New Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) President Andrew Ford has praised knowledge sharing at the first APTRA Airports Forum in helping members grow their regional businesses.

Commenting on the inaugural gathering, held on 7 May at Singapore Changi Airport during the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition and Conference, Ford said:

“The APTRA Airport’s Forum and the Insights Seminar during the TFWA Asia Pacific were excellent examples of how APTRA delivers actionable data to its members, which will assist them to develop their travel retail business in the Asia Pacific region.

“We will build on what we have learned during these meetings and continue to expand our service to members.”

AIRPORT-SPECIFIC RESEARCH

APTRA board member and Melbourne Airport’s Andrew Gardiner chaired the session, which gathered 15 commercial and retail executives from 10 airports.

Gardiner explained that APTRA is investing in a series of initiatives to aid airports, including specific research that they can access via the online APTRA Resource Centre.

He added that other airports will be encouraged to share similar data on retail innovation, sales performances and other information at future forums.

Members also benefitted from detailed airport shopper insight and traffic and forecasting reports from research partner m1nd-set and IATA, while Changi Airport revealed a preview of new commercial developments at T4.

Clara Perez, Travel Retail Research Director, m1nd-set (left) presented results from its latest research conducted for APTRA into the consumer behaviour of the South East Asia traveller, while CEO Peter Mohn focused on tier one, tier two and tier three cities in China

Anson Bailey, Head of Asia Pacific Consumer Markets, KPMG also delivered a presentation on the latest trends in artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, the so-called ‘internet of things’ and other aspects associated with mobile technology.

Research from the meetings are sponsored by Rémy Cointreau GTR and, henceforth, Interparfums, while the seminars are sponsored by Bommidala Group, Brown Forman, Changi Airport Group, DFS, Distell, Eastern Duty Free, The Edrington Group, Jonathan Holland & Associates, Moet Hennessy, Regent Asia Group and Treasury Wine Estates.

For further information on APTRA, visit www.aptra.asia or contact [email protected].

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