Second annual China Travel Retail Event to take place in Sanya on 8th and 9th May, 2013

World-class speaker line-up, plus more delegates and exhibitors expected for the second annual China Travel Retail conference

Today, Ink, the leader in connecting with travellers, and GIS, China’s leading events company, have announced that the second annual China Travel Retail event will take place in Sanya in Hainan Provence on the 8th and 9th of May 2013. The enlarged event follows the overwhelming success of the inaugural 2012 event inShanghai.

Over 190 delegates attended CTR 2012, and the organisers are planning to double the size for the 2013 event, with over 350 delegates expected. In addition, China Travel Retail 2013 will have a far larger exhibition with up to 25 companies already looking to take stands.

“The feedback from our first China Travel Retail conference was fantastic,” said Jeffrey O’Rourke, Ink Chief Executive. “As a launch event it has been our most successful conference ever. Not only are delegates and exhibitors already enquiring about 2013, but we are confirming very high profile speakers to address the enlarged, premium audience that will come to Sanya in May next year.”

The world-class speaker line-up and exhibition, as well as the delegates will be able to enjoy a unique behind the scenes tour of both Sanya Phoenix International Airport and China Duty Free Group’s downtown store. Sanya’s importance to China’s travel retail market is not only due to it being one of the fastest-growing airports in China with over 10.35 million passengers in 2011, but it serves Hainan Provence which the Chinese government has slated to become an “international tourist destination” by 2020.

 “China Travel Retail 2012 was the first conference we have staged where 70% of the delegates were Chinese. On the flip side, 70% of the speakers were western and as expected, both sides got a tremendous amount of value,” said Nick Tan, Founder and President of GIS Events. “The format worked superbly and the feedback has been excellent. It enabled the industry leaders, local businesses and western brands to mix, share ideas and build lasting relationships. Our launch event truly lived up to its billing of ‘East Meeting West’, and we will build on that 2013 in Sanya.”

The China Travel Retail Event in Sanya will involve a two-day conference, over 10 hours of networking events and one-to-one speed networking meetings, which were very well received by both the delegates and the airport and duty-free buyers in Shanghai earlier this year. In addition, there will be a Gala dinner on the first night where all the delegates, exhibitors and speakers will be able to mingle in an informal and relaxed environment.

For further details about the event, please go to www.chinatravelretail.com, or contact info@chinatravelretail.com.