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Images of the Day

Images of the Day: Picture Gallery – The AAA Retail & Commercial Forum

by Dermot Davitt | | dermot@moodiedavittreport.com

Our regular feature celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere. 

AUSTRALASIA. A hugely successful second Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail & Commercial Forum concluded in Brisbane on Wednesday, with a strong spirit of positivity about the recovery of non-aeronautical revenues at airports, and a focus on investment and improving the customer experience across domestic and international terminals. Around 250 delegates attended, with healthy sponsorship support from across the business.

Organised by a partnership between the AAA, The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, the Forum on 17-19 July brought together all the key players in the non-aeronautical industry, including airports from Australia and New Zealand, duty free operators, specialty retail operators, food & beverage (F&B) operators, foreign exchange operators, advertising concessionaires, ground transport providers and various advisers and suppliers.

Talking points included:

*Host Brisbane Airport outlined its ambition to deliver new customer experiences under its A$5 billion ‘Future BNE’ project

*A major consumer research study led by THINK Global Research outlined the views of over 1,000 travellers on the commercial offer in the region

*Hobart Airport revealed plans for its new terminal, with F&B to be delivered by SSP and retail by Lagardère AWPL

*Domestic beauty retail powerhouse Mecca said it aims to expand at Australian domestic terminals and target international terminals

*Heinemann Australia plans to extend its reach at domestic terminals from Sydney T2 and T3 to Gold Coast with a new 200sq m store

*Dufry underlined its commitment to the Pacific market across four business lines

*McDonald’s outlined its ambitions to grow further at airports in the region

More detailed stories will follow across our platforms in coming days; below we present a pictorial snapshot of the event.

Click here for our story on the AAA Awards night.

DAY ONE

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff outlined the Future BNE project, with the city preparing to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Mercurius Group Managing Director Ivo Favotto and below, The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt chaired most of the sessions across the two days

Day one keynote Professor Gary Mortimer (University of Queensland) assessed the dynamics facing retail worldwide and in the region
THINK Global Research Managing Director Kristy Ihle presented specially commissioned research into the regional travelling consumer and their views on the airport retail & dining experience; more to follow
Bonza CCO Carly Povey offered an important view from the start-up low-cost carrier
Lagardère AWPL CEO Przemyslaw Lesniak (right) talked about the balance of risk-sharing in airport concessions; also on the panel were (from second left) Auckland Airport Head of Retail Lucy Thomas, SSP Senior VP Asia Pacific Business Development Matt Hill and Hobart Airport CFO Kate Gillies (moderator Ivo Favotto far left)

Dermot Davitt in conversation with Dufry President & CEO Asia Pacific Freda Cheung and Regional Managing Director, Asia Pacific David Mackay, as the newly formed travel experience player underscored its ambitions to grow across multiple business lines in Australia and New Zealand and the wider region

A strong Trinity panel featured (from second left) Diageo Global Travel Commercial Director Asia, Middle East and India Sandra Tassilly, Lotte Duty Free Oceania Chief Executive Officer and Director Steve Timms, Melbourne Airport Head of Retail and Asset Management Aaron Gupta and The Estée Lauder Companies Regional Director, Travel Retail Oceania Maik Nimrich (moderator Dermot Davitt, left). The session covered the exciting new Lotte Duty Free developments at Melbourne Airport, alongside views from two of the leading brand houses in wines & spirits and beauty

Towards a new experience at Brisbane Airport: Executive General Manager Commercial Martin Ryan presented highlights of the Future BNE strategy and said that key elements of the updated retail programme will be variety of choice, entertainment and experiences.
Addressing the current tender process for duty free, while not commenting on individual submissions, Head of Retail & E-Commerce Toby Innes said the responses were “sensational”, indicating that the industry has “a lot to look forward to”.
Brisbane Airport Head of Commercial Marketing Lauren Graham discussed new touchpoints with the consumer. BNE Marketplace, created during COVID, is being replaced by a new click & collect offer
Head of Commercial Finance Lauren Holt and Head of Commercial Projects & Operations Paul Laws addressed the vast property opportunity at Brisbane Airport

DAY TWO

In a session on F&B to start day two, McDonald’s National Property Director Skye Baker (right) offered some fascinating insights into how the food brand views the airport opportunity; below, Craveable Brands Chief Development Officer Simon Thompson said that length of tenure remains a big factor influencing food brands’ decisions on the airport market opportunity

Airport Retail Enterprises CEO John Chapman (above) represents the largest F&B player in the region; beside him is Food Co General Manager Hospitals & Transit Tony Brusch, whose company is driving growth in the snacking and coffee sector
Queensland Airports Ltd General Manager Commercial Revenue Isabelle Yates (centre) on a series of new openings planned for Gold Coast and other locations
Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter on new terminal ambitions
Ground transport challenges from space to pricing to electric vehicles were on the agenda in a morning two session, featuring Sydney Airport Head of Commercial Transport Kenn Langcake (speaking), alongside Uber Travel & Partnerships Lead Simon Schenkel, Hertz Vice President APAC Eoin MacNeill and Wilson Parking Chief Commercial Officer Luke Field

Mackay Airport Commercial & Ground Transport Manager Ian Peterson addressed the consumer experience and barriers that small airports need to overcome; also speaking were Cox Architects Senior Associate Matt Findlay (right) and Travelex Commercial Director Darren Brown
Mecca Chief Financial Officer Sylvain Baudens (right) revealed that the beauty retail powerhouse from Australia’s domestic market would be targeting international terminals, as well as further domestic terminals in Australia. In the same session, Heinemann Australia Managing Director George Tsoukalas revealed plans to open a 200sq m store focused on beauty & fashion at Gold Coast Domestic Terminal. Also speaking was Adelaide Airport Head of Retail, who discussed the criteria for selecting speciality brands for space at the airport.
tRetailLabs Fonder Sushanta Das and Tocanan Fonder Eden Lau (below) talked about social media listening and research into the Chinese consumer, including insights into how Australian and New Zealand airports are perceived

Ivo Favotto in conversation with the panellists in a lively final session on travel essentials, including Lagardère AWPL Co-CEO Costa Kouros, AGPG/Amcal Managing Director Edward Tanzil, Sunshine Coast Airport GM Aviation & Commercial Scott Norris and Coca-Cola GM Vending David McKenna

Dermot Davitt and Ivo Favotto, representing co-organisers The Moodie Davitt Report and The Mercurius Group, as the event begins
Strange Nature Distilling General Manager & Part Owner Rhys Julian (right), who represents our Image of the Day sponsor, with Dermot Davitt. Strange Nature was one of ten exhibiting companies at the AAA event.

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