INTERNATIONAL. Italian premium, luxury and sports eyewear house Luxottica has become a Platinum Partner for the inaugural Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo in October.

Luxottica is the global and travel retail leader in the eyewear category. The company has over 7,400 optical and sun retail stores worldwide. Its glittering portfolio includes proprietary brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Vogue Eyewear, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Arnette, Costa del Mar and Alain Mikli.

Licensed brands include Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Bulgari, Chanel, Coach, Dolce&Gabbana, Ferrari, Michael Kors, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Valentino and Versace.

Luxottica’s support of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo continues a longstanding commitment to digital innovation. Last year it unveiled a digital tool called ‘Discover the World in a New Light’ in collaboration with Gebr Heinemann. The travel retail app allows customers to check real-time weather at their flight destinations and suggests different Luxottica frame models based on the results.

Luxottica Group Global Channels Director Alessandro Pozzi said, “Luxottica really appreciates the spirit of innovation and positivity behind the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, and we’re excited to announce our participation as a Platinum Partner.

“We believe the sunglasses category can be a major catalyst for the recovery of the channel. At the Expo, Luxottica will be presenting a variety of rejuvenation initiatives and new digitalised solutions to retailers, airports and other stakeholders which we believe will help stimulate category recovery, as well as giving our full support to the virtual Sunglasses Workshop alongside our category partners. See you there!”

The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “To have such a stellar brand house as Luxottica join us on our pioneering virtual journey is a thrill and a privilege.

“Luxottica not only boasts a roll-call of great brand names but has a DNA rich in craftsmanship, creativity, innovation, and passion. Whether we’re talking design, manufacture or distribution of fashion, luxury and sports eyewear, Luxottica is a byword for leadership and excellence.

With China Duty Free Group (CDFG) a Diamond Partner of the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, and several other leading Chinese travel retailers attending, the focus on China echoes that of Luxottica to the country. The eyewear house recently launched the Prada Linea Rossa range on an initially exclusive basis with CDFG, followed by a global rollout in October. The launch is being promoted heavily on CDFG’s Weibo channel with a highly-targeted social campaign.

Glittering portfolio: Luxottica embraces a roll-call of great brand names across the burgeoning eyewear sector

“The sunglasses category has not only been one of travel retail’s stand-out sectors for many years but, as Alessandro Pozzi points out, it is one likely to lead the recovery that is coming. When Luxottica commits to a project, it commits wholeheartedly and I cannot wait to see what they bring to this amazing virtual party in October.”

About the Virtual Travel Retail Expo

The Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo is a pioneering virtual trade show and symposium, complete with Exhibition Hub, Knowledge Hub (Symposium and Workshops) and Experience Hub (an immersive engagement zone).

As evidenced by a stellar line-up of exhibitors, it is a premium event for a premium audience. The unique five-day ‘live’ Expo takes place on 12-16 October, and is set to be the defining travel retail industry happening in 2020.

Industry stakeholders interested in attending the Virtual Travel Retail Expo and the Sunglasses Workshop can register here. 

Registration is free for buyers, exhibitors and preferred media partners. Dubai Duty Free, the world’s biggest single airport travel retail business, is presenting those registered Expo visitors with multiple prospects to win grand weekly prizes in its Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws (click here to register).

CSR commitment

There is also a strong CSR element to the Virtual Expo. The Moodie Davitt Report is to fund a cleft operation through the Smile Train charity for every registered exhibitor. And underlining the Virtual Travel Retail Expo’s and eco-friendly credentials (no travel involved, no shipping, no stand construction or breakdown etc), The Moodie Davitt Report will also make a substantial donation to The Trinity Forest Project – a tree-planting initiative unveiled at The Trinity Forum in Doha last October.

One visitor = one tree. That is the simple formula being adopted by the event, an initiative announced to mark World Environment Day on 5 June. The Trinity Forest Project, soft launched at The Trinity Forum in Doha last year, is powered by One Tree Planted, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation

The social contribution doesn’t stop there.  FILTR, our partner in curating the Virtual Expo, has pledged to donate 5% of all design fees from the event to ImpactHK – the 2020 nominated charity of Women in Travel Retail (WiTR). ImpactHK supports the homeless in Hong Kong with a particular focus on women and the aged. Women on the streets, as in many other cities, are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to abuse and attack.