This Week on Social Media is our regular column where we spotlight how airports, retailers and brands are connecting with travellers through creative and engaging campaigns on social media.
As the Lunar New Year began, so too did the Year of the Fire Horse – a symbol rooted in Chinese metaphysics. Blending the horse’s key traits of energy and independence with the intensity of the fire element, it holds a distinctive place in the zodiac tradition.
Here’s how travel retailers and airports ignited their social media channels to mark the vibrant Year of the Horse celebration.
Heathrow Airport
Lunar New Year was seen in at Heathrow Airport terminals with lion and ribbon dance performances, adding festive vibrancy for travellers during the festive period.
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World Duty Free by Avolta
World Duty Free is leveraging its RedNote platform with a Year of the Horse post, featuring festive illustrations to promote its Lunar New Year campaign to Chinese travellers.
At Heathrow Airport, travellers can collect a New Year red packet voucher offering £10 off £150 spend (until 3 March), while an 11-day online prize draw campaign from Lunar New Year’s Eve encourages digital engagement and in-store sales during the festive period.
Heinemann
Heinemann is promoting its Year of the Horse activation at the Heinemann Tax & Duty Free store in the T1 International Terminal at Sydney Airport, where a golden horse display anchors the festive installation.
Running until 4 March, the campaign offers tiered Lunar New Year vouchers based on minimum spend and highlights the Shop & Collect service to enhance convenience and drive spend.
Lotte Duty Free Oceania
Prosperity, joy and safe travels were at the heart of Lotte Duty Free Oceania’s Lunar New Year greetings to travellers.
The campaign also spotlighted its festive gifting selection, offering passengers an opportunity to celebrate the season with meaningful purchases.
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Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co
Hainan Tourism Investment Duty Free Co (HTDF) continues its Lunar New Year celebrations, promoted in social media featuring a festive horse motif, inviting shoppers to take part in seasonal offers.
Highlights include spend-and-save discounts on exclusive branded items, free shipping on qualifying orders, buy-more-get-more deals, and limited-time offers from a Hainan souvenir and speciality food brand, including confectionery and other festive treats.
Hong Kong International Airport
Lion dance and aerial dragon performances welcomed the Year of the Horse at Hong Kong International Airport, where a giant kinetic LED screen featured a galloping horse to bring festive energy to travellers.
The airport also confirmed the 27 May reopening of Terminal 2, offering upgraded facilities, smart technologies and expanded dining to enhance the passenger experience.
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Duty Zero by cdf
Through an Instagram video, Duty Zero by cdf showcased animated horse displays and festive staff greetings, bringing Lunar New Year cheer.
The retailer is engaging travellers across its Tung Chung and airport stores, staying open over the holiday and providing a curated selection of global wines to help passengers enjoy meaningful celebrations.
DFS
DFS posted a Golden Horse promotional ad, announcing extended Hong Kong store hours for the Lunar New Year and highlighting festive promotions, including spend-and-win prizes, instant savings and personalised shopping experiences.
The initiatives combine cultural relevance with tailored offers to engage travellers and drive sales during the peak holiday period.
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Beauty&You by The Shilla Duty Free
The Shilla Duty Free’s Beauty&You concept at its Hong Kong Airport store is marking the Lunar New Year with a limited-edition ‘little horse’ pouch and exclusive shopping gifts.
Running until 28 February, customers who meet a specified spend at the Gucci, Chloé or Burberry beauty counters will receive a Lunar New Year scratch card with guaranteed prizes.
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EVERRICH Duty Free
A prosperity-themed social media campaign, encouraging travellers to “stock up on prosperity and luck in one go”, rang in Lunar New Year at EVERRICH Duty Free.
Showcasing the Year of the Horse, the retailer integrated festive wordplay into its messaging, wishing customers abundant reasons to celebrate while reinforcing its brand promise of delivering value and good fortune for the year ahead.
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Changi Airport
Changi Airport Group has unveiled a visually striking Year of the Horse campaign on social media, featuring a cloud-formed galloping horse illustration, wishing travellers a joyful Lunar New Year and inviting them to start their journey at Singapore Changi Airport.
The campaign promotes festive activations, a wide selection of retail and dining offers across the airport, including Jewel, positioning Changi as a vibrant lifestyle and shopping destination for the holiday period.
King Power Duty Free
King Power Duty Free showcased its Lunar New Year promotions on social media with a Year of the Horse installation at its downtown Rangnam store, featuring a festive pink carousel.
Running 12-22 February, the campaign combines shopping deals, dining experiences and family-friendly activities – a last call for travellers to enjoy seasonal promotions.
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Eraman
Eraman welcomed the Year of the Horse with festive greetings across its social media channels, wishing travellers joy, prosperity and abundant blessings.
The retailer extended its Chinese New Year message with hopes for happiness, success and good health, signing off with a traditional ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ to mark the occasion.
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Duty Free Philippines
Travellers are wished ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ in Duty Free Philippines’ festive social media post highlighting the Year of the Horse zodiac symbol, extending wishes of prosperity, happiness and good fortune.
The retailer invites passengers to celebrate the season of luck across its stores, encouraging them to enjoy special promotions and festive shopping offers during the Lunar New Year period.
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