, to drive conversion especially as it is challenged by falling conversion rates. He said: “We see passenger numbers exploding but we see spend coming down. We see penetration and conversion at best flatlining. Is this a cause of concern? Yes.

“But I believe the future is bright because we have been through that curve before and we know that we can pull together to ensure that we have a bright future.”

According to Singh, the travel retail chocolate business is a US$4 billion category that is a 3% share of the global travel retail industry worth US$135 billion. He said: “We are going to see approximately 1.8 to 1.9 billion travellers this year. That represents 22% of the world’s population in a concentrated airport environment. There is a huge opportunity that is being missed.”

He added: “If you want to realise a fantastic travel retail opportunity, we need to scale up the winning formula. The future of travel retail is relevance.”

According to Singh, key pillars to strengthening relevance include shared success metrics to drive penetration and conversion through evolved price pack architecture, personalisation at scale and reimagining shopper value to turn time in-store to sales.

She highlighted how 50% of airport operator respondents said that airport spaces should be used for flexible and modular purposes that can evolve with changing concession needs and passenger demands.

Buckingham also presented examples of how Airport Dimensions is partnering with brands to capitalise on these insights and drive growth.

Abia, who is at the helm of L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific as the beauty giant navigates a challenging landscape in the region, expressed his optimism for the future of the industry. He said: “The beauty market is booming. By 2030, there will be 600 million more consumers in the beauty sector showing there is still a massive appetite for beauty. In terms of share of wallet, beauty is still number one. However, only one in ten travellers buy beauty in travel retail, which translates to a huge opportunity.

“In this increasingly digitalised world, I strongly believe that consumers are becoming phygital natives. This means most consumers will see and explore brands online first.

“Travel retail will be a place where they can discover the brand physically in-store,” he added. “At retail touchpoints, our beauty brands use a fantastic blend of immersive AI and digital, transforming beyond just a point of transaction, to a source of memorable brand experiences both physically and digitally.”

Abia highlighted recent Lancôme activations and flagship openings in Singapore Changi Airport and at the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex Global Beauty Plaza as case studies of how L’Oréal Travel Retail is adapting to create the beauty retail of the future.

Tassilly gave a preview of Diageo Global Travel’s vision for the future. She began by reinforcing the company’s ambition to double the size of the spirits category by 2030.

She said: “We can achieve this together by driving more footfall, ensuring that we continue to convert more, but also by compromising with each other. There is no partnership without transparency. If we have one common goal we can make this happen.

“As we continue to innovate with our travel retail expressions, we looked at the latest trends such as the acceleration of the tequila category. We pushed the boundaries. We disrupted with our activations. With Don Julio, we put DJs in silent airport, we delivered personalisation within seconds with Johnnie Walker. We continue to listen to what is important for the industry and for the planet.”

Tassilly also presented an innovative retail concept called ‘The Exploratorium of Spirits’, which has a focus on experience. She said: “We believe at Diageo that we need to step out of our comfort zone. We are very good at innovating, understanding trends, shoppers and travellers. But if we as an industry sit together and look at how we can design the future of the traveller together, then we can really unlock the future of travel retail. That can start today, in this room.”

11:55

11:15 The greenfield airport opportunity: Perspectives from Vietnam, Australia and India

10:45 Coffee break with Nestlé International Travel Retail

10:15 Pioneering the future of elevated airport experiences 

In an inspiring keynote speech, Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh took delegates on a journey which illustrated how Qatar Duty Free, Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport are elevating airport experiences through collaboration and imagination.

He said: “I genuinely believe, and I’ll prove to you today, that when the people in this room come together and create amazing things, they will be able to deliver great commercial benefits.”

Musleh underscored the power of Qatar Duty Free, Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport’s integrated ecosystem. He said: “What we have is an integrated ecosystem, which is one of a kind. We’re doing more than just imagining. We’re turning great, groundbreaking ideas into reality.

“We’re pioneering a future of elevated airport experiences, and an integrated system does deliver a unique advantage. Having the airline, airport and retailer as one allows us to operate as a true Trinity when it comes to collaboration and data sharing.

“Most importantly, what it allows us to do is create a seamless experience for our customers. We know our passengers and we are able to combine and mine all that information to help us and our partners make accurate decisions based on data.

“We’re able to understand who our passengers are, what nationality they are, what age they are, where they travel to and how often they travel. We’re leveraging these insights to make strategic, data driven decisions.”

Notably, Musleh debuted Qatar Duty Free’s 36Q data sharing platform which will be accessible to its partners on 1 January 2025. The ground-breaking data platform, three years in the making, offers in-depth and real-time data on the Hamad International Airport traveller from age, nationality, sex, frequency of travel, what they’ve bought, what shops they’ve brought from and where they are flying to.

He added: “This platform offers everything to enable you and us to deliver great commercial benefits. This data will be available to our partners at no charge.”

Musleh also underscored the importance of using data to “create the ultimate customer experience”. He said: “We’re making sure that we deliver something for everyone no matter what their budget is. We’ve got everything from basic needs, the ultimate luxury and everything in between, not just with retail but with experiences too.

“This year we are +29% above last year. I made a promise to our partners in Cannes last year that we are going to double our business in three years and we are going to deliver that through data. Let’s elevate airport experiences all over the world together.”

Watch the YouTube video above to see how imagination becomes reality at Hamad International Airport with Qatar Duty Free 

09:00 Welcome and opening addresses

Watch the full video tribute to Colm McLoughlin by clicking the YouTube link above 

The Trinity Forum 2024 officially opens with the theme ‘Driving innovation to remain relevant within an evolving consumer landscape’. Click the YouTube link above to watch the full opening video.

Monday 4 November

4 November

 

VIETNAM. Excitement continues to build as The Trinity Forum 2024 fast approaches, taking place in Ho Chi Minh City (5-6 November).

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

The Trinity Forum 2024 is being co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG).

The conference will be staged at the Gem Center, located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

The event continues to garner industry support, with Bluedog Group company Kounter joining as Lunch Partner.

With over 25 years of experiential and digital expertise, Kounter offers insights into the unique challenges and opportunities within travel retail. Its focus includes the demand for entertainment and education, the convergence of bricks and mortar and digital channels, consumer escapism and the potential for positive shopper disruption, all underpinned by its leading data and analysis.

Operating from multiple global headquarters, Kounter offers tailored solutions for operators, F&B concessionaires, retailers and brands. It oversees projects from inception through design, manufacture, installation and continued maintenance, ensuring quality throughout the project’s life cycle.

The Trinity Forum 2024 promises to be a seminal edition of the event, featuring an outstanding programme with some of the industry’s most influential executives, including IPPG Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi; Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths; Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol; Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh; and SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney.

They are joined by CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun; Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director for APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh; L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific Managing Director Jesús Abia; and Denver International Airport Senior Vice President of Concessions Pamela Dechant.

The line-up is further bolstered by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited Chief Commercial Officer Prashant Gaurav Gupta; Fraport Bulgaria Head of Commercial and Airports Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) Vice-Chair Svetlana Simeonova; Altavia Travel Retail Director Hugo Vanderschaegh; TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airports Holding CCO Aude Ferrand; and GrayMatter Software CEO Vikas Gupta.

The conference will also feature Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) General Director Vu The Phiet; Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of ACV) Manager of Planning & Investment Department Le Dai Duong; Noi Bai International Airport, ACV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Long Thanh International Airport, ACV ORAT Department Deputy Director Truong Trung Thanh.

Other confirmed speakers include ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci; Vantage Group Vice President of Commercial Sammy Patel; Airport Dimensions CEO Mignon Buckingham; Suntory Global Spirits Revenue Growth Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Sagar; Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur; and Nestlé International Travel Retail Global Head of Category Development Nicola Wells.

More notable names in the line-up include ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; Navi Mumbai International Airport Commercial Head Rahul Sahni; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin and CAVU Head of Growth (Experiences) Rob Hassard.

Also speaking at the conference are Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray and Riyadh Airports Company Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al Asaker.

The latest confirmed high-profile speakers include Western Sydney International Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams; Airport Dimensions Global Strategy Director Stephen Hay; NACO Airport Commerce & Customer Experience Advisor Adam Ekman Pedersen; ARI Middle East Projects & Design Manager Tracy Ross; Avolta Chief Executive Officer Southern Europe Isabel Zarza; MATARAT Holding General Manager Commercial (Non-Aero) Marcus Spahn; Airport Dimensions President, EMEA & APAC Errol McGlothan; and Southern Airports Services (SASCO) Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Van Hung Cuong.

IPP Travel Retail CEO Phillip Nguyen will outline a myriad of positive developments in Vietnam within the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the exciting new Long Thanh International Airport.

Sessions will be moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and President Dermot Davitt; ACI World Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services Antoine Rostworowski; Cappell Consulting Founder and President Daniel Cappell; Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery; Paccaya Resources Managing Partner and ANARA Chairman Andrew Ford; and ACI World Economic Policy & Sustainability Director and ANARA Secretary Slava Cheglatonyev.

Smile Train, the global leader in world cleft care, has been announced as the event’s official charity. IPPG is organising a unique, high-value auction at The Trinity Forum Gala Dinner on 6 November to raise funds and visibility for the cause.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈

VIETNAM. More key industry figures are joining a powerful and diverse speaker line-up for what is shaping as a blockbuster edition of The Trinity Forum in Ho Chi Minh City (5-6 November).

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

The Trinity Forum 2024 is being co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG).

The latest big-name speakers confirmed for the Forum include Western Sydney International Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams; Airport Dimensions Global Strategy Director Stephen Hay; NACO Airport Commerce & Customer Experience Advisor Adam Ekman Pedersen; ARI Middle East Projects & Design Manager Tracy Ross; Avolta Chief Executive Officer Southern Europe Isabel Zarza; MATARAT Holding General Manager Commercial (Non-Aero) Marcus Spahn; Airport Dimensions President, EMEA & APAC Errol McGlothan; and Southern Airports Services (SASCO) Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Van Hung Cuong.

As reported, some of the industry’s most influential executives are joining the outstanding programme for The Trinity Forum including IPPG Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi; Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths; Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol; Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh; and SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney.

They are joined by CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun; Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director for APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh; L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific Managing Director Jesús Abia; and Denver International Airport Senior Vice President of Concessions Pamela Dechant.

The line-up is further bolstered by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited Chief Commercial Officer Prashant Gaurav Gupta; Fraport Bulgaria Head of Commercial and Airports Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) Vice-Chair Svetlana Simeonova; Altavia Travel Retail Director Hugo Vanderschaegh; TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airports Holding CCO Aude Ferrand; and GrayMatter Software CEO Vikas Gupta.

The conference will also feature Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) General Director Vu The Phiet; Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of ACV) Manager of Planning & Investment Department Le Dai Duong; Noi Bai International Airport, ACV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Long Thanh International Airport, ACV ORAT Department Deputy Director Truong Trung Thanh.

Other confirmed speakers include ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci; Vantage Airport Group Vice President of Commercial Sammy Patel; Airport Dimensions CEO Mignon Buckingham; Suntory Global Spirits Revenue Growth Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Sagar; Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur; and Nestlé International Travel Retail Global Head of Category Development Nicola Wells.

More notable names in the line-up include ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; Navi Mumbai International Airport Commercial Head Rahul Sahni; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin and CAVU Head of Growth (Experiences) Rob Hassard.

Also speaking at the conference are Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray; Riyadh Airports Company Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al Asaker.

IPP Travel Retail CEO Phillip Nguyen will outline a myriad of positive developments in Vietnam within the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the exciting new Long Thanh International Airport.

Sessions will be moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and President Dermot Davitt; ACI World Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services Antoine Rostworowski; Cappell Consulting Founder and President Daniel Cappell; Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery; Paccaya Resources Managing Partner and ANARA Chairman Andrew Ford; and ACI World Economic Policy & Sustainability Director and ANARA Secretary Slava Cheglatonyev.

Smile Train, the global leader in world cleft care, has been announced as the event’s official charity. IPPG is organising a unique, high-value auction at The Trinity Forum Gala Dinner on 6 November to raise funds and visibility for the cause.

The Conference & Gala Dinner will be held at the Gem Center, located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈

VIETNAM. Beauty powerhouse L’Oréal Travel Retail has been named as a Platinum Partner for The Trinity Forum, which takes place on 5-6 November in Ho Chi Minh City. It marks the latest statement of support from the industry in the world’s most influential airport commercial revenues conference.

The event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and co-organised with Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East. The Trinity Forum 2024 is being co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG).

L’Oréal Travel Retail serves a diverse audience with 30 brands ranging from luxury to accessible, including dermocosmetics and haircare. It provides a variety of experiences, with its pop-up stores, retailtainment, exclusive gifts, travel kits, ‘Looks on the Go’, makeup bars, expert advice and click-and-collect services.

L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific Managing Director Jesús Abia said: “The Trinity Forum has always been an important congregation of innovative discourse and outlook towards the future. As the leading beauty player in the travel retail industry, we seek to constantly bring forth the best consumer experiences in multiple spheres including digital and sustainability.”

Abia is the latest influential figure to join a stellar speaking line-up at The Trinity Forum. He will participate in a panel exploring the evolution of travel retail over the next decade.

Since joining the company in 2010, he has held senior positions across various subsidiaries and headquarters in Asia and Europe, including seven years at L’Oréal Travel Retail Americas and L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific.

Abia added: “I am pleased to participate in person together with industry leaders to envision and create the travel retail industry of the future.”

As reported, the powerful speaker line-up for the Forum includes IPPG Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi; Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths; Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol; Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh; SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney; CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun; Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director for APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh and Denver International Airport Senior Vice President of Concessions Pamela Dechant.

Joining them are influential industry executives including Yamuna International Airport Private Limited Chief Commercial Officer Prashant Gaurav Gupta; Fraport Bulgaria Head of Commercial and Airports Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) Vice-Chair Svetlana Simeonova; Altavia Travel Retail Director Hugo Vanderschaegh; TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airports Holding CCO Aude Ferrand; and GrayMatter Software CEO Vikas Gupta.

The conference will also feature Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) General Director Vu The Phiet; Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of ACV) Manager of Planning & Investment Department Le Dai Duong; Noi Bai International Airport, ACV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Long Thanh International Airport, ACV ORAT Department Deputy Director Truong Trung Thanh.

Other confirmed speakers include ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci; Vantage Airport Group Vice President of Commercial Sammy Patel; Airport Dimensions CEO Mignon Buckingham; Suntory Global Spirits Revenue Growth Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Sagar; Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur; and Nestlé International Travel Retail Global Head of Category Development Nicola Wells.

More notable names in the line-up include ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; Navi Mumbai International Airport Commercial Head Rahul Sahni; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin and CAVU Head of Growth (Experiences) Rob Hassard.

Other leading industry figures to speak at the conference are Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray; Adani Airports Holding Chief Executive Officer Arun Bansal; Riyadh Airports Company Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al Asaker; and Possibilitarians Chief Executive Officer Mant Hawkins.

IPP Travel Retail CEO Phillip Nguyen will outline a myriad of positive developments in Vietnam within the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the exciting new Long Thanh International Airport.

Sessions will be moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, President Dermot Davitt, ACI World Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services Antoine Rostworowski; Cappell Consulting Founder and President Daniel Cappell; Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery; Paccaya Resources Managing Partner and ANARA Chairman Andrew Ford; and ACI World Economic Policy & Sustainability Director and ANARA Secretary Slava Cheglatonyev.

Smile Train, the global leader in world cleft care, was announced as the official charity of the event. IPPG is organising a unique, high-value auction at The Trinity Forum Gala Dinner to be hosted at Gem Center on 6 November to raise funds and visibility for the charity.

The Conference & Gala Dinner will be held at the Gem Center, located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈

VIETNAM. Leading UK travel retail consultancy One Red Kite has been named as a Coffee Break Partner for The Trinity Forum, which takes place in Ho Chi Minh City on 5-6 November. The event is co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group.

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

Family-owned One Red Kite works with some of the world’s leading brands and travel retailers, using its expertise to provide a range of services including data cleansing, data management, reporting and analysis.

Founder & Managing Director Kevin Brocklebank said: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Trinity Forum again this year. 2023 was the first year we have attended and I wish we had done it sooner. It is well organised, features great speakers and a positive networking environment.”

One Red Kite is a pioneer in destination targeting and basket analysis and has developed tools to enable range optimisation based on passenger profile.

The company also undertakes category management projects, helping retailers uncover insights that can be used by the wider business to make better decisions on range, space, position in store, promotions and shopper targeting. The company can also develop and make recommendations on planograms.

Kevin Brocklebank is also author of the book Travel Retail: An Insider’s Guide.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈

VIETNAM. SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney has been announced as part of the outstanding programme for the upcoming Trinity Forum, to be co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG) on 5-6 November in Ho Chi Minh City.

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

Since he was appointed as Group CEO in March 2022, Coveney has accelerated SSP’s growth with the post-pandemic recovery of the travel food market, while driving several acquisitions in North America and Asia.

He offers a wealth of experience and expertise in the food industry having spent 14 years as CEO of convenience food producer Greencore Group, as well as holding non-executive positions at various international F&B companies.

Coveney said: “Our great industry depends on a complex, global network of relationships and a spirit of collaboration. As it evolves, those relationships are becoming ever more important, and the rewards of working in partnership with colleagues from all parts of the travel retail Trinity have never been greater.

“The Trinity Forum offers a fantastic opportunity to come together and share ideas that will benefit us all, and I’m delighted to be taking part.”

Aside from Coveney, the latest confirmed speakers include ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci; Vantage Airport Group Vice President of Commercial Sammy Patel; Airport Dimensions CEO Mignon Buckingham; Suntory Global Spirits Revenue Growth Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Sagar;  Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur; and Nestlé International Travel Retail Global Head of Category Development Nicola Wells.

As reported, the powerful speaker line-up for the Forum includes IPPG Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi; Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths; Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol; Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh; CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun; Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director for APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh and Denver International Airport Senior Vice President of Concessions Pamela Dechant.

Joining them are influential industry executives including Yamuna International Airport Private Limited Chief Commercial Officer Prashant Gaurav Gupta; Fraport Bulgaria Head of Commercial and Airports Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) Vice-Chair Svetlana Simeonova; Altavia Travel Retail Director Hugo Vanderschaegh; TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airports Holding CCO Aude Ferrand; and GrayMatter Software CEO Vikas Gupta.

The conference will also feature ACV General Director Vu The Phiet; Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of ACV) Manager of Planning & Investment Department Le Dai Duong; Noi Bai International Airport, ACV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Long Thanh International Airport, ACV ORAT Department Deputy Director Truong Trung Thanh.

The sessions will be moderated by ACI World Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services Antoine Rostworowski; Cappell Consulting Founder and President Daniel Cappell; Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery; Paccaya Resources Managing Partner and ANARA Chairman Andrew Ford; and ACI World Economic Policy & Sustainability Director and ANARA Secretary Slava Cheglatonyev.

More notable names in the line-up include ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; Navi Mumbai International Airport Commercial Head Rahul Sahni; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin and CAVU Head of Growth (Experiences) Rob Hassard.

Other leading industry figures to speak at the conference are Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray; Adani Airports Holding Chief Executive Officer Arun Bansal; Riyadh Airports Company Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al Asaker; and Possibilitarians Chief Executive Officer Mant Hawkins.

IPP Travel Retail CEO Phillip Nguyen will outline a myriad of positive developments in Vietnam within the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the exciting new Long Thanh International Airport.

Smile Train, the global leader in world cleft care, was announced as the official charity of the event. IPPG is organising a unique, high-value auction at The Trinity Forum Gala Dinner to be hosted at Gem Center on 6 November to raise funds and visibility for the charity.

 

The Conference & Gala Dinner will be held at the Gem Center, located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈

CHINA/VIETNAM. China Duty Free Group (CDFG) has lent its support as Platinum Partner for the upcoming Trinity Forum, to be co-hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam and IPP Group (IPPG) on 5-6 November in Ho Chi Minh City.

The world’s leading airport commercial revenues event is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report and organised in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World.

CDFG has established itself as China’s and the world’s number one travel retailer, building long-term relationships with more than 1,400 world-renowned brands.

It represents the most diverse range of duty-free shops and the largest number of retail outlets in a single country globally, serving nearly 200 million domestic and international tourists each year.

CDFG General Manager Luke Chang said: “It is a great honour for CDFG to serve as a Platinum Partner at The Trinity Forum 2024. I extend our gratitude to our good old friend Martin Moodie and The Moodie Davitt Report for the ongoing support of CDFG. I sincerely wish for the success of the Forum.

“This year we focus on our flagship projects, including the second and third phases of cdf Sanya Shopping Complex as well as cdf Haikou Shopping Complex, which encompass hotels, tourism, leisure and cultural activities, providing customers with a comprehensive immersive travel and shopping experience.

“In terms of expanding product offerings and enhancing customer experience, in addition to more international brands opening their first or flagship stores with CDFG, we are also excited to introduce the Malt & More Whisky by cdf at cdf Haikou Shopping Complex this year.

“While referring to our travel retail development, CDFG also has actively expanded its business channels, including the duty-free stores on Adora Magic City and Astro Ocean Piano Land cruise ships, and Qeelin boutique at Singapore Changi Airport, all of which have already opened.

“Furthermore, CDFG has collaborated with numerous domestic brands to launch the innovative ‘Project Sinoexport’, utilising our sales network to bring China’s finest goods to a global audience. As an active member of the China travel retail industry, CDFG looks forward to collaborating with our partners and friends to enhance the future of the global travel retail industry as always.”

To add further lustre to the Trinity Forum, CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun will be representing the company as one of the speakers at the conference, shedding light on China’s evolving travel retail landscape.

As reported, the powerful speaker line-up for the Forum includes IPPG Founder & Chairman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen; Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi; Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths; Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown; Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Avolta CEO Xavier Rossinyol; Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh; Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director for APAC, MENA and India Sandra Tassilly; Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh and Denver International Airport Senior Vice President of Concessions Pamela Dechant.

Joining them are influential industry executives including Yamuna International Airport Private Limited Chief Commercial Officer Prashant Gaurav Gupta; Fraport Bulgaria Head of Commercial and Airports Non-Aeronautical Revenues and Activities (ANARA) Vice-Chair Svetlana Simeonova; Altavia Travel Retail Director Hugo Vanderschaegh; TAV Operation Services CEO and TAV Airports Holding CCO Aude Ferrand; and GrayMatter Software CEO Vikas Gupta.

The conference will also feature ACV General Director Vu The Phiet; Southern Airports Services (a subsidiary of ACV) Manager of Planning & Investment Department Le Dai Duong; Noi Bai International Airport, ACV Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Long Thanh International Airport, ACV ORAT Department Deputy Director Truong Trung Thanh.

The sessions will be moderated by ACI World Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services Antoine Rostworowski; Cappell Consulting Founder and President Daniel Cappell; Pragma Consulting CEO Alex Avery; Paccaya Resources Managing Partner and ANARA Chairman Andrew Ford; and ACI World Economic Policy & Sustainability Director and ANARA Secretary Slava Cheglatonyev.

More notable names in the line-up include ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; Navi Mumbai International Airport Commercial Head Rahul Sahni; Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Commercial Services Hani Ezra Hussin and CAVU Head of Growth (Experiences) Rob Hassard.

Other leading industry figures to speak at the conference are Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray; Adani Airports Holding Chief Executive Officer Arun Bansal; Riyadh Airports Company Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al Asaker; and Possibilitarians Chief Executive Officer Mant Hawkins.

IPP Travel Retail CEO Phillip Nguyen will outline a myriad of positive developments in Vietnam within the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, with a special emphasis on the exciting new Long Thanh International Airport.

Smile Train, the global leader in world cleft care, was announced as the official charity of the event. IPPG is organising a unique, high-value auction at The Trinity Forum Gala Dinner to be hosted at Gem Center on 6 November to raise funds and visibility for the charity.

The Conference & Gala Dinner will be held at the Gem Center, located at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

Click here to register for the event.

The full event programme can be found here.

• For sponsorship enquiries please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
• For speaking opportunities and organisational enquiries please contact Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com ✈