CHINA. With the opening of China Duty Free Group’s (CDFG) extraordinary Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex now just two weeks away, CDFG has released a short video offering a preview of the wonders within.
The film features Sir Richard Taylor, the New Zealander who co-founded Wētā Workshop and serves as its CEO and Creative Director.
As reported, the vast Haikou complex opens on 28 October. Besides housing the world’s biggest duty free shopping complex, it will boast several distinctive attractions, including an ‘Edge of the Sky’ atrium designed by Wētā Workshop. The New Zealand company brings imaginary worlds to life by delivering concept design, physical effects, collectables, immersive visitor experiences and games to the entertainment and creative industries.
Sir Richard says, “Over the past two years, we’ve had the distinct pleasure of the most incredible and inspiring interaction with our clients at CDF. This has been in the conceptual design and the core design process to create the Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex narrative and creative fit-out.
“The collective intent was to create a culturally rich and respectful narrative, where the customer is treated both as an audience member and a participant in this fantastical, dreamlike world.
“We are taking our audience on a journey to somewhere unique and by enhancing the emotive experience of a shopping complex, we take people beyond the expected and into the entirely unexpected.
“So I feel entirely confident that CDF have created one of the great architecture and retail experiences on the planet. And it has been extraordinary opportunity to be in this collaboration with such a distinct and purposeful endeavour.”
China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen will deliver a keynote address at The Trinity Forum in Singapore on 1 November.
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report is producing a special edition of The China Travel Retail Report – our recently launched digital magazine – dedicated to the Haikou International Duty Free Complex. Our colleagues at Hainan Hinews Media Co, The Moodie Davitt Report’s strategic partner in Hainan province, will be out in force filming and interviewing on 28 October. More details soon.
In July The Moodie Davitt Report launched a new quarterly eZine called The Moodie Davitt China Travel Retail Report. The cover story was dedicated to CDFG and its parent company China Tourism Group. Click on the image to read the bi-lingual title. The next edition will be published in November, majoring on the Haikou opening. Please email Kristyn@MoodieDavittReport.com for a free first year subscription. For editorial details please contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com. For advertising enquiries please email Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com
