On location: cdf Duty Free Shopping Festival kicks off in spectacular style

CHINA. The third Hainan International Offshore Duty Free Shopping Festival and the sixth cdf Hainan Offshore Duty Free Shopping Festival kicked off on 1 July with a spectacular opening event at cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex.

The activities run from July to September. Guided by the Hainan Provincial Government and co-hosted by the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce and China Duty Free Group (CDFG), the star-studded evening was packed with live performances including an orchestra and renowned Chinese singers.

The Moodie Davitt Report Haikou-based Asia Pacific Content Strategist Lara Netherlands and our China Travel Retail Express Editor Dachang Wang attended the ceremony along with nearly 500 guests, including provincial and municipal government officials, representatives from partner hotels, scenic spots, airlines and media, as well as CDFG VIP members.

Invitations to the candlelit music concert were extended to the entire city through online promotions and offline poster placements.

The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Orchestra dazzled the audience with a variety of music, including Antonín Dvořák’s ‘From the New World’, Bizet’s Carmen Overture, classic Beethoven pieces and scores from popular movies including La La Land and Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence.

Attendees included Hainan Provincial Government Deputy Secretary-General Guo Zhangcheng; Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce Deputy Director Yue Yang; China Tourism Group Duty Free Corporation Deputy General Manager Zhou Lingjun; and famous actress He Hongshan (Viva Ho).

Star singers Huang Qishan and Jin Haixin performed popular songs, and the event climaxed with a rousing rendition of patriotic songs to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the cdf Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex. Through a variety of innovative concert formats, the event not only revitalised traditional commercial areas but also fostered closer connections with consumers through an array of immersive experiences, on-site interactions and consumer services.

The effect was to strengthening the allure of duty-free shopping reinforcing the complex’s unique attributes as a one-stop trendy shopping and travel destination, CDFG said.

During the festival, CDF Hainan plans to heavily promote its ‘duty-free +’ concept that seeks to widen the scope of travel-related shopping by integrating it with cultural tourism.

The festival will feature themed events such as the Third CDF Beauty Festival, the Ninth Summer Duty-Free Kingdom Travel Story, and CDF Night.

Additionally, the first double-decker flagship Lancôme store in Hainan, dubbed the Southern France Rose Garden, opened on 30 June in the Global Beauty Plaza at cdf Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex.

The dreamy and bright-pink space integrates multiple elements to create a tranquil, pure and immersive sensory experience for consumers, CDFG noted.

During the peak summer travel season, the shopping complex will host a ‘Summer Fun: Meet the Cool’ themed event, offering a range of rewards and incentives. These include discounts for island residents, special deals at the CDF canteen, live sketching experiences, self-portrait gifts for purchases, bracelet gifts for specific brand purchases, and exclusive member benefits.

CDFG’s stores at Sanya Phoenix International Airport and Haikou Meilan International Airport are also offering a range of activities to support the festival.

At Haikou Meilan, travellers can redeem a CNY150 (US$260) duty-free voucher with their air ticket. This can be combined with on-site discount activities. The retailer is also partnering with well-known liquor brands for tasting and check-in gift activities.

The Sanya Phoenix Airport store is hosting gift-with-purchase activities, allowing shoppers to participate in a prize wheel game with a 100% chance of winning.

CDF Hainan has also partnered with other travel sector stakeholders including Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor Hotels Group, 36 international resort hotels, Ctrip, Juneyao Airlines and China UnionPay to promote the festival.

CDF Hainan’s six regional stores and the CNSC store in Sanya will offer flash sales, discount promotions and gift-with-purchase activities, along with the ‘Billion Yuan Cash Coupon Giveaway’ event, distributing CNY3,888 (US$535) voucher sets to consumers through official social media platforms, strategic partner channels and outdoor advertisements. Multiple discount options are available to drive consumption.

Additionally, offline consumers can enjoy payment benefits from China UnionPay, Bank of Beijing, China Merchants Bank and Shanghai Bank, with multiple points, cashback and discount offers. The third phase of Sanya Municipal Government’s 2024 duty-free consumer voucher scheme is also being rolled out every three days, offering six categories of general consumption vouchers to address consumer shopping needs. ✈