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Korean actress and Lotte Duty Free Ambassador Choi Ji Woo, Korea’s Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Young Sun and Lotte Duty Free President & CEO Choi Young Soo prepare to cut the ribbon and officially open the store at Jakarta Airport |
INDONESIA. Lotte Duty Free yesterday celebrated the opening of its new duty free stores at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2 in Jakarta, an event attended by senior Lotte figures, business partners and other guests of the retailer.
Here we bring you the first images of the stores (one main store led by liquor, tobacco, perfumes & cosmetics; and a second, smaller fashion and accessories outlet) and the inauguration event.
The opening (as well as a gala dinner the previous evening) was hosted by Lotte Duty Free President & CEO Choi Young Soo (YS Choi), with other Lotte guests including Lotte Duty Free General Manager Jakarta Kim Tae Ho and Lotte ambassadors, among them famous Korean actress Ms Choi Ji Woo (heroine of blockbuster Korean drama “˜Winter Sonata’) and popular boy-band singer Ok Taec Yeon. South Korea’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Young Sun, was also on hand for the formal opening.
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Choi Young Soo pledges to deliver “the best shopping experience” to travellers at the new store |
These stores mark the company’s entry into Indonesia, where it is operating at Soekarno-Hatta Airport under a newly granted licence. It also marks the first fully foreign-owned investment in Indonesian duty free (DFS operates in partnership with local company IDP). At this week’s celebrations, Lotte management expressed a desire to broaden the retailer’s Indonesian base further, including to the downtown market.
Choi told guests: “Today marks a meaningful turning point in my company’s 32-year history.
“At Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the largest airport in Indonesia, with more than 10 million travellers a year, Lotte Duty Free Shop can deliver satisfaction to customers based on a 32-year knowhow, supported by state-of-the-art systems and specialised services.
“In addition, Lotte Duty Free Shop has become a partner with the local community through a combination of positive investment, local staffing, and training local experts.”
He concluded: “By taking an important step on the world stage at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Lotte Duty Free Shop comes closer to its vision of “˜2018 Global No.1′ – i.e. to be the best in the world by 2018.
“I am honoured to be here with all of you at this historical moment.” [[YS Choi is a speaker at this month’s Trinity Forum in Seoul].
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“A turning point in my company’s 32-year history” – Lotte Duty Free President YS Choi celebrates the opening of the Korean travel retailer’s new store at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia on Tuesday |
As reported, this is Lotte’s second overseas duty free store (the first was at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, since closed) but the company maintains its ambitions to open many more as part of an expansion drive outside Korea in the years ahead.
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The main store (above and below) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2 is well-lit with good visibility |
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The 900sq m space at Soekarno-Hatta offers a range of fragrances & cosmetics, liquor, tobacco and luxury goods, and offers a bright, inviting environment – a contrast to some of the duller stores trading in the terminal.
“The opening of the Lotte Duty Free Shop is in line with our vision to make Soekarno-Hatta a world-class airport,” Sulistio Wijayadi, Commercial and Business Development Director for airport operator Angkasa Pura II told reporters yesterday.
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The opening marks Lotte’s second international venture – and it has ambitions for many more |
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Korean brands are blended with international brands in the high-class cosmetics and skincare zone |
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Choi Young Soo and Lotte VVIP guest Wijiasih Cahyasasi with well-known singer and Lotte Ambassador Ok Taec Yeon |
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Lotte Duty Free places a premium on top-class customer service in its stores |
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Jonathan Holland of Jonathan Holland & Associates, who represents a number of leading Korean brands in travel retail, with beauty consultants at the Jakarta Airport Terminal 2 store yesterday |
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Business partners were treated to a gala dinner the night before the opening, where YS Choi introduced the new store |
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YS Choi, Lotte Duty Free Jakarta General Manager Kim Tae Ho and Jonathan Holland at the gala evening |
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Jonathan Holland and actress Choi Ji Woo enjoy the gala night in Jakarta |
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The fashion and accessories outlet offers a wide range of leading international brands |
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