INTERNATIONAL. Dufry Group CEO Julián Díaz will address a global audience on the opening day at the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo next month.

Díaz’s address in the Knowledge Hub on 12 October adds further lustre to an extraordinary line-up of presenters over the five-day programme, which forms an integral component of the pioneering Virtual Expo.

He caps a day one line-up which includes Charles Chen, President, China Duty Free Group; Sunil Tuli, President, APTRA & Group Chief Executive, King Power Group (Hong Kong); Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group; Karen Chan, CEO, AirAsia.com; Philippe Schaus, Chief Executive Officer, Moët Hennessy; and Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Duty Free.

The opening day will also include a spectacular preview of the finalists line-up in the inaugural QDF Factor, led by Thabet Musleh, Vice President Operations, Qatar Duty Free. The QDF Factor winner will be revealed on the final day of the Expo, Friday 16 October.

The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said, “The Knowledge Hub will offer a very different approach from the webinars we have all become so familiar with over the recent difficult months. Formats will vary considerably, mixing live and pre-recorded; stand-alone presentations and panel discussions; and featuring an exciting diversity of presenters and subjects. And we will be serving up some surprises.

“In breadth, diversity and quality of speakers, the end result is by some distance the best conference line-up we have curated in our 18 years of running major international events. Industry representatives from all over the globe will be able to watch any of the sessions from the comfort of their office or home. What’s more, if they miss a session, no problem. Each and every element of the programme will also be available via the Virtual Expo’s On Demand folder.”

JCDecaux Co-Chief Executive Officer Jean-Charles Decaux is one of the travel and aviation sector’s most knowledgeable and insightful executives

Besides the previously announced speakers (see below) other new additions to the programme include a stellar four-person panel featuring Jean-Charles Decaux, Co-Chief Executive Officer, JCDecaux; Vincent Boinay, General Manager Travel Retail Worldwide, L’Oréal; Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Airports; and Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lagardère Travel Retail.

They will be followed in a dedicated sustainability (of category and of the planet, respectively) session featuring Gemma Bateson, Worldwide Duty Free Corporate Affairs & Communications Director, JTI; Adrien Geiger, Global Brand Director, L’Occitane; and Niki Schilling, Innovation & Sustainability Director, Rituals Cosmetics.

Expect a typically candid viewpoint from Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker

A compelling new session on out of home advertising has been added, featuring Robbie Dery, Chief Commercial & Product Officer, oOh!; Tom Perrett, Director of International Talon Outdoor/Plexus US; and Franck Vidal, Director, Asia Pacific, Havas Media.

Several category-specific sessions will focus variously on sunglasses (through the annual Sunglasses Workshop), spirits & wine, and confectionery. Presentations will be made by Diageo Global Travel, Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, Contineo Labs (Generation) and others.

Brad Miller, Managing Director at MAG-O, the start-up digital business created by Manchester Airports Group to advance its digital journey, will be one of several speakers to focus on the burgeoning role of digital communication and commerce in the aviation and travel retail sphere.

Luca Solca, Senior Analyst at Bernstein & Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, will address the future of luxury in association with TW.O Partners.

And in a refreshing change from more familiar conference material, Ollie Palmer and Tom Foley, members of Team Fortitude, which won the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, will talk about that experience and its lessons for both business and personal life. Palmer is Head of Customer Marketing at Diageo Global Travel.

British team Fortitude IV were crowned winners of the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. The four-man boat completed the 3,000-mile Atlantic crossing in 32 days, 12 hours and 35 minutes from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean. None of the team had ever rowed before their epic journey.

Some final exciting additions to the programme will be announced in coming days. Here is the programme as it stands.

Virtual Travel Retail Expo 2020 Programme (Subject to change)

Day 1 – Monday 12 October 2020

07:55 (UK)/ 14:55 Beijing/Singapore/ 09:55 (AST) & 02:55 (EST)

Welcome

Martin Moodie, Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report

Dermot Davitt, President, The Moodie Davitt Report

China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen, seen speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie at The Trinity Forum in Shanghai in 2018, will outline the travel retailer’s heady ambitions at home and abroad

08:00 (UK)/ 15:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 10:00 (AST) & 03:00 (EST)

Charles Chen, President, China Duty Free Group

10:00 (UK)/ 17:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:00 (AST) & 05:00 (EST)

Sunil Tuli, President, APTRA & Group Chief Executive, King Power Group (Hong Kong)

11:00 (UK)/ 18:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 13:00 (AST) & 06:00 (EST)

Julián Díaz, CEO, Dufry

12:00 (UK)/ 19:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 14:00 (AST) & 07:00 (EST)

Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group

12:30 (UK)/ 19:30 Beijing/Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 07:30 (EST)

The QDF Factor – Finalists Preview

Thabet Musleh, Vice President Operations, Qatar Duty Free

AirAsia.com CEO Karen Chan will speak on ‘Adapting to the new travel world’ – How AirAsia.com is re-imagining travel as its pivots to cater for domestic travel and lifestyle needs to stay relevant while building towards the further reopening of international borders

12:45 (UK)/ 19:45 Beijing/Singapore/ 14:45 (AST) & 07:45 (EST)

Karen Chan, CEO, AirAsia.com

 13:30 (UK)/20:30 Beijing/Singapore/ 15:30 (AST) & 08:30 (EST)

Philippe Schaus, Chief Executive Officer, Moët Hennessy

15:00 (UK)/22.00 Beijing/Singapore/ 17:00 (AST) & 10:00 (EST)

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Duty Free

Day 2 – Tuesday 13 October 2020

07:55 (UK)/ 14:55 Beijing/Singapore/ 09:55 (AST) & 02:55 (EST)

Welcome

Dermot Davitt, President, The Moodie Davitt Report

 08:00 (UK)/ 15.00 Beijing/Singapore/ 10:00 (AST) & 03:00 (EST)

Sandeep Seth, Chief Executive Officer, Global SK-II, Procter & Gamble

Plus special guests to be named

Auckland Airport Head of Retail Lucy Thomas joins a talented line-up for the APTRA Exchange

 10.30 (UK)/17.30 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:30 (AST) & 05:30 (EST)

Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) Workshop:

Julia Bauer, Regional Manager APAC & Global Duty Free & Export, Imperial Brands

Philip Eckles, CEO, Delhi Duty Free Services Private Limited

Erin Lillis, Travel Retail Director Asia Pacific, Lacoste

Lucy Thomas, Head of Retail, Auckland Airport

Sunil Tuli, President APTRA & Group Chief Executive, King Power Group (Hong Kong)

Kevin Zajax, CEO, Ground Control (Moderator)

12:00 (UK)/ 19:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 14:00 (AST) & 07:00 (EST)

Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail

14.00 (UK)/ 21.00 Beijing Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 09:00 (EST)

The Future of Liquor in Travel Retail (Diageo speaker to be named)

and

London Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown has worked tirelessly this year to maximise the number of store and restaurant openings at the leading London gateway

14.00 (UK)/ 21.00 Beijing Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 09:00 (EST)

Confectionery Data Workshop
Alex Seret, Chief Executive Officer & Owner, Contineo Labs (Generation)

15:00 (UK)/ 22.00 Beijing/Singapore/ 17:00 (AST) & 10:00 (EST)

Fraser Brown, Retail Director, London Heathrow Airport

16:30 (UK)/ 23.30 Beijing/Singapore/ 18:30 (AST) & 11:30 (EST)

The re-emergence of cruise retail

James Prescott, Managing Director, Harding Retail

Lisa Bauer, President & CEO, Starboard Cruise Services

Adrian Pittaway, Head of Retail, MSC Cruises

Day 3 – Wednesday 14 October 2020

07:55 (UK)/ 14:55 Beijing/Singapore/ 09:55 (AST) & 02:55 (EST)

Welcome

Martin Moodie, Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report

Beam Suntory President of Brands Jessica Spence will discuss Women in Leadership and being more shopper-centric through diversity

08:00 (UK)/ 15:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 10:00 (AST) & 03:00 (EST)

Jean-Charles Decaux, Co-Chief Executive Officer, JCDecaux

Vincent Boinay, General Manager Travel Retail Worldwide, L’Oréal

Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Airports

Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lagardère Travel Retail

10:00 (UK)/ 17:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:00 (AST) & 05:00 (EST)

Jessica Spence, President of Brands, Beam Suntory

10:00 (UK)/ 17:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:00 (AST) & 05:00 (EST)

and

10:00 (UK)/ 17:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:00 (AST) & 05:00 (EST)

Sunglasses Workshop

Speakers to be named

12:00 (UK)/ 19:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 14:00 (AST) & 07:00 (EST)

Pernod Ricard panel discussion

Craig Johnson, Global VP Marketing, Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, and guests

 14.00 (UK)/ 21:00 Beijing Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 09:00 (EST)

Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President Commercial, Dubai Airports

 15:00 (UK)/ 22:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 17:00 (AST) & 10:00 (EST)

Sustainability session

Gemma Bateson, Worldwide Duty Free Corporate Affairs & Communications Director, JTI

Adrien Geiger, Global Brand Director, L’Occitane

Niki Schilling, Innovation & Sustainability Director, Rituals Cosmetics

17:00 (UK)/ 00.00 Beijing/Singapore/ 19:00 (AST) & 12:00 (EST)

Shashank Nigam, CEO, Simplifying

Day 4 – Thursday 15 October 2020

07:55 (UK)/ 14:55 Beijing/Singapore/ 09:55 (AST) & 02:55 (EST)

Welcome

Dermot Davitt, President, The Moodie Davitt Report

Mauro Anastasi of Bain & Company will present his final conclusions on the Trinity Initiative

08:00 (UK)/ 15:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 10:00 (AST) & 03:00 (EST)

The Trinity Initiative

Jack MacGowan, Director, Castlepole Consulting

Mauro Anastasi, Partner, Bain & Company Italy

09:30 (UK)/16:30 Beijing/Singapore/ 11:30 (AST) & 04:30 (EST)

From Comfort to Crisis to New Normal: How Advertising will shape and be shaped by the Airport World of the Future

Robbie Dery, Chief Commercial & Product Officer, oOh!

Tom Perrett, Director of International Talon Outdoor/ Plexus US

Franck Vidal, Director, Asia Pacific, Havas Media

10:30 (UK)/17:30 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:30 (AST) & 05:30 (EST)

Pernod Ricard Insights Session

Anuj Roy, Global Head of Strategy, Insights and Intelligence, Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail

12:00 (UK)/ 19:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 14:00 (AST) & 07:00 (EST)

Brad Miller, Managing Director, MAG-O (Manchester Airports Group)

 13:00 (UK)/20:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 15:00 (AST) & 08:00 (EST)

The Future of Luxury with TW.O Partners

Luca Solca, Senior Analyst at Bernstein & Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group

 14:00 (UK)/21:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 09:00 (EST)

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer, Hamad International Airport

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, will reveal new details about the Doha gateway’s hugely ambitious expansion project

 16:00 (UK) )/23:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 18:00 (AST) & 11:00 (EST)

Heidi Van Roon, Founder & President, Spark Business Services Group

Staffing and training specialist Heidi Van Roon will argue that the role of human engagement has been enhanced not diminished by the COVID-19 crisis

Day 5 – Friday 16 October 2020

KrisShop CEO Chris Pok leads an omnichannel retailer that has impressed with its flexibility and ability to pivot fast throughout the crisis

07:55 (UK)/ 14:55 Beijing/Singapore/ 09:55 (AST) & 02:55 (EST)

Welcome

Martin Moodie, Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report

Dermot Davitt, President, The Moodie Davitt Report

 08:00 (UK)/ 15:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 10:00 (AST) & 03:00 (EST)

Chris Pok, CEO, KrisShop

Kian Gould, CEO & Founder, AOE

Jayne Wear, Head of Omnichannel, Auckland Airport

10:00 (UK)/ 17:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 12:00 (AST) & 05:00 (EST)

Team Fortitude, Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

Ollie Palmer, Head of Customer Marketing, Diageo Global Travel

Tom Foley, Executive- Capital Markets, JLL

Oana Damian, the dynamic founder of Damazo Group will offer a compelling view of the future of airport retail

11:00 (UK)/18:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 13:00 (AST) & 06:00 (EST)

Muriel Zingraff, Partner, Damazo Group

Oana Damian, Founder, Damazo Group

13:00pm (UK)/ 20:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 15:00 (AST) & 08:00 (EST)

Olivier Jager, Co-Founder & CEO, ForwardKeys

 14:00 (UK)/ 21:00 Beijing/Singapore/ 16:00 (AST) & 02:00 (EST)

The QDF Factor Winner Revealed

Thabet Musleh, Vice President Operations, Qatar Duty Free

 14:30 (UK)/ 21:30 Beijing/Singapore/ 16:30 (AST) & 02:30 (EST)

Concluding remarks

Martin Moodie, Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report

Dermot Davitt, President, The Moodie Davitt Report