Moodie Davitt WeChat: Key stories from Weeks 4 and 5

CHINA. We are pleased to bring readers a summary of recent posts on The Moodie Davitt Report’s WeChat Official Account as the platform continues to grow strongly in China.

The Moodie Davitt Report offers unrivalled Chinese language coverage of key China-related stories, anchored by our dual WeChat platforms – our weekly Moodie Davitt Account (currently with an impressive 6,295 followers, as of Week 5) and Moodie Davitt Report China Travel Retail Express (3,621 followers, as of Week 5), which publishes daily.

Collectively that represents 9,916 followers (as of Week 5), compared with a collective zero from all our international travel retail publishing peers combined, none of whom offer a WeChat service. That means our stories alone are reaching right across the Chinese travel retail ecosystem.

Our platforms complement the strong and growing Chinese readership of our English language service.

Scan the QR codes via WeChat to visit our dual platforms. The Moodie Davitt Report is the only global travel retail title to publish on WeChat. Stories related to the Chinese and international travel retail sector at home and abroad are featured in this unrivalled service. For native content opportunities please contact Zhang Yimei (China) at Yimei@MoodieDavittReport.com or Irene Revilla (International) at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com. For editorial please reach out to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com

Moodie Davitt WeChat is curated under the direction of Penelope Zhou, our Hong Kong-based Chinese Editor, and company Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, also in Hong Kong. The Special Administrative Region is also the base for our Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking Head of Events, Vincci Chung.

The Moodie Davitt Report Hong Kong team: (From left) Vincci Chung, Penny Zhou and Martin Moodie

They are supported in Hainan by Chief China Representative Zhang Yimei, former Deputy General Manager at Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co (HTDF), who heads our Moodie Davitt Hainan-based entity, which publishes Moodie Davitt China Travel Retail Express.

Dachang Wang, who had spent two years with HTDF as Brand Manager, serves as Editor of Moodie Davitt China Travel Retail Express reporting to Zhang Yimei.

High class in Hainan: Pictured from left are Zhang Yimei and Dachang Wang
For native content enquiries, international companies should contact Publisher Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com while Chinese brands can contact Yimei Zhang at Yimei@MoodieDavittReport.com.

《穆迪达维特免税报告》是唯一进驻微信平台的国际旅游零售行业媒体。《穆迪达维特免税报告》微信公众号现有5,836名关注者,在现有英文平台日渐壮大的中文读者群体基础上实现更广泛触达。如需咨询英文原稿,请联系出版负责人Irene Revilla(邮箱:Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com + Yimei@MoodieDavittReport.com)

You can see highlights below from our latest editions. 本周热点资讯一览如下。

Week 4

A new chapter for DFS: China Tourism Group Duty Free is set to acquire DFS’s Hong Kong and Macau travel retail stores (excluding City of Dreams), along with DFS brands and intellectual property for exclusive use in Greater China. Announced on 19 January, the deal will be executed via CTG Duty-Free’s wholly owned subsidiary, China Duty Free International Limited, while DFS retains its other international travel retail businesses. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Boosting cross-border retail momentum: China National Service Corporation has reopened its renovated 128sq m arrivals duty-free store at Heihe Port in Heilongjiang Province. The relaunch reinforces the retailer’s Northeast border focus, strengthens its port duty-free network, and positions the outlet as a flagship destination supporting China-Russia economic and trade cooperation. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Smarter price-tracking: Chinese travel retail analytics firm Jessica’s Secret has rolled out AI Tracking 3.0, improving its flagship price-monitoring system. The upgrade targets hidden discounts from gift-with-purchase strategies, boosting the system’s competitiveness in price intelligence and industry-wide data analytics. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Fresh insights from RedNote: The Moodie Davitt Report, in partnership with Yilin Consulting Founder Yilin Wang, has released the fifth edition of Yilin Watch: The Xiaohongshu Report. Covering 1 December 2025 to 4 January, it analyses how London Heathrow × World Duty Free, Frankfurt × Heinemann Duty Free, and Shinsegae Duty Free leveraged Xiaohongshu during the Western festive window to engage Chinese travellers. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Cross-category ratings: The Moodie Davitt Report is pleased to publish our popular Jessica’s Secret Index for November covering spirits & wine, fragrances, makeup, skincare, confectionery, bags, watches and jewellery. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Festive double celebration: Bacardi Global Travel Retail has launched a Lunar New Year campaign for Dewar’s, highlighting both the key Chinese holiday and the brand’s 180th anniversary. The initiative features high-profile airport activations in Asia and channel-exclusive limited-edition Lunar New Year packaging to drive brand awareness and attract new consumers. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 

Week 5

Arrivals store network accelerates: China has announced plans to expand its arrivals duty-free network with 41 shops nationwide to boost domestic consumption. Confirmed by five key state ministries, the initiative covers major hubs such as Wuhan Tianhe International Airport and also optimises existing shops at airports, seaports and border crossings. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.  
Landmark launch: China Duty Free Group (CDFG) has unveiled the first phase of its duty-free complex in Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Terminal 3, with eight stores following its ten-year contract win. Forming the commercial hub of T3, the project is set to expand to around 1,600sq m by the end of 2026, with remaining spaces opening in line with international travel recovery. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Future in focus: DFS is assessing the outlook for its remaining non-China operations following the sale of its Hong Kong and Macau businesses. The travel retailer confirmed it will continue operating in Japan and the USA, including major airport outlets in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Beauty universe debuts: Shiseido Travel Retail has teamed up with CDFG to launch its first multi-brand pop-up in Hainan at the cdf Sanya Duty Free Shopping Complex. The month-long activation showcased a portfolio of prestige beauty brands within an experiential setting. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Two-week sales spike: Hainan’s offshore duty-free sales climbed to +49% year-on-year to over US$550 million during the 24-day period after the island’s customs closure (18 December-10 January). Strong shopper traffic and enhanced duty-free policies helped push sales beyond pre-closure levels, with new categories such as consumer electronics and pet supplies contributing to growth. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Galloping into the New Year: Rémy Martin has tapped Chinese pop artist Xue Song to bring its limited-edition Year of the Horse XO and VSOP bottles and gift boxes to life for Lunar New Year, now available across global travel retail. The 2026 editions are supported by high-profile airport activations at key airports worldwide, showcasing Song’s contemporary pop-art reinterpretation of the Maison’s Centaur emblem. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Driving Chinese FIT engagement: Yilin Consulting Founder Yilin Wang presented a webinar titled ‘Re-Engaging Chinese FIT Travellers in 2026’, focusing on how brands can adapt to this fast-growing, younger consumer group. Wang highlighted that for these independent travellers, shopping is no longer the key driver but an integrated part of their pursuit of authentic, digital-native experiences. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version. 
Welcoming the Fire Horse: Hong Kong International Airport geared up for Chinese New Year 2026, with Duty Zero by cdf leading the celebrations. Following China Tourism Group Duty Free’s acquisition of DFS’s Hong Kong and Macau travel retail businesses, the retailer presented a top-class selection of spirits, tobacco, wine and Champagne. Click here for our WeChat story and here for our original English version.
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