Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Strange Nature Gin from New Zealand, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
CHINA. “The cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex is something that has to be seen to be truly appreciated,” writes The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan-Gillies on her first visit to the duty-free wonderland.
Since the complex opened in late 2022, I must have written thousands of words about the extraordinary scale and ambition of the shopping emporium, but the real thing simply blows you (and me) away.
The complex underlines China Duty Free Group (CDFG) and the local government’s ambition of turning Hainan into a global shopping destination. With this in mind, every aspect of its design, offer, services and customer experience are a testament to this ambition, offering ‘wow’ moments from the second you step inside.
The luxury boutiques, arguably some of the most dazzling in the world, offer a suite of high-touch experiences and luxury services with a roster that includes Cartier, Burberry, Prada, Saint Laurent, Gucci and many more.
For beauty lovers, there is plenty to explore with every major player making their mark in the complex, including The Estée Lauder Companies, L’Oréal Groupe, Coty, LVMH Beauty, Shiseido Group and Puig.
L’Oréal-owned Lancôme’s elegant boutique is equipped with the latest beauty tech devices, including the Lancôme Skin Screen analysis tool; while the Estée Lauder flagship highlights its prestige Re-Nutriv line with a dedicated facial cabin.
At Armani Beauty, an undulating red table showcases the brand’s triple-axis portfolio, while Dior’s sprawling flagship highlights its hero fragrance, makeup and skincare lines complete with a dedicated space for its Private Collection and a facial alcove.
The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the AURA Atrium, a unique customised atrium built by Dafeng Group and designed by Wētā Workshop, co-founded by Sir Richard Taylor. The atrium elevates the cdf Haikou superstore from shopping mall to a space that immerses shoppers in otherworldly landscapes – there is nowhere quite like it anywhere else in the world.
Whether it is your first visit, or your hundredth, you will get the sense that the cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex is far more than a retail proposition. CDFG and its parent company China Tourism Group describe it as a fusion of ‘duty-free shopping + culture and tourism’ and wow, it certainly does deliver that and more. ✈
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