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INTERNATIONAL. Giving back to those in need and helping to sustain our planet are key components of this month’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October).

In line with that principle, The Moodie Davitt Report is set to make major contributions to cleft charity  Smile Train and the Trinity Forest Project and One Tree Planted sustainability projects. In addition, Ocean Bottle has been named Sustainability Partner at the Expo, pledging to rid the ocean of the equivalent of 500,000 plastic bottles as a direct result of the Expo presence. That’s the equivalent of a hefty 5,000kg of ocean waste.

The Moodie Davitt Report will again fund a cleft operation through Smile Train for every paid exhibitor at this year’s Expo and plant a tree in support of the The Trinity Forest Project for every registered visitor.

The Moodie Davitt Report’s renewed commitment to the non-profit organisations follows substantial donations to Smile Train and the Trinity Forest Project after last year’s inaugural virtual event.

“We see such programmes not as a duty but as an honour,” said The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie. “While many organisations have reduced their commitment to such vital organisations during the pandemic, we have actually stepped up ours, something of which we are proud.

“Anyone who has visited a Smile Train cleft ward, as I have on several occasions, is deeply moved by the beautiful simplicity of their work. That so many cleft children are left untreated in emergent countries is a stain on humanity and we are passionate about continuing our support for this outstanding organisation. With The Trinity Forest project and together with Ocean Bottle, we are also continuing to do our utmost to support the sustainability of our dangerously compromised planet.”

As reported, US$28,000 was set aside to fund 112 cleft operations and more than 4,250 trees were planted, underlining the fact that travel retail – and the Virtual Travel Retail Expo – are about far more than commerce.

The Moodie Davitt Report has once more pledged to fund a cleft operation through Smile Train for every paid exhibitor at this year’s Expo

It is estimated that some 170,000 babies in the developing world are born every year with cleft lips and/or palates. US$250 funds the cost of the simple 45-minute cleft surgery that transforms the life of a child – and that of their families.

Smile Train Senior Vice President International Development Troy Reinhart expressed his delight that Smile Train is once again a charity recipient for the 2021 Virtual Travel Retail Expo. He explained how Smile Train, in collaboration with The Moodie Davitt Report, is “changing the world one smile at a time”.

The Trinity Forest Project, launched at The Trinity Forum in Doha in 2019, is powered by One Tree Planted. With a ‘One dollar. One tree’ tagline, the organisation is focused on global reforestation.

Ocean Bottle aims to help stop ocean plastic pollution at the source and simultaneously improve the lives of millions of people. In a recent interview with The Moodie Davitt Report, Co-founder Will Pearson said that ocean plastic is expected to quadruple by 2040. “We need to act fast if we are to have an effect. The Virtual Travel Retail Expo is the ideal place to get our message across to those in the travel and travel retail business,” he commented.

“I see this as a plastic positive event to raise participants’ awareness to the problem, get them involved in the journey to reduce single plastic consumption and become part of our global impact.”

Ocean Bottle collaborates with Plastic Bank, an initiative which aims to empower a regenerative society – “turning plastic into gold” – by revolutionising the world’s recycling systems.

INTERNATIONAL. Two more travel retail executives who have registered to attend the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021 are in with a chance to win US$1 million or a luxury car, courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, following the latest in a series of weekly prize draws that will run until the event on 11-15 October.

As reported, all registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event. Participants are in with a chance to win tickets for the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively. Click here to register for the event.

Peace Arch Duty Free Shop Director Reginald Raju has won a ticket to enter the Millennium Millionaire competition and could now secure the US$1 million prize if his number is pulled out in Dubai Duty Free’s regular draw.

DFS Saipan Operations Manager Jamika Taijeron goes into the Finest Surprise draw with the opportunity to win a luxury car.

All registered retailer, buyer and airport representatives go into the prize draws each week between now and the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October)

Previous draws have seen tickets won by registered Virtual Expo delegates from China Duty Free Group, China Sales Group, DFS Group, Dufry, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Edmonton Airports, Ever Rich Duty Free, Fraport Brasil, Gebr Heinemann, KrisShop, Kansai Airports, Lagardère Travel Retail (Asia Pacific), Malaysia Airports, Perth Airport, Shilla, Starboard Cruise Services, Tallink Duty Free, Thai Airways and Unifree Duty Free, underlining the wide geographical industry interest in the event and its global reach.

To register for The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo and qualify for each prize draw, please click here.

[Important note: In the event of any individual winning an ultimate grand prize, it can be donated to charity if a company policy precludes accepting individual benefits.]

Launched in June 1999, the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion has captured the imagination of travellers around the globe offering a one-in-5,000 chance to win US$1 million. Seven lucky individual winners have won twice. The Finest Surprise Promotion is now in its 32nd year, making it the longest-running duty free promotion in the world. To date, there have been 32 winners who have won the big prize twice.

The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA have jointly invested in a new platform to further elevate the exhibitor and visitor experience in 2021

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish” – Michelle Obama

INTERNATIONAL. The food & beverage module at the upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo will feature a special session, FAB Women, to recognise, encourage and develop the participation of women in the airport F&B sector. FAB Women takes place on 14 October and promises to be a major highlight of FAB 2021 at the all-digital event.

Visitor registration remains open for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October) and for FAB 2021. The event is run by The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA, with co-organiser Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development. Registration is free for all travel retailers, food & beverage concessionaires and airport companies.

The FAB Women session, which was first hosted at the Airport Food & Beverage Conference (organised by The Moodie Davitt Report) in Dallas in 2019, features four leading female executives in the F&B channel. These highly experienced, successful and influential women will share their experiences, their career highlights and offer advice for others working in an often male-dominated sector.

FAB Women speakers include Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowman, Philadelphian restaurateurs Valeria Safran and Chef Marcie Blaine Turney, and Hong Kong restaurant owner Yvonne Kam.

The FAB Women session will be moderated by SSP America Vice President Corporate Marketing and Communications Lana Cramer. More on FAB 2021 can be found here.

Chef Cristina Bowerman

Cristina Bowerman is a multi-talented chef, a Michelin Star holder, with a passion for travel and innovative cooking. Her creative plates are rooted in Italian traditional with international flair.

Italian-born Bowerman studied foreign languages and law, and worked as a graphic designer in the USA. After completing a course at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Texas, her career took a new path which led to work in several restaurants. She was guided by key mentors, including chefs Egil Valentin, from Puerto Rico and David Bull.

Keen on inspiring a new generation of female chefs and leading a fresh, modern era of Italian cooking, Bowerman returned to Italy in 2004.

A year later, she took over the kitchen at Glass Hostaria, now a well-known restaurant in Rome. National and international recognition followed and, in 2010, Bowerman was awarded a Michelin star, the only female chef to receive one that year.

#cristinabowermanchef boasts close to 38,000 Instagram followers

In 2012, together with Glass Hostaria owners Fabio Spada and Silvia Sacerdoti, Bowerman launched Romeo Chef and Baker, which houses a bar, restaurant, bakery and delicatessen.

In 2014, she published her first book, From Cerignola to San Francisco and Back – My Life as a Chef Swimming Against the Tide. Her second book, The Chef meets the Artist, followed in 2019, with both underlining Bowerman’s strong personality.

Bowerman’s history, and a case study of Glass Hostaria, are taught as Bocconi University, and for several years she has headed cooking courses at several educational establishments, both as professor and course director.

Renowned both for its fine food and design elements, Glass Hostaria is a culinary fixture of Rome’s historic alleyways

Bowerman’s commitments are notorious and tackle several fronts, starting with training and teaching, and always highlighting the role of women in the workforce. She has claimed Woman Chef of the Year and Best Female Italian Chef in Europe awards and was the protagonist of the biggest Action Aid campaign.

Bowerman helped establish Fiorano For Kids, with a focus on special diets in the care of infantile epilepsy, and also led a discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year on the importance of food sustainability.

Chef Marcie Blaine Turney and Valerie Safran

Marcie Blaine Turney and Valeria Safran are regarded as two of Philadelphia’s most prominent and ambitious businesswomen.

Chef Marcie Blaine Turney (left) and Valerie Safran are set to share their experiences in the F&B sector on FAB Women

They worked for over a decade to transform a once-desolate strip of the city’s 13th Street into a trendy neighbourhood now known as ‘Midtown Village’. Their Safran Turney Hospitality group owns and operates four popular restaurants in the neighbourhood: Barbuzzo; Little Nonna’s, Bud & Marilyn’s and Lolita. Close by are two lifestyle boutiques, Open House and Verde.

In 2019, in partnership with Areas, they opened a Bud & Marilyn’s restaurant at Philadelphia International Airport.

Bud & Marilyn’s, which is named after Chef Turney’s grandparents, is a firm favourite at Philadelphia International Airport

Chef Turney adds a globe-trotting culinary style to their restaurants: Barbuzzo features traditional casual fare from the Mediterranean, Little Nonna specialises in Italian cuisine while Lolita is known for Mexican fare. At Bud & Marilyn’s her focus is regional American cuisine. Turney’s menus, which combine artisanal local ingredients with classic and innovative preparations, have earned local and national recognition.

Co-owner Valerie Safran, a former 8th grade Spanish teacher, runs the front of house/financial operations for all the restaurants and boutiques.

As a team, Safran and Turney are hands-on entrepreneurs who take genuine ownership of every aspect of their businesses, from the look and feel of the spaces to the products and menus that they offer to the service standards practiced by staff.

Yvonne Kam

Restaurateur Yvonne Kam is well-known in Hong Kong, where she is regarded as a trailblazer, having taken the helm of the award-winning and world-famous Yung Kee restaurant.

The granddaughter of Yung Kee Founder Kam Shui-fai, Kam is recognised for her hard work and tenacity and her ability to break barriers as the first female to take over a family business that, is by tradition and trade, a male-dominated industry.

Yvonne Kam: Blazing a trail in Hong Kong with the popular Yung Kee restaurant

As Chief Financial Officer of the Yung Kee Restaurant Group, Kam has been instrumental in the group’s business activities, playing a pivotal role in setting the strategic growth direction and escalating the Yung Kee brand.

Kam is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and has been a Chartered Accountant since 2000. She joined her family’s business in 2005, on a once-a-week, part-time basis to oversee finances.

Kam is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

She was an active board member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – Hong Kong Chapter from 2011 to 2018 and Chapter President in 2018-2019. Kam has also taken on EO roles in the APAC region as Forum Director, member of the EO’s Global Communication Committee (GCC) and member of Standing Finance Committee.

Kam has extensive hand-on experience in other high-growth companies. She founded Corner Block, a premiere organic foods retail brand, and its wholesales sister company Organic Experience Management Group Limited.

Lana Cramer

Lana Cramer, who will chair the session, is Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications for SSP America, a division of SSP Group, which runs F&B concessions in travel locations worldwide.

Lana Cramer, SSP America Vice President Corporate Marketing and Communications, is set to moderate FAB Women

Cramer joined SSP America seven years ago to oversee marketing and communications initiatives and to handle media relations and proposal development.

Prior to SSP America, Lana led marketing and communications for Hargrove. This leading experiential events company has produced every presidential inaugural since the 1950s, decades of global summits hosted by the USA, national political conventions and experiential events for brands such as Nike, Sony, Microsoft and Starbucks.

Cramer holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from American University and a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University. During undergraduate work, she was recognised as one of the top US collegiate speakers.

Click here or on the above image to register for FAB Women.

Note: *While Virtual Expo registration is free for exhibitors, retailers and other commercial operators, and airports and other landlords, we have also introduced a bulk discount scheme for non-exhibiting brands and distributors who would like to attend the Expo and the fantastic five-day Knowledge Hub and Experience Arena. Speak to Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com for details.

INTERNATIONAL. Retail in Asia, a leading multi-channel B2B title in Asia, today dedicated home page treatment to the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021 (11-15 October).

By permission of Retail in Asia, we reproduce the interview below. To subscribe to Retail in Asia free of charge click here.

Entering its second year, the Virtual Travel Retail Expo has already established itself as the largest virtual event in the global travel retail calendar, and the 2021 edition is set to be even bigger and better.  Before the expo starts, Retail in Asia had the pleasure to interview Martin Moodie, Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Davitt Report, to discuss the travel retail industry and what to expect at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. 

Click on the image to view the original article or to subscribe (free of charge) to Retail in Asia

Retail in Asia: Almost two years into this pandemic, can you give us your take on how the business of travel retail is feeling and doing today in Asia?

Martin Moodie: Travel retail in Asia is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic and the related constraints on travel. Hitherto key markets such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Japan have all been devastated by the lack of travellers.

There have been some bright spots however, most notably Hainan where so-called ‘offshore duty free’ sales soared last year by around 127 percent year-on-year to circa US$5 billion. That performance was spurred by an enhanced duty free shopping policy introduced in July 2020 and of course by the fact that Chinese foreign travel was so restricted. That continues to be the case and Hainan will generate record sales this year, probably in the region of over US$9 billion.

Domestic travel retail,  i.e. airport duty paid sales, in China has also prospered this year and it has been good to see Macau bounce back so strongly over recent months. Jeju Island in South Korea, which has a similar ‘domestic duty free’ model to Hainan, has also done well this year with many Korean mainlanders choosing to holiday there due to outbound travel restrictions.

The traditional Korean duty free market, i.e. sales to Koreans and foreigners travelling internationally, which has historically been the world’s biggest duty free channel, went backwards in 2020 by around 38 percent and was largely confined to daigou sales. That has remained the case throughout 2021 as the country’s borders remain so tightly constrained.

For the rest of Asia, alas, it is largely a waiting game.

Despite the pandemic, there has also been some very promising news from travel retail players and brands globally and around the region. What were some of the highlights for you?

The obvious highlight was China Duty Free Group’s (CDFG) performance, driven by its superb Haitang Bay operation in Hainan. CDFG became the world number travel retailer by sales in 2020 according to The Moodie Davitt Report’s annual Top 25 benchmark rankings, jumping from its previous fourth.

In 2010, just ten years earlier, it had ranked a lowly 19th. An incredible achievement in a decade. Late 2020 and early 2021 also saw a flurry of new rivals to CDFG opening in Hainan – Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co, Hainan Developments Holdings and Shenzhen Duty Free, all three working closely with a series of international partners including Lagardère Travel Retail, Dufry and DFS Group.

Though CDFG remains the overwhelmingly dominant force, that level of interest underlines just how critical the Hainan market has become to the global duty free channel. We have seen some amazing online-to-offline campaigns and activations from many of the beauty brands in particular in Hainan that have been as ambitious as anything that travel retail has ever witnessed.

Invest in Hainan: That’s the message from the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB), which is hosting the Hainan Discovery zone, exhibiting there and also acting as co-organiser of the event in 2021

You are once again bringing all the TR players together through the Virtual Travel Retail Expo which is happening in a few weeks. Can you take us through what we should expect from this exhibition/summit?

Yes, we are thrilled to be bringing back the Virtual Travel Retail Expo for a second consecutive year after its big success in 2020. Essentially, this purely digital event comprises three key elements over a five-day period – an exhibition, a conference (Knowledge Hub) and an experience arena featuring product masterclasses, remote tastings and so on.

We have attracted many of the sector’s top brands – Shiseido, SK-II, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Philip Morris International, Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Edrington, L’Occitaine and many more as exhibitors and we are expecting at least 5,000 visitors from all over the world. Excitingly, we have created a special ‘Hainan Discovery’ zone, where most of Hainan’s travel retailers are exhibiting, including CDFG which is creating its own CDFG City – which I promise you is going to truly wow.

Other top travel retailers such as Dubai Duty Free, Dufry and Lagardère Travel Retail are also exhibiting in the main Retailer Emporium. The exhibition actually remains open for a further six weeks after the main show week so brands and retailers and landlords will have ample opportunity to meet and do business without having to spend a cent on travel or accommodation and have no down time from their office.

As for the Knowledge Hub, that has a packed five-day programme of industry leaders including the President and CEO of Shiseido, Masahiko Uotani; Pernod Ricard Chairman and CEO Alexandre Ricard; CDFG President Charles Chen; DFS Group Chairman & CEO Benjamin Vuchot; Star Brands Travel Retail (Star Brands Asia/Bluebell) CEO Rob Roberston; Louis Vuitton President North Asia Michael Schriver; Phillip Nguyễn, Chief Executive Officer at IPP Travel Retail and Vice President Business Development Imex Pan Pacific Group, Vietnam and many others.

How can I attend?

Attendance for approved media partners, retailers, airports and exhibitors is free. For any non-exhibiting brand or distributor it is just US$250 via www.VirtualTRExpo.com 

After J International boasts renowned expertise in all things K-Beauty 

Leading South Korean travel retail specialist After J International will be showcasing its K-Beauty and K-Fashion expertise within the Hainan Discovery Zone at the upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo, set for 11-15 October.

After J International is renowned for its expertise in bringing K-Beauty (Korean Beauty) and K-Fashion (Korean Fashion) brands to South Korean and international travel retail consumers.

The company famously introduced JM Solution, a leading Korean sheet mask brand, to duty free in early 2017. After J International helped to lead JM Solution into the top tier of K-Beauty brands in South Korean duty free within six months. It recorded sales of US$10 million in 2017 and soared to around US$200 million in pre-pandemic 2019.

Other key brands in the portfolio include d’Alba, well known for its white truffle spray serum, TirTir, Dr.Pepti, Shangpree, Dr Lacto, Jungsaemmool, Optatum, Hince, Cosmetea, 16brand, A’pieu, Dr. Different, Reduire, GIK, ReNK and more.

Key stories from China and related to Chinese travellers are featured each week on The Moodie Davitt Report’s WeChat Official Account. Please scan the QR code to follow us.

The company has recently secured a breakthrough listing with Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co (HTDF) at Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex for a range of K-Beauty bands and is now gearing up to expand further in Hainan, as well as in Mainland China and internationally.

The Hainan Discovery zone is shaping up as one of the stand-outs of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. Other than After J International, exhibitors include China Duty Free Group (a gateway to its extraordinary standalone CDFG City), Shenzhen Duty Free (Times DF), Lagardère Travel Retail China, Wangfujing Duty Free and GDF Plaza (Hainan Developments Holdings).

Besides the multiple retailer exhibitors, Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (Hainan IEDB) is hosting Hainan Discovery and also exhibiting. Other exhibitors in the zone include leading Chinese enterprise and marketing cloud platform iClick; Hong Kong-based logistics specialist Global Drinks Ltd; travel analyst ForwardKeys; Expo owner The Moodie Davitt Report and its event partner FILTR.QINGWA.

The island’s leading consumer media, Hainan Hinews Media Co, will showcase from a special suite while producing live coverage from the various exhibitors’ stands for broadcasting island-wide.

The all-digital Virtual Travel Retail Expo is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report with FILTR.QINGWA as support partner and event curator. The Hainan Provincial Bureau of Intentional Economic Development (Hainan IEDB) is the official co-organiser of the 2021 event.

After J International recently secured a widespread multiple listing for several K-Beauty brands with Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co at Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex in Sanya

After J International has introduced the hugely popular sheet mask brand JM Solution to Hainan

Contact: If you would like to meet Co-Founders Eunkyung (Lydia) Lee and Hwasun (Hannah) Kim or their experienced consultant Hong Chang Min (Allen Hong) at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo please email coo@afterj.com or ceo@afterj.com or allencmhong@hotmail.com

Martin Moodie profiled After J International earlier this year in The Moodie Davitt Magazine, interviewing Co-Founders Eunkyung (Lydia) Lee and Hwasun (Hannah) Kim. Click on the image to download.

After J International has brought plenty of diversity to the K-Beauty offer at Hainan Tourism Duty Free Shopping Complex, including (from above) JM Solution, Shangpree, Optatum, Dr Lacto and more

The Hainan Discovery zone will be a highlight of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. Click here to register.

Note: Every fortnight The Moodie Davitt Report publishes Hainan Curated, in association with Foreo, a selection of all recent stories from the offshore duty free sector in Hainan province.

Click here to view all back issues. Please email Sinead@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe.

Augustinus Bader is a Silver Partner of The Virtual Travel Retail Expo 

Prestige skincare brand Augustinus Bader has expanded its skincare range with The Serum and The Eye Cream. Both innovations will launch in global travel retail in October.

Coined as the ‘ultimate troubleshooter’ The Serum with TFC8 is a powerful new concentrate that combats dehydration, ageing and environmental damage. The serum fuses the brand’s exclusive TFC8 technology with nature’s most effective problem solvers: Vitamin C, Rice Bran Oil, Pomegranate Seed Concentrate, Resveratrol and Edelweiss Extract.

The Serum provides intense hydration and antioxidant and free-radical protection. It also boosts the skin’s natural radiance and reduces the signs of ageing, fine lines and wrinkles.

TFC8 is Augustinus Bader’s signature complex of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesised molecules. The complex guides natural ingredients to skin cells which creates an optimal environment for the body’s internal repair and renewal processes.

The Eye Cream with TFC8 has been described as ‘the ultimate wakeup call’ and combines TFC8 with French Seaweed, Pennywort, Arjun Tree Extract among other rejuvenating active ingredients. The Eye Serum reduces eye puffiness, eliminates dark circles, increases skin firmness, boosts radiance and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

As an added element of sustainability, both The Serum and The Eye Cream are bottled in a striking 100% metal pack and recyclable glass holder and packaged in 100% FSC-certified carton. To promote circular economy practices, both products are available in sustainable, travel-friendly, aluminium Refill Nomad metal tubes.

Augustinus Bader has also been hailed as the greatest skincare brand of all time by 300 beauty insiders from WWD, Vogue and Beauty Inc. In this exclusive interview, Augustinus Bader CEO Charles Rosier discusses what sets The Serum and The Eye Cream apart from other luxury skincare products and what makes them ideal for the travel retail channel.

The ultimate troubleshooter: The Serum with TFC8 decreases dehydration, ageing and protects against environmental damage

(Left) Professor Augustinus Bader (right) CEO Charles Rosier have set out to create “the greatest skincare routine of all time”

The Moodie Davitt Report: The Serum with TFC8 has been coined as ‘the ultimate skincare troubleshooter’ could you tell us more about the leading-edge skincare innovations that power this groundbreaking release?

Charles Rosier: It’s a very active serum. The clinical trials have been shared and the results of the serum are incredibly powerful. When people become aware that Augustinus Bader is launching a serum, the bar is set very high. So we had to create something very powerful. As you know hyaluronic acid is widely used by different products – and the main differentiator with The Serum is to combine hyaluronic acid with TFC8.

Another key differentiator is the Nomad Central unit. We designed the nomad unit with the aim of having people refill and upcycle it. The bottle itself is very beautiful, so it combines sustainability with being an object you are proud to display in your home.

Why was now the right time to launch The Serum and The Eye Cream? What other product innovations are you exploring?

The precise timing is more dictated by the products being ready rather than a plan. Our aim is to create the greatest skincare routine of all time. We now have a cleanser, moisturiser, serum, eye cream, face oil and body product.

Our DNA is different from other companies. Augustinus Bader is a technology platform that leverages our disruptive skincare discovery about cellular communication. We are now developing a haircare line, which is the next step of that core offer. We believe aren’t a skincare company moving into hair, but a tech platform moving from skin to hair.

The research and development for our haircare line began 18 months ago. We are now undergoing clinical trials with very impressive results.

Tell us more about the Eye Cream and what differentiates this product from other prestige eye products in the market today?

We decided to launch the Eye Cream like we have launched every other product in our range, from reverse inquiries from our consumers. We only formulate something that we believe adds to the conversation.

Our customers were looking for increased elasticity, less dark circles and reduced puffiness and so that’s what our Eye Cream does. While our Cream and Rich Cream contain enough TFC8 to be super effective, they don’t have a specific target. Our two new products are more specialised to help people obtain specific results.

In our initial plan, we wanted to release the Serum and Eye Cream in February, but we are a bit delayed. This is a consequence of the fact that we tweaked the formula, created tailor-made packaging and put in a special effort to design a beautiful object with sustainability in mind.

The ultimate wakeup call: The Eye Cream combines rejuvenating active ingredients with TFC8 to reduce wrinkles, boost radiance and minimise puffiness

Tell us more about the sustainability credentials of both The Serum and The Eye Cream?

Both The Serum and The Eye Cream are bottled in aluminium for the nomad and ceramic for the main object. The glass holders can be reused as a vase, pen carrier or glass pot. The fact that you only need to buy the Nomad Unit when you want a refill also diminishes waste. Our next step is to enable customers to just buy the central cartridge refill. In addition, most of our new packaging will only use minimum plastics.

In your opinion, what makes The Serum and The Eye Cream ideal products for the travel retail channel?

What makes these new products ideal for the travel retail channel is that that they are going to be the best products in their respective categories. The second reason is that they are pieces of art. They stand out and I don’t think any other skincare brand can create this impression.

When the travel retail consumer sees and touches our product, they will quickly understand that it delivers in terms of formula and premium experience. The Serum and The Eye Cream combine high-end appeal with skin cell expertise and premium sustainable design and we believe they will be very desirable.

They will be part of our rollout with DFS Group and a few other retailers that have bet on Augustinus Bader. For us, they are a beautiful showcase of what we can create and how different our brand is.

The Serum (top) and The Eye Cream (below) are available in a travel-friendly aluminium refill Nomad format that can be detached from the glass case

An object of desire: The glass jar can be upcycled as a vase, pen holder or decorative ornament

What product innovations and digital features can attendees expect to see at your #Virtual Stand during the second Virtual Travel Retail Expo?

Expo visitors will see that we are a high-end premium technology platform whose applications go beyond skincare. Today, we are expanding into hair care and supplements, and I think people understand that we stand for beauty inside and out.

We believe that the premium scalp care and hair treatment category is growing in travel retail too and so we are exploring that in the channel.

In the past, we have understood that our brand identity of having just two hero products have not made us that attractive to some retailers. However, in 2021, we now have a complete skincare assortment which offers a great showcase of our brand potential in travel retail.

We truly believe the world doesn’t need more products and so we want to confirm that our products rank number one in each category. Our voice will remain consistent no matter what we launch, and that’s all about science and quality.

Ocean Bottle has been named Sustainability Partner at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, pledging to rid the ocean of the equivalent of 500,000 plastic bottles as a direct result of the Expo presence. That’s the equivalent of a hefty 5,000kg of ocean waste.

Ocean Bottle aims to help stop ocean plastic pollution at the source and simultaneously improve the lives of millions of people. Co-founder Will Pearson talked to The Moodie Davitt Report about the brand’s development and its fight to help the planet.

Pearson says that ocean plastic is expected to quadruple by 2040. “We need to act fast if we are to have an effect. The Virtual Travel Retail Expo is the ideal place to get our message across to those in the travel and travel retail business,” he comments.

“I see this as a plastic positive event to raise participants’ awareness to the problem, get them involved in the journey to reduce single plastic consumption and become part of our global impact.”

Ocean Bottle collaborates with Plastic Bank, an initiative which aims to empower a regenerative society – “turning plastic into gold” – by revolutionising the world’s recycling systems.

Plastic Bank builds recycling ecosystems in under-developed communities in an effort to fight both plastic pollution in oceans, as well as high poverty levels in developing countries. Collectors in coastal communities exchange the waste plastic they collect for money, healthcare, tech products, tuition and micro-finance via blockchain technology at their local Plastic Bank. The material is then recycled, reused and repurposed by companies which support a circular economy and the elimination of plastic waste.

The Ocean Bottle concept was launched through a highly-successful Kickstarter campaign in 2018, featuring 200 gram bottles in a range of colours.

Earlier this month, the brand introduced a larger Big Ocean Bottle (BOB), again through Kickstarter, which was fully funded within minutes.

The brand’s bottles are made from stainless steel and recycled ocean bound plastic, with design input from Norwegian company, K8 Industries. Each Ocean Bottle comes equipped with a NFC smart chip which, according to Pearson, offers customers the opportunity to personally impact ocean waste.

Bottle owners can register the product and fund more plastic collection through purchasing at selected points of sale. Full details on refilling stations are also provided and bottle users can join the brand’s #BYOB (Bring you own Ocean Bottle) campaign.

“There is a a very strong personal element in this,” Pearson says. “My partner Nick Doman and I exist to enable individuals around the world to have a global impact on the plastic crisis.”

Pearson’s inspiration for Ocean Bottle came from a love of the sea, a passion for sustainability and a year working on a boat in the Indian Ocean.

“I was born in the UK and moved to Norway when I was ten. I was lucky enough to enjoy quite a bit of sailing with my grandfather which gave me an early connection with the ocean,” Pearson explains.

Through a high school geography teacher’s millennial development project, Pearson “latched on to the environment, the intersection between people and planet”.

He continues, “I became obsessed. I would go home, talking at my parents for hours about various problems and trying to fix them. I’ve been interested in this space for a long time.”

Ocean Bottle Co-founder Will Pearson takes a hands-on approach to impacting ocean plastic waste

The stint on the Indian Ocean-faring boat provided Pearson with first-hand experience of the huge problem of ocean plastic waste.

“I saw plastic absolutely everywhere. And, when I started to research the problem, I then discovered that horrific statistic for 2040. I wanted to take action and do something about it and, at the same time, became very aware that individuals all around the world wanted to make an impact.

“With my partner, Nick, the two things came together when we created Ocean Bottle,” Pearson says.

With a ‘Buy 1, Collect 1,000’ tagline, every Ocean Bottle funds the collection of the equivalent to 1000 plastic bottles. “So far, we’ve done around 200 million plastic bottles, an amount which could actually circle the planet. I think the scary thing about that is that we’re only just scraping the surface of the issue.”

Commenting on the Ocean Bottle design, Pearson said the brand wanted to “level up the entire category”, adding, “There are all sorts of different designs out there really they are just bottles and we wanted our product to be so much more than that.

“We made a conscious decision to have two USPs (unique selling propositions). One obviously was impact and the other an uncompromising product. A product to ensure we could deliver a best-in-class product that people would want to use every day, to reduce their own plastic consumption and also to make a statement about the kind of world they want to live in.”

Pearson underlined the impact Ocean bottle has already had in impoverished coastal communities in Haiti, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, and also in Egypt.

“Through Plastic Bank’s collection points, locals can exchange plastic waste for money, digital tokens, products or access micro finance, tuition and medical insurance. I suppose we are really turning waste into value, putting a value on plastic waste and kind of flipping the problem on its head. So this is really exciting.”

Ocean Bottle’s focus on travel retail was inevitably delayed by the COVID crisis. Now it is intent on increasing its footprint in the channel, and listings with Hurtigruten and Viking Cruises are set to be boosted through another major partnership to be announced soon.

The brand is represented in travel retail by Irish company TR Partners. “We are proud to be representing Ocean Bottle in global travel retail,” comments TR Partners Managing Director Vincent McDermott.

“Partnering with such an innovative brand that is making a proven difference to our planet as well as to the lives of the people that live in it, makes this so rewarding.”

“I believe Ocean Brand has a role to play in making travel more sustainable,” Pearson says.

He noted travellers’ continued reliance on single use bottles. “It’s strange, but it seems that many people find a license, a reason, to use as many plastic bottles as they like when they are on holiday.” That said, he also notes the huge increase in the number of holidaymakers, and travel retailers, seeking sustainability-minded brands.

“Ocean Bottle is actually a great gift for someone. You are giving the gift of impact,” he adds. Bespoke and possibly destination-related bottles are part of Ocean Bottle’s strategy for travel retail.

“Our ambition for 2025 is to fund the collection of an equivalent of 7 billion plastic bottles and, at the same time, stopping that from entering the ocean. Everything is working towards that target and travel retail can definitely play a role in reaching that goal.”

Two Stacks – the company whose mission is to lead the “new renaissance revival” of Irish whiskey – is set to spotlight a disruptive new product at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo.

According to Two Stacks, its innovative ‘Dram in a Can’, which features straight whiskey, has become “hot property”, with sales on course to hit over 500,000 since launching in March this year.

Irish whiskey on the go: Two Stacks is set to spotlight its Dram in a Can at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo

The Irish whiskey specialist will also offer Virtual Travel Retail Expo stand visitors the opportunity to win a coveted box of Time Well Spent whiskies or one of Two Stacks Limited release bottlings through an interactive label design competition.

Two Stacks Director Shane McCarthy said: “On the back of our latest listings in Australia and China, we felt that the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo was a great opportunity to showcase Two Stacks to the duty free industry.

“The Expo is a fantastic event and perfect for us to meet the best operators.”

He noted that Two Stacks has had “quite a journey” since its inception in 2020, when it set out to revive the tradition of independent bonding, blending and bottling once commonplace across Ireland.

The company has made its mark on the Irish whiskey scene with a series of premium cask strength whiskey releases as well as its core First Cut, Blenders Cut and Smoke and Mirrors.

Looking back to the future: The Ireland Craft Beverages team of (from left) Shane McCarthy, Donal McLynn and Liam Brogan

Dram in a Can is Two Stacks’ latest addition. Dubbed as the “world’s first straight whiskey in a can”, it serves the brand’s 43% five-part blend in a 100ml can, with four-packs offered during its US launch at a suggested retail price of US$18.99.

At 22g per serve, it is, according to Two Stacks, eight x lighter than the conventional double serve which is featured inflight by many airlines.

From the outset we could always see the appeal of Dram in a Can for the travel industry. It just makes sense – Two Stacks Director Shane McCarthy

McCarthy pointed out that the lightweight, environmentally-friendly package is already disrupting the spirits miniature market, both inflight and in retail.

“It’s been a pleasant surprise to see the interest in straight whiskey in a can skyrocket since it first launched across the USA in March of this year,” he said.

“We have had to expand our production fairly quickly to keep up with requests from distributors all over the world. From the outset we could always see the appeal of Dram in a Can for the travel industry. It just makes sense.”

According to McCarthy, Dram in a Can offers a “fresh take for the miniatures category that has not been updated in over 50 years.”

McCarthy noted that independent bonding, blending, and bottling was once a dying art in Irish whiskey.

“Where once many towns and cities across Ireland had merchants, grocers, and public houses developing their own unique expression of bonded and bottled whiskey very few now have,” he explained.

“The craft of whiskey bonding and blending in Ireland disappeared as the artisan industry declined throughout the 20th century but we aim to revive this tradition and showcase how uniquely brilliant Irish whiskey can be through our blends, finishes and cask strength offerings.”

McCarthy said Two Stacks is looking forward to sharing its story and passion with Virtual Travel Retail Expo attendees and will encourage all visitors to take part in its design-a-label competition. Visitors will be able to submit an entry each day of the event.

The top prize – a Time Well Spent box – was unveiled by Two Stacks earlier this year when it revealed two new expressions. The Time Well Spent whiskies – a 20 Year Old single malt and a 12 Year Old single grain, both cask strength – are presented in 200ml bottles in a gold embossed pack, which includes an exclusive Two Stacks Glencairn glass. Labels feature cask number details.

Two Stacks collaborated with local musicians Matt McGinn and Shannon Copeland in the launch. Their new Time Well Spent song is included inside each box, with a QR code giving access to live versions.

Two Stacks Co-Founder Liam Brogan commented: “Time Well Spent whiskey is exactly that”. He described the duo as “a highly rewarding and worthwhile investment of precious time in a rare drop of artisan Irish spirit”.

Contact: To set up a meeting with Shane McCarthy at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo please email shane@irelandcraftbeverages.com

INTERNATIONAL. Two more travel retail executives who have registered to attend the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021 are in with a chance to win US$1 million or a luxury car, courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, following the latest in a series of weekly prize draws that will run until the event on 11-15 October.

As reported, all registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event. Participants are in with a chance to win tickets for the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively. Click here to register for the event.

Zhejiang Provincial Airport Group Co. Ltd. Director of Commercial Center Wei Xu has won a ticket to enter the Millennium Millionaire competition and could now secure the US$1 million prize if that number is pulled out in Dubai Duty Free’s regular draw.

The Shilla Duty Free Merchandising Director – Luxury Fashion & Fashion Accessories Phil Yoon goes into the Finest Surprise draw with the opportunity to win a luxury car.

All registered retailer, buyer and airport representatives go into the prize draws each week between now and the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October)

Previous draws have seen tickets won by registered Virtual Expo delegates from China Duty Free Group, China Sales Group, DFS Group, Dufry, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Edmonton Airports, Ever Rich Duty Free, Fraport Brasil, Gebr Heinemann, KrisShop, Kansai Airports, Lagardère Travel Retail (Asia Pacific), Malaysia Airports, Perth Airport, Starboard Cruise Services, Tallink Duty Free, Thai Airways and Unifree Duty Free, underlining the wide geographical industry interest in the event and its global reach.

To register for The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo and qualify for each prize draw, please click here.

[Important note: In the event of any individual winning an ultimate grand prize, it can be donated to charity if a company policy precludes accepting individual benefits.]

Launched in June 1999, the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion has captured the imagination of travellers around the globe offering a one-in-5,000 chance to win US$1 million. Seven lucky individual winners have won twice. The Finest Surprise Promotion is now in its 32nd year, making it the longest-running duty free promotion in the world. To date, there have been 32 winners who have won the big prize twice.

The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA have jointly invested in a new platform to further elevate the exhibitor and visitor experience in 2021

INTERNATIONAL. Next month’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October) will feature 25 engagement sessions in the new-look Experience Arena from 20 brands (five brands have 2 sessions) in one of the event’s most exciting components.

In the weeks leading up to the event, we will be publicising these sessions and inviting attendees to attend them live or ‘on demand’.

Visitor registration is still open for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October). The event is run by The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA, with co-organiser Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development. Registration is free for all travel retailers and airport companies.

The Experience Arena programme will feature a diverse line-up of businesses across categories. Each presenting brand promises to wow Expo attendees with dynamic and interactive digital events. The Experience Arena will also host several virtual lounges for networking and serve as a platform to launch, promote and educate visitors about products and services through virtual masterclasses, tastings and live demonstrations.

Either pre-recorded or live, these 30-minute segments will be streamed to a global audience.

The full programme, with registration links, will be revealed in the coming days.

Day 2: 12 October, Tuesday

04:00 GMT | 11:00 SGT | 00:00 EST 

Spark Group of Companies: Activations in a New Retail Era – Designing a New Promotional Framework

How can brands and retailers best prepare for a new in-store and in-person sales and promotional experience while managing costs?

What supports are needed for operational efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability all while keeping consumer behaviour front and centre.

This webinar, led by Spark Founder and President Heidi Van Roon, will outline a new framework that serves the retailer, the brand, the staff, and the consumer with a focus on sales in the retail landscape.

07:00 GMT | 14:00 SGT | 03:00 EST 

Lindt & Sprüngli: Travel the world with Lindt Chocolate

Audiences will experience a (virtual) day in the life of a Lindt Maître Chocolatier

Confectionery company Lindt & Sprüngli invites Expo attendees to virtually experience a day in the life of a Lindt Maître Chocolatier, who are responsible for creating the company’s confectionery products.

The Lindt Maître Chocolatier will give visitors an inside look into how each Lindt chocolate is created.

He will take audiences on a trip around the world and share inspirations behind typical sweet surprises from different regions, using Lindt Chocolates.

11:00 GMT| 18:00 SGT | 07:00 EST

Fekkai: Discover Fekkai Clean Sustainable Hair Care & Styling

Fekkai, one of the world’s first sustainable, professional salon brands to deliver high-performance haircare, will be hosting a virtual Q&A with its Founder Frédéric Fekkai. Attendees are invited to discover the world of Fekkai and learn about its salon-tested collections and its mission to help make the beauty industry cleaner and more sustainable, one bottle at a time. Click here to read our interview with Frédéric Fekkai.

Fekkai will be joined by Commercial Officer Crystal Wood and Head of business Development Courtney Bostick.

Celebrity stylist and Founder Founder Frédéric Fekkai will be hosting a live Q&A. Click here to read our exclusive interview.

Fekkai Commercial Officer Crystal Wood and Head of business Development Courtney Bostick will be co-hosting the session

Day 4: 14 October, Thursday

11:00 GMT | 18:00 SGT | 07:00 EST

The Dalmore Ensemble Collection — A Multi-Sensory Virtual Experience

Whyte & Mackay is inviting Expo attendees to experience a ‘symphony of sensations’ at The Dalmore Ensemble Collection Virtual Experience. Audiences will see, hear and enjoy the new line by joining Global Single Malt Specialist Stephen Martin, as he reveals the latest travel retail exclusive collection from The Dalmore Distillery.

The three new, beautifully orchestrated Single Malts are presented with bespoke music and art commissioned from award-winning creatives, offering an uplifting, multi-sensory feast for the senses.

A symphony of sensations: Whyte & Mackay Global Single Malt Specialist Stephen Martin will be introducing the new travel retail exclusive range from The Dalmore 

13:00 GMT | 20:00 SGT | 09:00 EST 

Ahmad Tea – Tea Discovery Experience

Ahmad Tea Head of Global Marketing Tracey Wakelin, Ahmad Tea Senior Tea Taster Dominic Marriott and Cambridge Tea Consultant Joyce Maina will be sharing the company’s love of extraordinary tea with an immersive and interactive virtual Tea Discovery Experience.

Attendees will be able to explore Ahmad Tea’s wonderful selection of quality teas in this intimate tasting experience. The session draws upon four generations of expertise to seek out the world’s finest tea gardens. It aims to inspire tea drinkers everywhere with Ahmad Tea’s passion, dedication to quality, commitment to community and the environment, and ceaseless exploration of new flavours and blends.

(Left to right) Ahmad Tea Head of Global Marketing Tracey Wakelin, Ahmad Tea Senior Tea Taster Dominic Marriott and Cambridge Tea Consultant Joyce Maina will host an immersive virtual tea tasting 

Virtual became reality last year and continues next month with the 2021 Virtual Travel Retail Expo

The Moodie Davitt Report and Filtr.Qingwa have been shortlisted as Frontier Awards finalists in two categories: Collaboration of the Year and Technology Success Story of the Year.

The listings recognise the two firm’s successful partnership in last year’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2020. The Frontier Awards are travel retail’s longest-running awards platform.

The Frontier Awards will take place in Cannes on 27 October at Barrière Hotel Le Majestic on Boulevard de la Croisette.

Others shortlisted in the Collaboration of the Year category include:

• Aer Rianta International – ARI & Jameson TasteHouse
• Luxottica Group x CDFG – Growing the Sunglasses Category in China
• The Hershey Company – The Hershey Company and Changi Airport Group Partnership Event.

Candidates for the Technology Success Story of the Year award include:

• Bahrain Duty Free – Bahrain Duty Free Technology
• Blackjack Promotions – Blackjack iCademy – Coaching & Connecting Colleagues During a Pandemic
• Omnevo
• Play Retail – Discover IQOS Philip Morris International.

As reported, travel retail specialist agency Filtr and integrated creative agency Qingwa joined forces last year to form a powerful global agency network.

Other shortlisted finalists include:

Airport of the Year

• Changi Airport Group
• Heathrow Airport Limited.

Airport Retailer of the Year

• Cyprus Duty Free
• Dubai Duty Free
• Hyderabad Duty Free.

Best New Shop Opening

• Bahrain Duty Free – Bahrain Duty Free new shops
• CTC-ARI – Cyprus Duty Free
• DFS Group – Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf by DFS
• GMR Hospitality & Retail – Kannur Duty Free
• Lagardère Travel Retail – Southern Providore
• MSC Cruises – MSC Seashore
• The Somers Isles Trading Company – Love Bermuda.

Border, Downtown or Non-Airport Retailer of the Year

• Lotte Duty Free – Lotte Duty Free Main Store
• Seva IBP (part of SEVA Group) – Seva Duty Free
• Shopping China – Shopping China
• The Shilla Duty Free – The Shilla Duty Free Seoul main store.

Campaign of the Year

• Aer Rianta International – Seize Your Summer, Summer 2020 ARI
• Dubai Duty Free – Dubai Duty Free
• Flemingo Travel Retail Limited – Flemingo Privilege: The Mumbai Duty Free Loyalty Program
• Fraport AG – #Beforetomatojuice
• SPI Spirits Cyprus – Stoli Group – ReSea Project: Plastic Free Ocean
• Puig – Paco Rabanne Phantom
• Starboard Cruise Services Starboard Hails Return Of Mediterranean Cruising With Celebrity Apex Retail Launch
• William Grant & Sons – Hendrick’s Amazonia Launch Campaign.

Online Travel Retailer of Year

• Aer Rianta International – TheLoop.ie
• Dubai Duty Free – Dubai Duty Free Home Delivery Specials
• King Power International – King Power Team Power
• Lotte Duty Free – Lotte Duty Free
• Shopping China – Shopping China.

Star Beauty Product of the Year

• Diego dalla Palma – MyToyBoy Mascara
• Foreo – FAQ 103 Diamond
• ICT Reykjavík – Spa of Iceland
• On the Mark Consultancy – Sand and Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask 30g
• On the Mark Consultancy – Bon Voyage Discovery Box
• On the Mark Consultancy – Egyptian Magic 75ml
• Puig – Paco Rabanne Phantom
• Rituals – The Ritual of Jing Sleep Line (Pillow & Body Mist)
• TheKindBrandCo – Skin Magic Wonder Balm
• TheKindBrandCo – Eco Towels.

Star Confectionery & Fine Foods Product of the Year

• Lindt & Sprüngli – Lindor Milk
• Saveurs et Nature – Luggage Chocolate Gift Box.

Star Jewellery & Watches Product of the Year

• Cannellis  – Pimente
• E Gluck Corporation – Anne Klein Gold-Tone Watch with White Ceramic Bracelet
• Kurate International – Belle & Beau Blossom Watch Set
• Kurate International – Serenity Bracelet Set
• The Carat Shop – Harry Potter Gold Plated Spinning Time Turner Necklace.

Star Tobacco & New Generation Product of the Year

•  J.Cortès & Oliva Cigars – Oliva Serie V 3-pack Travel Retail Exclusive
• Oettinger Davidoff AG – The Davidoff Exclusives Editions Series.

Star Wines & Spirits Product of the Year

• Diageo – Baileys Birthday Cake
• Douglas Laing & Co – Big Peat
• Douglas Laing & Co – Scallywag
• Innotri Limited – Cihuatan Rum TR Exclusive Obsidiana
• Listoke Distillery – Listoke 1777 Gin
• Masi – Fresco di Masi
• Proximo Spirits – The Causeway Collection – Bushmills 30 Year Old New American Oak Cask
• VSPT Wine Group – South Cause; VSPT Wine Group – 1865
• Whyte & Mackay – The Dalmore Ensemble Collection
• William Grant & Sons – Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin.

Supplier of the Year

• JBrands Duty Free Distribution
• Lindt & Sprüngli Global Duty Free
• Mondelez World Travel Retail
• On the Mark Consultancy
• The Hershey Company World Travel Retail

Sustainability Initiative of the Year

• Dama SPA – Paul & Shark Sustainability Projects
• King Power International – King Power International
• Mondelez World Travel Retail – Sustainable Design Scorecard for Travel Retail
• The Kind Brand Co – Our Purpose
• Traveller’s Trove – Rosalie’s Loving Kindness
• William Grant & Sons – Hendrick’s Amazonia partnership with One Tree Planted
• Yoshino Spirits Co – Yoshino Spirits Co

Team of the Year

•  Aer Rianta International – Aer Rianta International Global Marketing Team
• ATU Duty free – ATU Duty Free Latvia ‘One Team’
• Bahrain Duty Free – Bahrain Duty Free
• Blackjack Promotions – Our Travel Retail Team – From Promotions and Perfumes to PPE, PCRs and Pulling Pints
• Dubai Duty Free – Dubai Duty Free Operations And Human Resources Team
• Lagardère Travel Retail – Lagardère Travel Retail Singapore
• MSC Cruises – MSC Retail Family
• Rituals – Super Chill
• Spark Business Services Group – Spark Group of Companies
• Starboard Cruise Services – Starboard’s Grit Navigating Through Rough Waters
• Whyte & Mackay – Whyte & Mackay Cares.

Several award winners will be announced on the night. The categories include Cruise or Ferry Line Retailer of the Year; Inflight Retailer of the Year; Star Electronics, Toys, Gifts & Travel Accessories Product of the Year and Star Fashion, Sunglasses & Accessories Product of the Year.

Other awards will also be announced at the ceremony, with nominees including KrisShop; PanzerGlass; Starboard Cruise Services and V. Fraas.

INTERNATIONAL. A high-class line-up of speakers from across the industry has been announced for FAB 2021, a special session dedicated to travel food & beverage in the Knowledge Hub at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. The event takes place on 11-15 October, with FAB to be held on Thursday 14 October.

The Knowledge Hub sessions at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, including FAB 2021, will be hosted under three key pillars: Lead, Inspire, Transform.

Leading travel dining concessionaires represented include Areas, Autogrill/HMSHost and SSP Group.

Areas CEO Óscar Vela will talk about the future of the travel dining sector post-crisis, the shape of recovery and how Areas aims to strengthen its position as a leading player in the industry.

Towards a new future for food and travel. Left to right: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Vice President of Concessions Zenola Campbell, Brain & Poulter Founding Director and Co-Owner Suzee Brain and Areas CEO Óscar Vela

Representing Autogrill Group will be Chief Marketing Officer Ezio Balarini, HMSHost President & CEO Steve Johnson and HMSHost International CEO Walter Seib.

They will discuss themes such as inspiring change in the business model, as well as in practices and attitudes across the sector; resilience and flexibility internally and externally; how the company has helped and inspired employees through the crisis and the lessons that will guide, motivate and encourage management, staff and customers in a new era of travel dining.

Left to right: Autogrill Group Chief Marketing Officer Ezio Balarini, HMSHost President & CEO Steve Johnson and HMSHost International CEO Walter Seib will assess the latest market situation and talk about inspiring change

SSP Group senior executives from around the world will speak about rebuilding the travel food sector sustainably and profitably. The company will be represented by SSP America Executive Vice President Pat Murray; CEO Asia Pacific and EEME Mark Angela; CEO Continental Europe Jeremy Fennell and UK COO Neil Campbell.

Rebuilding the business sustainably and profitably. Left to right: SSP CEO Asia Pacific and EEME Mark Angela; SSP America Executive Vice President Pat Murray and SSP CEO Continental Europe Jeremy Fennell

The voices of leading airports will also be prominent in this special session, with contributions from Bangalore International Airport Limited (on the evolution of its tender model) and Manchester Airports Group (on the new T2 at Manchester Airport). Speaker names to be confirmed shortly. In addition, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Vice President Concessions Zenola Campbell will address recovery and the issues/challenges for F&B in the US market.

Suzee Brain, Founding Director and Co-Owner at Brain & Poulter, will offer some compelling insights from beyond the travel F&B world, touching on food trends that will influence the consumer landscape of the future.

The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce the return of FAB Women, an initiative to recognise, encourage and develop the participation of women in the Airport food & beverage sector, first hosted at FAB 2019 in Dallas. Speakers to be named shortly.

The event will conclude with the FAB Superstars Awards. These will shine the spotlight on the thousands of front-of-house and behind the scenes heroes and heroines who have helped keep the food & beverage community within our industry going throughout the pandemic.

Key sponsors of the FAB sessions are Areas, Autogrill/HMSHost and SSP Group.

Click here for the full agenda and timings.

To register for the event, click here.

Filorga returns to the Virtual Travel Retail Expo as a Gold Partner, where it will highlight new product innovations and showcase its medical anchorage, advanced technologies and innovative textures

Filorga’s best-selling product, the Optim-Eyes, has been enhanced with a triple action formula and new technology

Skincare brand Filorga will be showcasing its NCEF Shot and Optim-Eyes product innovations at the upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo on 11-15 October.

The NCEF Shot is a ten-day anti-ageing treatment that boosts the skin with new cells. The enhanced poly-revitalising concentrate combines the brand’s NCEF star technology with a powerful marine biotechnology complex. Each shot offers a daily dose of active skincare ingredients, which offer the equivalent of 1 meso-injection.

Clinical tests revealed that after ten days, wrinkles are reduced by -25%, skin slackening is lessened by -16% and radiance is boosted by +21%.

The NCEF Shot is the latest addition to the NCEF-Reverse range, which comprises the NCEF-Essence, NCEF-Intensive, NCEF-Reverse or NCEF-Reverse Mat, NCEF-Reverse Eyes and NCEF-Night Mask.

Filorga’s best-selling product the Optim-Eyes Intensive Revitalising Eye Contour Cream has been reformulated with Melaton-Eyes technology. The triple-action formula, made with Chrysine, powerful lymphatic circulation-boosting peptides and hyaluronic acids, erases dark circles, reduces puffiness and smooths fine lines. Melaton-eyes technology uses an energising peptide to boost cellular activity and prevent the appearance of tired eyes.

The Optim-Eyes Anti-Fatigue Expert range comprises the Optim-Eyes Intensive Revitalising Eye Contour Cream, Optim-Eyes 3-in-1 Cleansing Lotion, Optim-Eyes Lashes and Brows Double Care Formula and Optim Eyes Patch.

On 23 April, Filorga China hosted a special VIP event that showcased the new Optim-Eyes Intensive Revitalising Eye Contour cream

The event combined retailtainment, livestreaming, product exploration and panel discussions to highlight the many skincare benefits of the enhanced Optim-Eyes formula

Filorga celebrated the new Optim-Eyes Intensive Revitalising Eye Contour cream with a VIP event at the Langyuan Village in China, on 23 April.

The event featured an immersive tunnel, interactive virtual wall, expert panel discussion,KOL-powered livestreams, experiential product zone and micro-film launch.

The livestreaming sessions followed three themes: Nightlife at the Office, Nightlife at GameBar and Nightlife at Laboratory. The first session shared the perspectives of top professionals and how tired eyes can impact productivity, while the second boasted a stellar line-up of top KOLs and incorporated gamification elements.

The third session featured an expert panel of skincare professionals who highlighted the many benefits of the Optim-Eyes range.

(Above and below) Filorga hosted three livestream sessions, featuring office workers, KOLs and skincare experts, to offer different perspectives on the Optim-Eyes range

At the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, Filorga aims to increase its presence among travel retail stakeholders, strengthen relationships and immerse Expo visitors in the brand universe. Its approach will highlight the brand’s three USPs: medical anchorage, advanced technologies and innovative textures.

Filorga is a Gold Partner and a returning exhibitor of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo. Commenting on the brand’s participation to the pioneering virtual event, Global Travel Retail Director Nicolas Rimeau said: “With this second edition, The Moodie Davitt Report reaffirms the full necessity and ability of travel retail to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

“I’m a strong advocate of the resilience of our industry and as a Gold Partner for the second year in a row, our teams are excited to showcase to all the retailers the amazing accomplishments achieved during the past year in terms of product innovation, digitalisation and evolution of our brand concept in spite of this challenging context. Looking forward to meeting all of you at our virtual booth.”

The NCEF-Shot delivers the equivalent of one meso-injection of active ingredients with every shot

A relatively new brand in the channel, Filorga first launched in the channel in 2017 with Lagardère Travel Retail (Europe) and DFS Group (Asia). In three years, Filorga became a part of the top 25 brands in the skincare category and is now present in South Korea, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) Singapore and France travel retail.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Filorga Global Travel Retail Director Nicolas Rimeau

Eyewear specialist Rodenstock is set to highlight the role the sunglasses category will play in travel retail’s recovery at the upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021.

Rodenstock returns to the event as a Silver Partner, ready to showcase its latest innovations and new ranges. The company noted that eyewear has a key recovery role “thanks to the category’s inherent link with the travel experience”.

“This is why Rodenstock has not sat back during the pandemic but has continued to create and innovate to enchant shoppers,” the company added in a statement to The Moodie Davitt Report.

Collaboration, Rodenstock said, has been at the centre of its efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It has worked closely with retail partners – in particular, China Duty Free Group (CDFG) – over the past 18 months, releasing new collections across CDFG’s renowned ecommerce platforms and through in-store launches.

The company has continued this trend with a major promotion with CDFG at Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haitang Bay, Sanya. The activation runs until the end of September and features the brand’s Readers collection, as well as Porsche Design Vision Drive lenses and Collector’s Edition.

New ranges featured in travel retail include the August collection which, Rodenstock said, underscores Porsche Design’s focus on innovation through the use of materials which combine style and function.

As reported, Rodenstock named Lucas Gestin as Director Global Retail and International Key Accounts Eyewear earlier this year. His appointment followed Petra Eckhardt-Köstler’s decision to leave the company to re-join her consulting firm P5 Marketing Agency.

Gestin is spearheading efforts to expand the international and online accounts for both the Rodenstock and Porsche Design Eyewear brands.

“The last 18 months have been tough for everyone in the travel retail market,” he said. “But, as we see the industry beginning to pick itself up once more, events such as the Virtual Travel Retail Expo offer a wonderful opportunity to engage new and existing partners and plot a course for a successful future.

“Collaboration and partnership have been hallmarks of our efforts throughout the pandemic and we firmly believe they hold the key to the success which lies ahead. We are looking forward to engaging with colleagues and new partners and showcasing how we can work together as this vibrant market rebuilds.”

Porsche Design’s Autumn/Winter 2021 collection will be highlighted at the Expo.

The Air Spring series reflects Founder Prof. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s claim that “design is not simply art; it is elegance of the function”. Titanium and beta titanium frames feature a flexible zone to offer maximum wearing comfort.

The series focuses on precision fit and lightness in two frames for prescription lenses (P‘8397, P‘8398) and two for sunglasses (P‘8939, P‘8931). Depending on the Vision Drive coating, the sunglasses have a RRP of €360 to €420 while prescription frames have a RRP of €430.

The collection’s Flexible Purism line offers minimalist designs. Stainless steel wire frames give a technical look while high-performance RXP plastics sidepieces guarantee flexibility, lightness and wearing comfort.

The sunglasses (P‘8921 and P‘8922) are available in several colour variants and have RRPs of €295 or €290.

The Ultra Light series underlines Professor Porsche’s passion for purist design. New frames for prescription lenses are made of titanium and, weighing just 5g and with only eight or nine parts, are the lightest and most minimalist in the collection. Four colour combinations are available, with a RRP of €450.

Ball Tec draws inspiration from the ball, with the core element of its frames a titanium screwless hinge joint to offer flexibility and durability. Front and sidepieces feature RXP plastic and titanium.

Frames for prescription lenses (P‘8385) are available along with (P‘8913) panto-style sunglasses with a contrasting-colour bridge, in four colour variants. With Vision Drive lens coating, the sunglasses have a RRP of €350 or €400, while the frames for the prescription lenses have a RRP of €420.

As reported, Rodenstock named American Patrick Dempsey actor as the face of its Porsche Design brand earlier this year.

Dempsey is well-known for his role as Dr Derek Shepherd in the hit medical television drama series, Grey’s Anatomy, which earned him two Golden Globe awards.

“Hollywood icon Patrick Dempsey inspires us with his charismatic and authentic personality. He is a connoisseur of innovative and high-quality products and demands the most from his eyewear,” said Porsche Design Group CEO Jan Becker.

INTERNATIONAL. Leading global travel retailer Dufry is to host a pioneering open dialogue session with suppliers at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo on 14 October.

The session will begin with an online presentation by Dufry CEO Julián Díaz, who will then be joined by members of the Dufry Global Executive Committee in a candid and open exchange with The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie and suppliers worldwide.

Participants will be able to ask any question of the Dufry senior management during a 90-minute session.

Registration is open to suppliers only. All participants must have already registered for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo to participate.

Julián Díaz said: “As the travel retail sector continues its gradual recovery, Dufry believes this spirit of open exchange is important in helping to shape a better industry future. The Virtual Travel Retail Expo brings together industry stakeholders from all over the world in a single online setting and we welcome the chance to engage with the industry in this novel and transparent way.”

The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie said: “We are very pleased to host this inaugural travel retail engagement session and welcome the spirit of transparency that Dufry, the long-time travel retail industry giant is bringing to our Expo. We urge suppliers to get involved in what promises to be an illuminating session.”

Note: We invite questions for the Dufry Global Executive Committee, with a deadline of 13 October, to Martin Moodie via email headed ‘Global Dufry Exchange Question’ at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com

To register for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, click here.

The Global Dufry Exchange builds on an already power-packed Knowledge Hub programme; click for the latest agenda

INTERNATIONAL. Visitor registration is growing strongly for what is shaping up to be a highly successful Virtual Travel Retail Expo on 11-15 October.

The Virtual Travel Retail Expo is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report in partnership with digital and design agency FILTR.QINGWA (and co-organised this year by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development).

With the event now just over one month away, several thousand delegates have already signed up to take part, led by representatives from the world’s leading travel retailers, airports, airlines, ferry and cruiseline companies, plus brand owners across multiple categories. More are joining them each day through our registration portal here.

China Duty Free Group (CDFG), China’s and the world’s number one travel retailer by sales in 2020, has registered almost 200 delegates, underlining the faith that the dominant Chinese player is placing in the Virtual Expo as a vehicle to discuss the future with brands and other partners.

The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA have jointly invested in a new platform to further elevate the exhibitor and visitor experience in 2021

As reported, CDFG was recently announced as the Expo’s exclusive Strategic Cooperation Partner. The company will have its own dedicated digital area in the Expo, called CDFG City, where it will showcase some of its most exciting current and planned projects. A gateway presence to CDFG City will feature in both the Hainan Discovery zone (where most of the players in Hainan’s offshore duty free channel will be represented) and the Retailer Emporium.

The CDFG management, buying, branding and merchandising teams will be out in full force at the Expo, both in CDFG City and also visiting the various brand exhibitors. CDFG President Charles Chen will also deliver the morning keynote address in the Knowledge Hub on the first day of the Expo. Click here for more on a powerful Knowledge Hub agenda.

In a pioneering digital development, China Duty Free Group will host its own dedicated virtual area called CDFG City, where it will showcase its most exciting current and planned projects. The company has also registered almost 200 delegates, many of whom will visit other exhibitors at the event.

Wangfujing Duty Free, subsidiary of famous Chinese department store company Wangfujing, has registered 72 delegates, having recently signed up as a Gold Partner for the Expo. Other leading players in the China and Hainan offshore duty free market are also sending large delegations as bookings continue to flood in.

All registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event.

Participants have the chance to win tickets for the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively. Click here to register for the event.

Attendance is free for all exhibitors and sponsors, airports authorities, airlines, cruise and ferry companies, retail and F&B operators, other airport service providers, trade associations and official media partners.

Registration for all other delegates is just US$250 for the live week and six-week encore period.

Many exhibitor partners that have signed up are hailing the engagement opportunity presented by the Virtual Expo, which is underlined by the growing registration figures. See below for comments from several – The Seva Group, William Grant & Sons, Montes Wines and iClick Interactive – that have signed up recently.

INTERNATIONAL. Two more travel retail executives who have registered to attend the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021 are in with a chance to win US$1 million or a luxury car, courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, following the latest in a series of weekly prize draws that will run until the event on 11-15 October.

As reported, all registered airport and retailer visitors for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo will be automatically entered into two Dubai Duty Free prize draws each week from now until the start of the live event. Participants are in with a chance to win tickets for the popular Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws and could capture the grand prizes of US$1 million or a luxury car respectively. Click here to register for the event.

China Duty Free Group Merchandising Director Jacqueline Chen has won a ticket to enter the Millennium Millionaire competition and could now secure the US$1 million prize if her number is pulled out in Dubai Duty Free’s regular draw.

Unifree Duty Free Chief Commercial Officer Ian Foster goes into the Finest Surprise draw with the opportunity to win a luxury car.

All registered retailer, buyer and airport representatives go into the prize draws each week between now and the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October)

Previous draws have seen tickets won by registered Virtual Expo delegates from DFS Group, Dufry, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Edmonton Airports, Ever Rich Duty Free, Gebr Heinemann, KrisShop, Kansai Airports, Lagardère Travel Retail (Asia Pacific), Malaysia Airports, Perth Airport, Starboard Cruise Services, Tallink Duty Free and Thai Airways, underlining the wide geographical industry interest in the event and its global reach.

To register for The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo and qualify for each prize draw, please click here.

[Important note: In the event of any individual winning an ultimate grand prize, it can be donated to charity if a company policy precludes accepting individual benefits.]

Launched in June 1999, the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion has captured the imagination of travellers around the globe offering a one-in-5,000 chance to win US$1 million. Seven lucky individual winners have won twice. The Finest Surprise Promotion is now in its 32nd year, making it the longest-running duty free promotion in the world. To date, there have been 32 winners who have won the big prize twice.

The Moodie Davitt Report and FILTR.QINGWA have jointly invested in a new platform to further elevate the exhibitor and visitor experience in 2021

INTERNATIONAL. One of the world’s most influential news organisations, CNN International, has signed up as a Media Partner for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, which takes place on 11-15 October. CNN International is viewed daily by hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide, across multiple media platforms.

In addition, Global Commercial Distribution Director Rachelle Peterson will speak during a special Knowledge Hub session on the cruise market on Wednesday 13 October.

As reported, the Virtual Travel Retail Expo is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report in partnership with digital and design agency FILTR.QINGWA (and co-organised this year by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development).

CNN International’s teams will co-promote the event with The Moodie Davitt Report via social media, and will attend the event to discuss partnership opportunities for digital content and advertising platform CNN TAP.

As Global Commercial Distribution Director for CNN International at WarnerMedia, Rachelle Peterson manages the company’s B2B distribution business, ensuring linear and digital delivery of CNN International and WarnerMedia feature programming to hotels and live streaming and VOD content to airlines, cruise and other commercial sectors.

Rachelle Peterson: Casting the spotlight on the cruise traveller in a special Knowledge Hub session

Peterson also has a remit to develop new and exciting ideas that reflect the way that travellers of today consume content on the go – one of the themes of the session in which she will take part at the Expo.

Among other topics, she will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the traveller mindset, address new consumer thinking about travel and shopping, and home in on what the cruise guest will expect from the travel experience post-crisis.

In 2019 Peterson created and developed CNN TAP, which monetises travel technology through CNN’s business partners Wi-Fi connectivity. The programme delivers sponsorship campaigns aimed at guests and passengers across hotels, cruiselines, airlines, airports as well as shopping malls and transport companies in the CNN Traveller Network.

The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt said: “We are delighted to be working with such a prominent, influential and trusted media brand as CNN International for this year’s event. We are confident that the partnership will help further the global reach of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo.”

To register for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, please click here.

This year’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo offers a powerful and diverse conference programme over five days in the Knowledge Hub

CHINA. Global Premium Duty Free (GDF) Plaza, the fast-growing Hainan Development Holdings-controlled offshore duty free retailer, is today announced as a Platinum Partner for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October).

GDF Plaza (which works closely with international partner Dufry) will present a compelling digital showcase in the Hainan Discovery zone, an exciting addition to this year’s Virtual Travel Retail Expo.

The Virtual Travel Retail Expo is owned by The Moodie Davitt Report in partnership with digital and design agency FILTR.QINGWA (and co-organised this year by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development).

“GDF Plaza is delighted to be a Platinum Partner at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo in October, the world’s leading virtual travel retail event,” said Lim Guek Boon (Casey Lim), recently appointed as Vice President of Global Consumer Boutique (Hainan) Trading Co Ltd, which oversees GDF Plaza.

“We will be presenting our dynamic Phase 1 and Phase II retail developments to date and showcasing our very exciting Phase III future plans. We warmly invite brands from all over the world to come and visit our Platinum Suite at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo.”

Brand bonanza: Crowds pour into the much-enhanced GDF Plaza after the Phase II unveiling in late August

Luxury Swiss skincare brand La Prairie has opened its first flagship experience store in Hainan, providing GDF Plaza visitors with a professional and luxurious skincare experience and technological services

Key stories from China and related to Chinese travellers are featured each week on The Moodie Davitt Report’s WeChat Official Account. Please scan the QR code to follow us.

The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie said: “We are honoured and excited that GDF Plaza will be exhibiting at the Expo. In just a few months GDF Plaza has become a vibrant and successful force in Hainan’s booming offshore duty free sector.

“As a result, the HDH/GDF Plaza story is one of the most exciting in the global duty free industry. Last week’s soft opening of Phase 2 was an impressive step forward in terms of space, quality and brand range. With its plans for Phase 3 well advanced, the future for GDF Plaza looks very bright indeed.”

As reported, GDF Plaza (with support from international partner Dufry) opened the 3,000sq m Phase 1 on 31 January 2021 in the Mova Mall’s Capricorn building in downtown Haikou. On 30 August, the retailer celebrated the soft opening of the first 20,000sq m of its 30,000sq m Phase 2 in the neighbouring Aquarius building.

Here GDF Plaza has launched over 200 top global brands across categories including fragrances, cosmetics, digital products, sunglasses and other luxury brands.

The project’s third phase, located on the first and second floors of Capricorn, is now in the planning stages. It will focus on top global luxury brands in order to meet strong consumer demand.

{Click on the You Tube icon above to view further exclusive video coverage from the opening of Haikou Global Premium Duty Free (GDF) Plaza’s Phase II on Monday, in association with The Moodie Davitt Report’s strategic local partner Hainan Hinews Media Co.

In this film, shot on opening day, Lu Tianqin, Chief TV Host of Hinews.cn Media and Head of the Duty Free Channel on the hugely popular New Hainan app, interviews Casey Lim and speaks to shoppers about their reaction to the offer. Chinese viewers can click here for Tianqin’s ‘Weekly Store Visit’ programme on the New Hainan WeChat platform.}

Note: Every fortnight The Moodie Davitt Report publishes Hainan Curated, in association with Foreo, a selection of all recent stories from the offshore duty free sector in Hainan province.

Click here to view all back issues. Please email Sinead@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe free of charge.

Bath and Body Works, through global travel retail distributor Essence Corp, will be showcasing its new fragrance at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, set for 11-15 October

American wellbeing company Bath & Body Works, distributed in travel retail through Essence Corp, will be debuting the ‘You’re The One’ fragrance at the Virtual Travel Retail Expo.

Bath and Body Works is one of the world’s leading speciality retailers for body, hand and home fragrance products.

The brand will be extending into the travel retail channel at the upcoming Virtual Travel Retail Expo (11-15 October), where it seeks to connect with travel retailers and outline its ambitions for the sector.

Fragrance from head to toe: You’re The One is available in numerous bath and body formats including an edp, body wash, scrub, mist, body butter, shower gel and lotion

You’re The One is a festive fragrance designed for the holiday season. It offers soft rose, white birch and strawberry notes and comes in a variety of vibrant, sparkling fragrance bottles. The scent is available as an Eau de Parfum, Glowing Body Scrub, Sparkling Body Scrub, Glowing Body Butter, Aloe + Vitamin E Shower Gel, 24-Hour Moisture Body Lotion, Whipped Glowtion, 24-Hour Moisture Ultra Shea Body Cream, Fine Fragrance Mist, and Moisturising Body Wash.

It is also available in travel-friendly, on-the-go formats such as the Mini Body Wash, Mini Body Cream and Mini Face & Body Mist.

The You’re The One edp features a higher concentration of fragrance oils for a longer-lasting scent; while the Glowing Body Scrub has been infused with Shea butter and vitamin E that gently scrub and smooth the skin. The Shea and cocoa butter-infused Moisturising Body Wash cleanses and hydrates the skin and provides 24-hour nourishing hydration.

The fragrance is the latest addition to the brand’s portfolio of over 20 Signature Collection scents. This includes Gingham, Bath and Body Works’ current best-selling fragrance, and customer-favourite scent, Japanese Cherry Blossom.

Perfect holiday gifting: The You’re The One range is also available in trave-friendly sizes under 100ml

In addition to body care products, Bath and Body Works also offers a scented home range that includes three-wick candles, diffusers and liquid hand soaps.

Bath & Body Works currently has 1,750 company-operated locations and in North America, and 300 international franchise locations.

As reported, Miami-based Essence Corp was named global travel retail distributor for the Bath & Body Works brand in May 2021. The family-owned master distributor of fragrances & cosmetics has been distributor for L Brands in the Americas since 2014, covering Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. This new agreement extends the Bath & Body Works partnership worldwide.

Commenting on Bath & Body Works’ plans for the travel retail sector, Essence Corp Vice President Sales Antoine Bona said: “Essence Corp is proud to announce that Bath & Body Works will participate in the Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2021. As the newly appointed global travel retail distributors, we believe that the Expo provides us with a great opportunity to present Bath & Body Works outside of the Americas and gauge business opportunities with new travel retail operators.”

Shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E are just some of the many skin-nourishing ingredients featured in Bath & Body Works’ products

For more on the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, or to register, click on this link.