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.

CDFG General Manager Luke Chang delivered a compelling presentation at last year’s Forum, outlining the spectacular growth of the travel retailer and its evolving consumer offer

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.

(From left) The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, CDFG Assistant General Manager Michelle Sun and General Manager Luke Chang pictured earlier this year at cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex. Michelle Sun will represent CDFG with distinction at The Trinity Forum 2023.

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.

Click on the image for The Moodie Davitt eZine’s extensive multi-media coverage of The Trinity Forum 2023 held in Hong Kong

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.

Scan the QR codes via WeChat to visit our platforms. Stories related to the China travel retail sector at home and abroad are featured in this unrivalled dual service. For native content opportunities please contact Zhang Yimei (China) at Yimei@MoodieDavittReport.com or Irene Revilla (international) at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com. For editorial please reach out to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com