NEWS ROUND-UP
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has been named as the first WeChat Pay Smart Airport location in Europe. The flagship WeChat Pay Smart Airports
DFWC launches training academy for travel retail
The Duty Free World Council officially launched the first DFWC Academy course during the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore. The online learning platform, which is
supported by TFWA, Dufry Group and Dubai Duty Free, creates programmes for professionals working in the DF&TR industry. It will also be promoted elsewhere to encourage new entrants to pursue a career in the sector. All courses will be fully accredited
by recognised learning institutions and take into account the characteristics and challenges facing the industry. The Academy plans to develop courses to
certificate, diploma and degree standards catering to the development needs of people at all levels within the industry. Introducing the Academy during the
Asia Pacific summit, DFWC President Frank O’Connell said it is ‘global, industry- wide, online 24/7 and cost effective’, with webinars supporting the programme. The courses are being developed by a
team of academic and travel retail experts working with the Institute of International Retail (IIR), an international organisation with global retail and training expertise. The IIR will manage the day-to-day operations of the academy. Derek Hughes of the IIR said: “If we
motivate our employees, they are more likely to empower our organisations and see travel retail as a career path. “People ask: ‘what if we train people and
they leave?’. “I ask, ‘what if we train people and they stay’?” he added.
Schiphol becomes WeChat Pay Smart Airport Chinese tourists can also receive coupons
for preferred currency exchange rates and discounts. Dave Fan, Senior Director, WeChat Pay,
platform already exists at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan. In a European airport first, travellers
including Chinese can benefit from three services from the Chinese mobile payment provider: WeChat Official Account, WeChat Mini Program and WeChat Pay instore. The Mini Program in particular allows
travellers to pre-order and pay for goods across a number of categories such as beauty, fashion, watches & jewellery and Dutch souvenirs for collection at the airport without the hassle of browsing and queuing to pay at checkout. WeChat Pay experience zones at the
airport provide assistance to Chinese travellers through the platform’s integration into the mobile payment network, which exists in more than 49 overseas territories.
Hanwha exit re-ignites downtown licence debate
The ripple effect from Hanwha Group’s planned closure of its Seoul duty free departure store is likely to intensify competition within an already crowded market vying for possible new licences. Hanwha Galleria Timeworld, the
subsidiary of Hanwha Galleria, announced in April it would end its Galleria Duty Free 63 business in Seoul this September. The South Korean Government via the Korea Customs Service (KCS) will now have
to decide on the next steps for Hanwha’s vacated duty free shop licence. TRBusiness understands the Government
and KCS are in the midst of an internal process to decide on that outcome, with two or three downtown licences rumoured to be under consideration. However, it is as yet unclear whether
those will materialise. Sources close to TRBusiness offered mixed views on the impact, with some agreeing it would influence a decision to issue more licences, while others were more sceptical. “The Government needs to see if it can
transfer it or if there is another opportunity (to re-issue the licence),” said one source. “I don’t see much impact. There are a lot
of companies; the market will grow.” The company opened its Galleria Duty
Free 63 store, which offers rich views of the Han River and Seoul, in 2016.
commented: “This launch of the WeChat Pay European Flagship Smart Airport at Amsterdam Schiphol is another important milestone for WeChat Pay to establish its ecosystem in Europe.”
BOSS.COM
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