CHINA. TFWA’s China’s Century Conference kicked off last night at a well-attended Opening Cocktail at Guangzhou’s W Hotel.
This year’s event has attracted over 400 delegates, confirmation if anyone needed it of China’s importance to 21st century travel retail.
The conference begins today at the Four Seasons Hotel in the city’s Pearl River New City district.
Today’s programme is packed with top-line speakers, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co President Qiu Jiachen, CDFG President Charles Chen, DFS Chairman & CEO Philippe Schaus and Lagardère Travel Retail Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel de Place.
The line-up also includes DFS Executive Vice President Strategy & Business Development Jim Beighley, Bally CEO Frédéric de Narp, Fortune Character Institute Executive Director Tina Zhou and Xu Dongsheng, Managing Director of Fiyta, China’s leading watchmaker and distributor.
We’ll bring you highlights over the next couple of days.
UPDATE – DAY 1
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen led proceedings on day 1 of the conference with a measured and comprehensive overview of the China travel retail market and the importance of the Chinese traveller. Here are some pictorial highlights.
Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association President Jaya Singh was next up.
