Dubai Duty Free, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin tells TRBusiness that the company has generated nearly $6m from its Emirates Skywards Miles partnership in 2017, as he hails the success of some other recent collaborations.

 

“We have continued to work closely with our suppliers and partners on innovative promotions and innovations; whether it is redemption of Emirates Skywards miles – which so far has generated US$5.72m in sales in 2017 and US$3.23m year to date (Aug) – or the teaming up with JCDecaux and Dubai Airports to launch a digital platform that drives sales; a first of its kind.

 

“We are continually open to ideas and collaborations that we think will serve our customers well and will increase sales.”

 

McLoughlin reminds TRBusiness that Chinese travellers currently account for around 2.7% of traffic at Dubai International Airport, but around 17% of spend at Dubai Duty Free.

 

“In order to provide special offers and promotions to inbound Chinese travellers, we have joined forces with C-Trip, China’s largest travel agent, and Union Pay.

 

C-TRIP CUSTOMERS MAKE 47,800 TRANSACTIONS YTD

“By teaming up with C-Trip, we are able to interact directly with travellers before they fly and help them make informed purchasing decisions at Dubai Duty Free.

 

He reveals that, as a result of the promotions and 5% discount offer to C-Trip customers, the initiative has recorded 47,800 sales transactions with C-Trip’s customers in 2018 (YTD August) valued at US$46.4m.

 

“We also signed an MOU with UnionPay International, which to-date has issued a total of 6bn cards worldwide.

 

“DDF was the first retailer in Dubai to accept the domestic Union Pay cards in 2012, and [it] is now the third biggest card payment method behind Visa and Master Card.”

 

Between January and May 2018, over 72,100 transactions worth US$21.18m were completed using Union Pay cards, which McLoughlin describes as a ‘fantastic achievement’.