The TFWA China’s Century Conference – organised in partnership with APTRA – will be held from 10-12 March 2015 at the Jing An Shangri-La Hotel in China’s commercial capital, Shanghai.

 

The event, whose first edition in 2013 attracted 372 attendees, will explore the commercial opportunities in the market on the back of rapid development of aviation and transport infrastructure.

 

The conference also offers opportunities to meet players from airports, airlines, operators, distributors and brands through TFWA’s One2One meetings service.

 

On Wednesday 11, following welcome addresses from the official hosts, including TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen and APTRA President Jaya Singh, the Chairman of China Duty Free Group Peng Hui (left), will contemplate ‘A new era in Chinese duty free’.

 

Peng’s participation comes at an auspicious time for CDFG, following the opening of the new luxury retail complex at Haitang Bay, along with several other major retail developments in mainland China.

 

In a session exploring the implications of the new Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Mark Schaub, an author and Partner at King&Wood and Mallesons, the largest law firm in the PRC, will lead a panel discussing the opportunities for retail brought by the first free trade zone on the mainland.

 

‘Luxury goods: a market under threat?’ will assess the slowdown in sales of luxury goods to Chinese travellers and competition from online and domestic channels with a panel of brand-owners, retailers and market experts.

 

CHANGING CONSUMPTION TRENDS

The keynote address on Thursday 12th is by Shaun Rein, Managing Director of the China Market Research Group, and also a media commentator and author of The End of Cheap China. He will reflect on current consumption trends in China and their implications for global and regional trade.

 

‘Harnessing China’s social networks’ is also high on the agenda given that Baidu, WeChat, Weibo and other networks are key to purchasing decisions of Chinese customers. Confirmed sponsors to date include Bally, Furla, Mondelez, Colorful Licenses International, Lacoste and Kipling.