CHINA. In one of the year’s most-anticipated travel retail openings, China Duty Free Group (CDFG) this week inaugurated the cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex Block C and unveiled the Global Beauty Plaza.
The Block C Grand Opening ceremony, held on 28 December, was attended by over 100 guests.
They included Zhang Bin, Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce; Zou Xianfeng, Level 2 Inspector at the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports; Yin Chengling, Deputy Mayor of Sanya Municipal People’s Government; Cao Ming, Deputy Commissioner of Haikou Customs; Wang Haimin, General Manager of China Tourism Group; and Wang Xuan, General Manager of CDFG.
The VIPs were joined by representatives of various brands, business partners and media (including The Moodie Davitt Report as the sole international travel B2B title).
As parent company China Tourism Group Duty Free (China Tourism Group) begins its second 100-year journey, CDFG said the opening signals its strong and unwavering commitment to cultivating the Hainan market.
The world’s number one travel retailer* said the project also underlines its willingness as a state-owned enterprise to assume responsibility for enhancing the development of Hainan Free Trade Port.
The Global Beauty Plaza, housed within Block C, offers an array of top international beauty brands, unique design styles, high-quality services and a blend of fashion and artistic elements.
It is designed to provide consumers with better travel and retail experiences and enhance both cdf Sanya and Hainan as world-class tourism and shopping destinations, CDFG said.
cdf Sanya Block C, which occupies a construction area of 78,000sq m, was jointly designed by Büro Ole Scheeren and Valode & Pistre Architectes.
The overall design was inspired by a docked yacht and tells the story of a ‘Fragrant Journey’ throughout the space.
The atrium design features three different themes: ‘The Journey of Seeds’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Fragrant Monsoon’.
The art corridors, which link Block C to Blocks A and B, were designed with the themes of ‘Spacetime Travel’ and ‘Flower Gallery’.
The design imbues Block C with a unique ambience and style while forming a cohesive connection between the new block and other structures in the complex. It highlights Hainan’s tropical climate and natural landscape and offers an immersive experience for visitors, CDFG said.
cdf Sanya currently offers over 850 Chinese and international brands. The Block C expansion greatly strengthens the complex’s beauty offerings with a string of high-profile openings, CDFG said.
Beauty giants such as Lancôme, Estée Lauder and Dior have all introduced their first-ever double-storey travel retail flagship stores, while Le Labo, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Pat McGrath Labs have chosen Block C to showcase their latest and China travel retail-exclusive innovative designs and concepts.
The introduction of these new shops provides a wider selection of retail options and a more interesting shopping experience, CDFG said.
In addition, shoppers can enjoy a variety of top-quality services and facilities at cdf Sanya Block C, including Hainan’s first multi-brand Spa Centre. Featuring an impressive brand mix and exclusive, limited-edition products, the Spa Centre promises customers “an immersive multi-dimensional sensory experience and a serene space for physical and mental healing”, CDFG said.
To celebrate the opening, cdf Sanya has introduced a variety of promotional activities including gifts, discounts and 8x points when shopping selected brands.
CDFG said that it hopes every single customer will ‘C Beauty, See Life’ when they step into Block C.
Under the leadership of its parent company China Tourism Group, the world’s number one travel retailer said it will stay committed to CDFG’s motto of ‘trusted business operation and excellent services’ and continue to develop the Hainan market with increased focus and investment.
The opening of Global Beauty Plaza at cdf Sanya Block C brings more brands, better services and a more convenient and pleasurable retail experience to Hainan’s offshore duty free consumers, offering travellers the joy of “seeing the world and shopping at cdf”, the retailer said.
In the long run, the project will help fully release the potential of cdf Sanya as a tourism and retail landmark, enhance the regional commercial landscape, create a new ‘duty free + cultural tourism’ paradigm, and boost the development of Hainan Free Trade Port, it added. ✈
*The Moodie Davitt Report’s benchmark Top Travel Retailers ranking.
