The value of the trade
DAY 2
In a special event called APTRA Exchange organised by the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA), panellists discussed findings from the organisation’s new Economic Impact of Duty Free & Travel Retail Report Asia Pacific.
The report is the industry’s most up to date research on the Asia Pacific region. Commissioned and published in partnership by the Duty Free World Council (DFWC) and APTRA, it offers sales and category analysis plus insight into the economic impact of the duty free and travel retail industry across the region. The report details that travel retail directly brings 140,900 jobs to the Asia Pacific region and also contributes US$7.6 billion in GDP.
APTRA Exchange, launched at The Trinity Forum, is designed to be an annual, interactive platform facilitating open discussion between industry leaders on macro trends and developments affecting the duty free and travel retail sector.
Explaining the importance of the findings and the report, APTRA President Grant Fleming [who is also Lagardère Travel Retail Head of Strategic Development Asia] said “The report is massive and an incredible documentation of what we do contribute. It is a tool for our teams to take to the regulators and remind them that their decisions [have an impact] in a bigger way than they think.”
Trinity thoughts: APTRA President and Lagardère Travel Retail Head of Strategic Development Asia Grant Fleming talks to Marshall Arts International Managing Director Peter Marshall. Video by Moodie Davitt Marshall TV
Vital contribution: From left to right, APTRA President Grant Fleming, ACI World Director General Angela Gittens, APTRA Board Member and William Grant & Sons Travel Retail Managing Director Ed Cottrell, JTI Corporate Affairs & Communications Pan Har Ying, and APTRA Board Member and Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh
A panel featuring Fleming, APTRA Board Member and William Grant & Sons Travel Retail Managing Director Ed Cottrell, JTI Corporate Affairs & Communications Pan Har Ying, APTRA Board Member and Mondelez World Travel Retail Managing Director Jaya Singh and ACI World Director General Angela Gittens then discussed the importance of the research and how it can be used to help regulators see the value of the travel retail industry.
Cottrell and Pan represent a liquor and tobacco company respectively, both of which are categories subject to intense scrutiny from regulators.
Talking of how the research can be used positively to combat regulatory threats, Cottrell said: “The number of regulatory issues and headwinds that liquor is beginning to face means that we have to be more proactive.”
“An incredible documentation of what we do”: Grant Fleming and Angela Gittens discussed some of the key findings of the report
Pan added: “What we had been lacking were quantifiable measurements. This will be a very critical stakeholder engagement tool to demonstrate the entire value of the duty free industry.”
Speaking from an airport perspective, Gittens commented: “You have to establish a sense of trust with potential regulators.”
The importance of the research, which is now available to APTRA members, was summed up by Singh. “Divided we stand every chance of being conquered and finally we have a document that can unite all of us stakeholders: airport authorities and brands as well as retailers. Those facts should not only be used for defensive purposes, we now have the basis by which we can proactively engage with key decision makers,” he told delegates.
Angela Gittens noted the importance of communication and generating a “sense of trust” with both internal and external parties
Strong approach: Ed Cottrell said the liquor category should be more proactive in the face of increasing regulatory challenges
Data is beautiful: Pan Har Ying said the report’s quantifiable measurements would help significantly in discussions with regulators
United front: “Finally we have a document that can unite all of us stakeholders,” said Jaya Singh
The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 271 | 19 November 2019
The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 20 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (Moodie International Ltd).
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