Early pre-registration figures for next month’s TFWA China’s Century Conference indicate duty free and travel retail professionals from across Asia will be strongly represented at this year’s event, which will be held in partnership with APTRA at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sanya, Haitang Bay from 5-7 March.

Current data shows 60% of delegates due to attend are from Asia, with 43% coming from Greater China.

TRBusiness is TFWA’s official media partner and publisher for the conference and been selected as the official magazine publisher. This will be researched, written and compiled by our highly experienced editorial team and be expertly translated into Mandarin Chinese.

ASIAN AIRPORT REPRESENTATION

Asian airports will be particularly well represented at the conference, with industry figures from Korea Airports Corporation, Central Japan International Airport and Changi Airport Group.

Representatives from some of China’s largest airports and airlines – including Sanya Phoenix International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and China Southern Airlines Company — have also confirmed their presence.

They will join various Asian operators including China Duty Free Group (CDFG), China National Service Corporation, Haikou Meilan Airport Duty Free Shop, Beijing Capital Airport Commercial & Trading and Sunrise Duty Free.

Key international operators will also be in attendance, including King Power, DFS, Dufry and Lagardère Travel Retail.

Conference delegates will hear from a line-up of speakers, including Charles Chen, President, CDFG; Andrea Belardini, CEO for Asia, Australia, Middle East and Eastern Europe, Dufry;  Eudes Fabre, CEO North Asia, Lagardère Travel Retail; and Sunil Tuli, Managing Director, King Power Hong Kong.

Ctrip.com and Jessica’s Secret will offer their take on how to stay relevant in a connected world. Other speakers include Wieke Vrielink, Head of Consumer Marketing, Royal Schiphol Group, David Jea, Deputy General Manager, Hangzhou International Airport and Heinrich Wilhelm Gabel, Deputy General Manager, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.

The event will be co-hosted by the Departments of Commerce and Finance of Hainan Province, with CDFG as Diamond Sponsor, Cartier and Interparfums as Platinum Sponsors and Bally as Silver Sponsor. The Official Airport is Sanya Phoenix International Airport.

The Gala Dinner will be sponsored by DFS, with Furla and Breo sponsoring the conference lunches.

Other confirmed sponsors include Coccinelle (lanyards), Shiseido (conference app), Mondelez (Coffee break and delegate gift), APTRA (Networking & ONE2ONE Coffee Break), Nestlé International Travel Retail (Networking coffee break), Guangzhou Feishang (Portfolio), Rituals (delegate gift), Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger (Hostess outfits).

Alain Maingreaud, TFWA President said: “We’re delighted to see such a strong showing from our partners in Asia at this year’s TFWA China’s Century Conference. Their presence will help delegates to grow their understanding of this dynamic and ever-changing region, as well as offering a unique, first-hand perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing the Asian duty free and travel market.”

Delegates can book their place and find further information at www.tfwa.com. Pre-registration closes on 14 February.