The second edition of AirDynamic brought together the community of boutique managers, local market, and global travel retail in aim to drive operational excellence and foster collaboration within the interconnected airport ecosystem. Over 30 participants took part in the 2-day meeting; via engaging presentations, immersive workshops and interactive discussions, all participants left with valuable insights and ideas to drive towards the same goal as a part of the ONE strategy in the ever-evolving travel retail business.

Luxury retailers are leaning into international airports as an opportunity to meet luxury buyers – a move that underscores a global appetite for luxury retail experiences that resonate with many generations of travelers. Luxury expansion can be seen across North American airports and in Europe, and is seen as an opportunity to connect with the younger generation of luxury buyers en route to their destinations.

Red Sea Global (RSG) will develop a new Four Seasons resort at Amaala, a regenerative tourism destination in Saudi Arabia. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Amaala at Triple Bay will offer luxury wellness tourism, featuring rooms, suites, villas with private pools, and branded residential villas. The resort will prioritize sustainability and well-being, with lush landscapes, a luxury spa, personalized itineraries, and a collaboration with celebrity fitness trainer Harley Pasternak.

The new Cartier boutique at Sydney Airport ingeniously blends local elements with the timeless Cartier design codes. Spanning a generous 170 square metres, the store boasts a semi-open lounge and offers an extensive range of Cartier jewellery and watches.

China Tourism Group (CTG) Duty Free Corporation announced a 29.68% year-on-year increase in first-half sales to US$4.92 billion. They are the parent company of the world’s number one travel retailer China Duty Free Group. CTG expressed satisfaction with the key Hainan offshore duty free market recovery and has ambitious development plans in Sanya.

Germany’s Frankfurt Airport expects its core profit for 2023 to return to the stratosphere, largely thanks to the opening of China’s borders after the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The airport’s operator, Fraport Group, said it now anticipates its profits to be at the higher end of a range of earlier projections.

The company said the better-than-expected performance was due to strong second-quarter earnings from resurgent demand – especially from Chinese travellers.

Airline giants Cathay Pacific and Quantas have reported profit growth in the first half of 2023, signaling a significant recovery from the pandemic. Following Quantas’ report, the airline announced plans to expand its Boeing and Airbus fleets and will plan to start operating the first non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York from late 2025.

Cathay Pacific reported that it would buy back 50 percent of the HK$19.5 billion of preference shares held by the Hong Kong government, first issued as part of a rescue package, by the end of 2023, and the remainder by the end of July 2024. Cathay also plans to add to its fleet as demand rebounds.

Qatar Duty Free celebrates the opening of the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno. The grand opening of this partnership between the Michelin chef Yannick Alléno, the world’s known luxury brand Louis Vuitton and Qatar Duty Free was attended by some 100 guests.

The Lounge located on the second level of Louis Vuitton boutique is open to Qatar Airways Gold and Platinum Privilege Club members and Louis Vuitton VIPs.

The brand’s aerial clubhouse features designer furniture pieces including selections from the house’s Objets Nomades collection. A menu developed by multi-Michelin Star Chef, Yannick Alléno, is available, featuring delectables made from local sustainably-sourced ingredients, with flavors catering to the preferences of both Arabic and non-Arabic travelers.

Louis Vuitton’s resort pop-up store arrives in Xiamen, a port city on China’s southeast coast, on June 5. The store features the LV by the Pool 2023 collection, a Louis Vuitton bookstore with the launch of the local edition of the brand’s City Guides, and special dining experiences.

Xiamen has recorded over 3 million visitors over the May day holiday, a 58 percent growth compared to pre-covid levels, with a strong contribution of travelers aged 20-39. The summer pop-up is deemed to attract young Chinese now seeking for experiential luxury as they travel, even domestically.

The initiative is just one out of many which the Maison is launching to cultivate its travel culture in the new luxury clients across China. On RED, the branded hashtag “Travel With LV” encourages celebrities and influencers to post their travel vlogs featuring Louis Vuitton’s products. This organic approach allows users to discover the house’s extensive travel category beyond iconic trunks but also explore niche and culturally rich destinations.

The picturesque 200 m² Gucci boutique, recently renovated, has reopened its doors in Saint-Tropez and is ready to welcome its customers. The two-floor boutique is home to ready-to-wear, accessories, signature handbag lines, and a curated selection of precious jewellery pieces.

Alongside, Gucci announces its collaboration with Loulou Ramatuelle Beach Club which will see the famous Beach Club undergo a captivating transformation, immersing visitors in the world of Gucci. For this exclusive partnership, Gucci is introducing its unique aesthetic to every aspect of the Loulou Ramatuelle Beach Club experience. Parasols, deckchairs, towels and cushions are adorned with the House’s G logo and a fresh palette for a colourful summer.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plans to transform Riyadh airport into a massive aviation hub with six parallel runways and designed to accommodate up to 120 million travelers by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will build King Salman International Airport, which should stretch over 57 square kilometers (22.01 square miles) and include current King Khaled airport.

“The airport project is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world and to support the growth of Riyadh’s population to 15–20 million people by 2030,” SPA said.

It added King Salman airport would create 103,000 direct and indirect jobs, handle 185 million travelers and process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050.

Middle East is shifting to growth mode in Q4 with international arrivals at +4%, long ahead of the global average of -30%. “The FIFA World Cup is certainly the key driver for its travel recovery”, says Juan Gomez, Head of Market Intelligence at ForwardKeys. Latest air ticketing data also shows that international arrivals to the Middle East in Q1 2023 are +15% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019

On the other hand, Africa in Q4 of 2022 is just under 2019 levels by -19%. 2023 outlook is even more promising,
at -11% of international arrivals. Upon a closer inspection of the top performing regions and destinations, travel recovery and growth are being led by West and Central Africa, at -6% and +10% for Q4 travel compared to 2019 levels. At a country level, the best performer in Q4 of 2022 is Cape Verde, followed by Ivory Coast, and Ghana.

“For the 75th anniversary of the duty free industry, we’re very happy with the outcome of this 2022 edition, in terms of exhibitors, square meters of stand space, delegates and buyers in attendance. A real mood of confidence has been confirmed by the conversations taking place around the event all week. We look forward to the future with confidence and by the time we are back here in Cannes next year I’m convinced we will be flying at full height once again.” Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA President.

The UK and Europe is the undeniable home of global luxury. With its rich history and culture and desirable high-end hospitality and retail industries, the continent holds an extraordinary appeal for affluent international visitors. But what is the economic impact of this segment and how do we capitalise on the UK’s opportunity to rebound and attract high-spending visitors to regain their advantage as the world’s number one luxury tourist destination? These questions and more are explored in Walpole’s latest report What It’s Worth: Enabling the Return of the £30bn High-end Tourism Sector.

Across the world, summer travellers are returning to Cartier’s boutiques with big hopes and high expectations. Managers and directors from the Bahamas, Okinawa, Haitang Bay, and Monaco boutiques discuss who comprises their holiday clientele, in what ways COVID-19 has changed them, what their boutique does to prepare, and how they go above and beyond to provide an unexpected, exclusive luxury experience that visitors will count among their most precious vacation memories.

Famous pop-sensation and mobile games avatars “Line Friends’ BT21” are flooding the Jewel Changi Airport and will be encouraging passengers to move to the music, clap, dance, and sing at several locations within Jewel’s Shiseido Forest Valley and Canopy Park.

Those who want to stay over in style can book for the Glamping in the Clouds experience. Luxury tents on the top-most level of Jewel at Cloud9 Piazza are decked out with BT21-themed decorations and offer great views of the HSBC Rain Vortex.

Heinemann used the pandemic to reassess its market role and craft a new mission statement: “We turn travel time into valuable time as the most human-centric company in global Travel Retail.” It reflects the company’s focus on people—both passengers and staff. Adding a sustainable component (carbon neutrality by 2024) and high-profile concession wins (in Lviv, Norway, and Bologna) confirms that Gebr Heinemann will continue to play a leading role in the future.

Chinese travel shoppers have increased disposable income and consumption expenditure. In 2021, Chinese residents’ per-capita disposable income rose 9.1% over last year, and the national per-capita consumption expenditure rose 13.6% over last year.
Duty-free consumption is also gaining momentum, with overseas consumption flowing back to the home market. By 2025, the number of domestic tourists in China will reach an estimated 10 billion. The Chinese appetite for travel remains strong, but domestic trips will see the greatest growth.
More than 60% of business travelers will arrange concurrent personal trips in the coming years.

Compared to pre-Covid, significantly more European luxury shoppers visited duty-free stores for a purpose – to treat themselves (47%), look for good prices (38%) and look for gifts (38%). However, only 39% planned to the brand level (vs. 70% in 2019). Shoppers are now more open to experiment outside their regular brands – 71% purchased an item which is their occasional or new brand.
Staff interaction plays a key role in conversion. Half of luxury shoppers interact with staffs, mostly for locating an item and add specific item advice, and 68% of them are also more positively influenced on their purchase decision when doing so.
Duty free exclusives have increased in their importance, with 27% of passengers entering the store to look for DF exclusives (vs. 19% in 2019). 2/3 of them declared they are more likely to purchase the exclusive item if available.

The European tourism industry is experiencing a strong recovery in the first quarter of 2024, with foreign tourist arrivals and nights surpassing 2019 levels. The recovery is driven by strong intra-regional travel from countries like Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as demand from the US. However, there are disparities in the recovery across regions, with Southern Europe and Nordic countries leading the way while Baltic countries lag behind. Sporting events like the Paris Olympics and Euros 2024 are expected to further drive tourism demand in France and Germany.

Singapore will introduce a levy on travelers departing from Changi and Seletar airports in an effort to promote the use of sustainable fuel in commercial airliners. The levy, which will come into effect in 2026, will range from S$3 to S$16 and the collected fees will be used to purchase sustainable fuel. This move has received mixed responses from the public, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to address the climate crisis.

Offline business continued to recover in the first quarter for China Tourism Group Duty Free Corporation (China Tourism Group), parent company of travel retailer China Duty Free Group (CDFG). As the inbound and outbound duty-free business further recovered, the proportion of offline business of the company continuously rebounded, and the product sales structure was optimized.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported that travel is set to become a USD$15.5 trillion industry in the next decade, representing a 50% increase over its $10 trillion valuation in 2019. The survey breaks down the economic contributions of the world’s major tourism markets: the US, China, Germany, UK and Japan.

The WTTC also reported that the travel industry will employ up to 430 million people by 2033, which is roughly 1 for every 9 jobs globally.

In the next decade, China will likely overtake the US in terms of travel economy as Chinese travellers continue to return in full force.

Luxury travel retailer DFS and Ant Group’s Alipay have formed a global strategic partnership to enhance payment and digital marketing experiences for DFS customers both online and offline. The collaboration aims to provide seamless digital interactions for travellers, covering pre-trip, on-trip, and post- trip experiences. Alipay’s mobile payment solutions and digital marketing capabilities will be integrated into 36 DFS shops in 15 markets globally, as well as in 12 online shops and a digital store.

The partnership seeks to enhance shopping and service experiences in the travel retail sector, leveraging Alipay’s expertise and DFS Group’s commitment to innovation.

Leading travel retailer Dufry reported strong third quarter results, placing themselves ahead of their financial projections for the first nine months of 2022. During the summer months, in the Middle East, Southern Europe and Africa were driven by leisure demand. Strong EMEA performance occurred despite flight disruptions and capacity cuts across European airports, whilst Asia Pacific continues to improve despite travel restrictions. The company also noted that South American locations have progressed, while the US had already rapidly rebounded.

Major airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas and more are betting on the return of the luxury leisure traveler. Airlines are looking to elevate first class experiences to new heights. Updates to first class cabins include sofas, double beds, televisions, desks, wardrobes, minibars and in some cases, walk-in showers.

The demand for luxury travel remains prevalent, despite the economic downturn and rising cost-of-living. For example, German airline Lufthansa is investing US$2.7 billion over two years to revamp its long-haul aircraft. This investment comes at a time when luxury travellers are looking for ways to spend their pandemic savings on quality travel experiences.

Qatar Duty Free is planning to open the first Dior spa in an airport in Doha in July 2023.

The developments follow an impressive set of financial results for Qatar Duty Free, which announced growth exceeding +59% year-on-year during its financial year.

QDF aims to become the launchpad for travel retail brands. Within the newly expanded phase A at the Hamad International Airport, passengers can indulge in a plethora of regional and global ‘firsts’.

New brands have arrived at The Orchard commercial area, the cradle of the Central Concourse situated within the newly expanded terminal. The first Dior boutique at HIA, the newly opened Louis Vuitton’s first airport lounge by Yannick Alleno, the exclusive FIFA World Cup store, a two-storey Fendi boutique and first airport Fendi Café, which join the first TimeVallée boutique in the Middle East and the inaugural Ralph’s Coffee Shop at an airport.

The ‘Dioriviera’ pop-up comes to the Beverly Hills Hotel this summer, offering a one-of-a-kind holiday experience blending elements from both brands. The activation includes Dior’s takeover of the hotel’s pool with ‘Dioriviera’ 2023 collection’s signature Toile de Jouy print and Bayadere stripes in pink and grey hues. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s signature McCarthy salad and top it off with ice cream served from a Dior ice cream cart. A Dior pop-up boutique is set up on the upper deck of the pool area, with surf-inspired cabins on the outside and the interiors molded in form of sandcastles.

In addition to the boutique, Dior has created an exclusive Le Jardin Des Rêves Dior Spa Cabana, on the poolside, exclusively for hotel guests. The ultimate luxury experience includes tailor-made signature treatments for the face and body, exclusive gifts, and a special edition of the Dioriviera scent.

The new opening becomes the third Cartier boutique at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, building upon two existing stores in Terminal 2. The launch of this Terminal 1 boutique serves to inspire a greater and a more diverse client base.

The contemporary store concept complements perfectly the re-modelled experience brought by the reopened terminal and supports the leading French airport operator’s retail and hospitality concept, Extime.

This new elegant boutique unveiled on 10 December is located at the heart of the prestige shopping atrium.

For the first time since March 2020, Terminal 1 in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has reopened, signaling the end of the pandemic at Paris airports. With it, Groupe ADP welcomes travelers on a new passenger journey, the result of months of renovation work, which transformed the offerings of services, quality and hospitality. The remodeling is part of the Extime Experience, an ambitious project to position the airport in the Skytrax Top 10 through pioneering hospitality, a cutting-edge digital ecosystem, and a loyalty rewards program.

Gucci Beauty and The Shilla Duty Free joined forces for a metaverse beauty event on metaverse platform ZEP—a first for travel retail. On 2 December, Shilla opened an exclusive Gucci Beauty Garden; visitors created avatars to explore while experiencing luxury products. Makeup artist Park Sang-eun, former SBS announcer Jang Ye-won, and influencer Kim Bo-ra introduced the new Flora Collection. Pre-selected attendees received trial products in advance. The immersive experience included real-time beauty classes and opportunities to ask questions and interact with other guests. More digital innovations are expected with Shilla Duty Free’s recent MOU with an art-tech firm to create a metaverse studio.

Cartier has unveiled its luxurious, three-storey boutique alongside the grand opening of the world’s largest duty-free mall, China Duty Free Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex (Xin Hai Gang). The 963 square metre boutique promises to inspire high-end clients visiting the island with a design inspired by the natural landscape of Haikou and the craftsmanship of the Maison. Building on Cartier’s longstanding collaboration with China Duty Free Group, the spectacular opening reinforces the Maison’s ambition to lead a new era of luxury retail experiences on the island of Hainan.

DFS Group is embracing disruptive technology with its launch of luxury travel retail’s first metaverse, DFS World. Chairman and CEO Benjamin Vuchot sees endless opportunities and huge potential for the industry in this space. The company aims to bring its full offering across all categories to DFS World, with an emphasis on fashion, bridging the physical and digital experience. The Guided Shopping application allows sales associates to connect with clients remotely. DFS World is fully accessible in mainland China and worldwide. DFS intends to explore digital collectibles and is considering the future use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Fashion pop-ups may be a dime a dozen, but Chanel’s new ephemeral boutique is in a league of its own. Situated in East Hampton, NY, the boutique brings the fashion house’s Paris savoir-faire stateside for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The site of the pop-up is a classic, gray-shingled boutique that looks straight out of a storybook. Combining the dreamy cottage core aesthetic of the building with chic interior decor, Chanel manages to turn a shopping destination into a miniature summer getaway.

Not only does the 2,500-square-foot space give off a dreamy Chanel vibe, but it gives Hampton clients access to a wide variety of covetable Chanel creations, from summer-ready garments to evening wear to a multitude of accessories.

Ready to embark on a trip to the East Coast? Chanel East Hampton is located at 26 Newtown Lane, in East Hampton, NY.

Just like it’s expensive to fill up a car with gas right now, the same goes for airplanes. The price of fuel has risen 150 percent in the last year because of the geopolitical context in Eastern Europe and the shortage of Russian petrol. This is obviously a huge factor in airlines determining the price of the flights they sell because fuel accounts for 30 percent of their operating expenses.
Demand for seats is high. At the same time, carriers couldn’t catch up with the recovery after having dropped a significant number of their crew during the pandemic. Struggling now to hire new staff to compensate for the demand, they have been obliged to reduce their schedules for the summer.

As part of its CSR strategy, Lagardère Travel Retail seeks to reduce its environmental impact, cooperating with brands and suppliers to achieve ambitious industry goals and contributing to landlords’ targets.

For example, the first Aelia Duty-Free eco-store opened in cooperation with Geneva International Airport with a 40% reduction in its furniture and POS materials’ carbon footprint.

Lagardère Travel Retail has committed to carbon neutrality by the end of 2023. Based on the trajectories of the Science-Based Targets Initiative, and in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement, they are on track to reach net zero emissions before 2050.

A McKinsey global survey points to a greener future for air travel and emerging passenger trends due to aviation’s environmental impact. More than half of respondents said they’re “really worried” about climate change, and that aviation should become carbon neutral in the future. While travelers continue to prioritize price and connections over sustainability in booking decisions, things are slowly changing: almost 40% are willing to pay at least 2% more for carbon-neutral tickets and 36% plan to fly less to reduce their climate impact. Overall attitudes vary widely among countries and customer segments.

Korea was the leader amongst international duty-free markets reaching a retail value of $21 billion in 2019 until experiencing a decrease of 38% in 2021 due to Covid-19 crisis.
In 2021, duty-free sales in Korea increased by 11% from 2020. More supportive government policies have been implemented resulting in the authorization to sell online duty-free products to overseas residents without even visiting South Korea or the abolition of the $5000 duty-free purchase limit for outbound Korean travelers. South Korean duty-free sales are not expected to return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024 but it is expected to remain one of the top duty-free markets globally.

Luxury travel is recovering fast studies show. 2022 is already called the year of the GOAT, or the “greatest of all trips.”: people are eager to make up for lost time and are planning to “go big” by planning exciting, extravagant, and sensational trips for the coming year.
Luxury travel and brands will have to adapt fast, by proposing uplifted experiences. People are in need for more privacy and private space, focusing as well on wellbeing. Uniqueness will be key to differentiate themselves and offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Chinese tourists are returning to international travel in significant numbers. China’s duty-free landscape has shifted from airport-based stores to in-city complexes, driven by the government’s efforts to boost domestic tourism. Despite this, airport retail can still compete by offering unique, value-added experiences and catering to high-end clientele, such as Chinese tourists who are known for luxury purchases.

Dubai has begun construction on a $35 billion airport terminal that will be the largest in the world, with a capacity for 260 million passengers. The new terminal, located at the Al Maktoum International Airport, will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport. All operations at Dubai International Airport will eventually be transferred to the new terminal.

Cartier unveiled its latest luxury boutique at Terminal 3 of Chongqing Jiangbei Airport. This is a strategic expansion into the economic powerhouse and desirable domestic travel destination. The boutique elegantly displays the city’s unique architectural landscape in the iconic Cartier panther fresco and offers travellers an exquisite selection of the Maison’s jewellery and timepieces.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China has announced a significant update that will reverberate through the global travel and retail sectors. More than 70 countries, including prominent shopping havens like South Korea, Japan, the US, Australia, and the UK, are now open for outbound group tours from Mainland China. The move marks a critical shift towards revitalising international travel after pandemic-related restrictions. Notably, South Korea’s inclusion ends a travel ban rooted in geopolitical tensions since 2017.

This strategic step demonstrates China’s commitment to normalised travel while extending a lifeline to economies grappling with recovery.

Dubai International (DXB) is back. After a long journey to recoup pre- pandemic passenger levels, the key international hub and global travel retail haven reported 41.6 million guests in the first six months of 2023, narrowly exceeding the 2019 level.

The passenger number was up by 49.1% compared to the 27.9 million recorded in H1 2022. Top destinations from DXB include India, followed by Saudi Arabia and the UK. Other popular destinations out of Dubai include Pakistan, the US, Russia and Germany.

Abu Dhabi Airports has confirmed that its new 742,000sqm state-of-the-art Terminal A will be open and operational in November 2023. One of the largest terminals in the world, the new aviation space will handle 45 million people a year once fully in service. This capacity is the equivalent of processing 11,000 passengers per hour.

Drawing inspirations from the ocean, full of tortoises and corals, the boutique is designed with reminisces of the first immersion of the sea, when the dividing explosion disturbs the ecosystem and bubbles become a precious reflective scene.

The boutique considers the free-spirited nature of the island and the warmness of its local architecture, with custom made rugs evocative of the beach and sea, a custom feature wall of a Panthère diving underwater within an explosion of bubbles as well as a dedicated VIP salon that embodies the spirit of St. Barth. The new concept captures perfectly the essence of the beautiful sea life of the island and the spirit of the islanders themselves.

Time Vallée together with Qatar Duty Free are aligned on the vision of providing an inspirational and magical shopping experience to watch lovers. Housing prestigious luxury watchmaking Maisons from heritage to contemporary, the Time Vallée flagship boutique also presents a Watchfinder lounge for the first time to Middle Eastern clients. The new store features an impressive 3D screen to showcase the Maisons in an impactful yet futuristic way.

‘We are looking forward to extending within the region and reaching our valuable guests through the memorable experience our destination offers for watch enthusiasts in the Middle East.’ , says Time Vallée CEO, Michael Guenoun.

The official opening was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony and the event was attended by VIP guests and officiated by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer, Eng Badr Al Meer, Qatar Duty Free Vice President, Thabet Musleh, and Time Vallée CEO, Michael Guenoun.

Known as a haven of luxury and refinement nestled along the shores of the French Riviera, La Réserve à la Plage Beach Club offers an unparalleled beachside experience that captures the glamorous essence of Saint-Tropez. This summer, Loro Piana has infused its exquisite Italian craftsmanship and use of the world’s finest materials into the Beach Club, creating an Italian paradise on the French coast.

A synergistic collaboration as both brands epitomize elegance and luxury, Loro Piana and La Réserve à la Plage Beach Club have designed the idyllic summer escape. Loro Piana has redefined beachside living with its signature colors and patterns in the Loro Piana Interiors outdoor fabrics, like the Suitcase Stripe multi-striped motif, featured on the parasols, beach towels, ‘brise vue’ — and at the bar-restaurant.

The Maison has also completely personalized the Beach Club boutique for the summer, set to remain open throughout the season, carrying a selection of the Loro Piana Summer Resort 2023 Collection. The boutique will be home to Loro Piana summer must-haves like the Baseball Hat, straw hats, swimsuits, handmade linen beach bags, Suitcase Stripe-themed beach rackets, the Extra Pocket Bag, and the Blossom Bag — the new shopper and iconic item for the season.

China authorities allowed 60,000 people a day to travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China via seven border ports. Passengers will no longer be subject to quarantine but would need to provide a negative Covid 19 test result taken within 48 hours.

Macau has also opened its borders to all foreign nationalities on the same day. Arriving visitors will no longer require Health Bureau (SSM) approval.

International flights can land directly in Beijing from 8 January without being redirected to other entry points. Citing online travel agency LY.com data, order numbers for international flights recorded +628% year-on-year growth, the highest since March 2020. Inbound and outbound flights accounted for 48% and 52% respectively. China Eastern Airlines plans to increase its weekly international passenger routes to 48, with 184 flights. And the recovery rate of flights between Beijing and Sanya reached +122% compared to 2019 levels.

After receiving 12 RFP submissions, Melbourne Airport has chosen a shortlist of three retailers as potential candidates for its International Terminal’s desirable duty-free contract. The contract of the current retailer, Dufry, expires in May 2023. Subject to the board’s approval, the contract will likely extend for 10 years. A signed contract is expected this month, pending the board’s recommendation, to be followed by an official announcement.

Incheon International Airport, on the other hand, has just issued the long-awaited RFPs for duty free retail concessions at Terminals 1 & 2. Duplex stores will be added to the luxury mix, encouraging top luxury brands to open flagship boutiques embedding brand identity and signature services. An online ‘Smart Duty Free Service’ is also introduced which allows travelers to access all necessary services at the airport from check-in, immigrations, security check to shopping.

The very first VisionAir edition was successfully held by the GTR team in September in Paris where we invited business partners and stakeholders to a two-day event allowing them to explore the Cartier creation processes. This was a real opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our partners while being able to share with them our latest strategic directions.

VisionAir will act in the future as a platform for our partners to experience and exchange with the GTR team and will enable us to showcase the Maison’s dedication to excellence.

Spanish airport operator Aena gathered the world’s leading international duty-free shop operators during the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, as it prepares to launch the world’s largest duty-free tender. The €18 billion-plus contracts represent a ‘unique opportunity’ for duty free operators, says Aena.

María José Cuenda, Managing Director Commercial and Real Estate at Aena, said: “We are focused on adapting to the continued changes in market trends and passenger profiles and have introduced a lot of innovation in this tender – more commercial spaces, a wide run of categories and products, digital experience, more lots than the current contract that attends to different passenger profiles in different airports.”

This summer, Cartier heats up iconic Mykonos, Greece, with the pilot of the Cartier d’Ete concept, a boutique experience like no other. Designed to connect with clients during their holiday, the project integrates unique décor, adapted product selection, and retailtainment activations with a relaxing vibe, natural approach, and free spirit. The Cartier Service kiosk, right on the beach, invites clients to discover the boutique’s beauty through the Cartier d’Eté magazine and select services. The initiative brings a fresh, new surprise, earning rave reviews from new and returning clients alike.

The summer Dior Riviera capsule designed by Maria Grazia Chuiri sets up home again across the world this summer. For the entire season, Dior creations will be showcased in ephemeral boutiques in locations from Mykonos to Bodrum to Chengdu and Sanya. The maison invites its clientele to escape reality amidst tropical decor bathed in sunlight.

For the initiative’s Paris iteration, Dior designed a spa experience in partnership with the Cheval Blanc hotel. The boat extravaganza is intended to help kick off couture season, which begins on July 3. The two-hour cruise is to offer a 60-minute face or body treatment to five passengers at a time in its four suites.

The February 2022 opening of Cartier’s latest boutique in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse B confirms the future of travel retail looks bright. While challenges in this airport context still exist, passenger volume continues to grow. Presently, European and Middle Eastern passengers represent 50 per cent of overall sales; many are frequent travelers. To tap on this opportunity and grow further, Clienteling will be a focus for the years to come. Future other opportunities could include expanding the boutique’s network, adapting to introduce a private salons, and upgrading services with the creation of great VIC experience.

The European Travel Commission’s latest research reveals that 75% of Europeans plan to take a trip in the next six months; Mediterranean destinations have the highest appeal. Over half (56%) plan to visit another European country, while 31% will travel domestically. Travel intentions increase with age, rising from 69% among those 18–24 years old to 83% among those over 54.

The survey confirms Europeans’ travel plans follow a seasonal pattern, with sun and beach holidays (22%) preferred for the coming months.

Frustrated with fragmented digital airport experiences, 71% of respondents asked for a single app to streamline the journey, while 60% felt mobile services in the lounge would improve their experience. Hyper-convenience and a seamless, contactless journey through the airport is commonly desired.

Younger generations are more enthusiastic about optimizing the airport experience. There is a stronger trend to pre-plan their shopping and use click-and-collect services: 68% of Gen Z travelers believe being able to pre-order and collect food via a digital app would improve their airport visit, compared to 25% of boomers and older travelers.

The Treasure Island will become a new landmark for Macau’s tourism and retailtainment that targets to open end of 2022. This USD 600m project is home to Galeries Lafayette and a 5-star hotel with 600 rooms developed by Treasure Island Hotel. It spans 8,100sqm with a five-storey shopping mall incorporating retail, pop-up art elements and fashion cafes, aiming to bring ‘European Art Nouveau’ to the city.
With the clear vision from the Central Government to turn Macau from a gambling driven destination to a city that fosters the development of integrated resort and retail, the Treasure Island comes at the right time. It is taking over the site which was formerly planned by Genting Group to market and operate casinos.

A completely new landscape. That’s what shoppers will find in airports in the future with more and more to do beyond shopping. These changes reflect a big shift in who is flying and why as business travelers and Chinese tourists are still grounded. Instead, Gen z is taking over with less appetite in shopping, preferring indulging themselves with food, drinks and entertainment. Catching their attention will be key for airport players especially luxury Maisons and this goes with rethinking their whole experience: refreshed mix of products, switch towards more digital with click and collect initiatives, innovative partnerships …“Airports now must have a completely different mix of products and experiences [compared to what they had before the pandemic],” said Anastasi Mauro, retail and aviation partner – Bain & Company.