APTRA appoints Kavanagh Communications as new communications partner

Singapore 19 February 2020 APTRA (Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association) announces the appointment of Kavanagh Communications to lead their communications with media and members. Long established in Travel Retail as a specialist communications consultancy for the channel, Kavanagh Communications represents several organisations within the Travel Retail industry including brands, retailers, airports, architects and retail designers across airport, cruise and inflight sectors.

Grant Fleming, President of APTRA, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Anne and her team as partners of APTRA.  Their global experience across the broad spectrum of Travel Retail is highly respected and will be a strong asset for us as we embark on the new decade with an ambitious plan for APTRA. We also offer our sincere thanks to Kate Appleton from Appleton Communications for her PR support, ideas and commitment, serving APTRA for over 10 years.”

The team at Kavanagh Communications will manage media relations and support the APTRA Executive team with several new initiatives including the launch of a new website, a knowledge bank research library, an increased focus on specialist seminars and round tables for members, as well as a new members’ network portal,

APTRA is focused on its strategic pillars of knowledge, networking and advocacy, the latter being supported by Hume Brophy as public affairs partner, working, for example, on key regulatory issues such as the recent Indian duty free allowance situation, and on positioning the value of the travel retail industry to GDP and employment in the region.

Grant continues. “In 2019 The World Economic Forum reported that Asian economies in 2020 will become larger than the rest of the world combined, for the first time since the 19th century – the last golden era for the region. To put this in perspective, Asia accounted for just over a third of world output in 2000. This is also a region with a fast-paced changing regulatory landscape across a large, dynamic geography.  Hence it’s important to review our internal resource and processes to start and shape the APTRA team more poised to support our members achieve their potential in the new decade.”

About APTRA
The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is a membership organisation whose vision is to represent all members of the association and to strengthen, nurture & protect the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region. APTRA’s membership comprises airports, retailers and brands, which is unique and adds richness to the association’s work. APTRA’s territory spans over 42 countries in Asia Pacific.

APTRA strengthens the knowledge base of the industry by supporting members through meaningful research, knowledge share, networking opportunities and advocating the industry when facing regulatory challenges. Commissioning relevant market research is one of the quality outputs of APTRA, the results of which are disseminated exclusively to members through private seminars, networking workshops and the Association website. APTRA is on the alert constantly for legislative and regulatory challenges which may impact the duty free and travel retail industry. Working with members, fellow trade associations and related agencies, APTRA engages with governments and policy-makers to facilitate a deeper understanding of the industry’s pivotal role in local communities, employment, travel infrastructure and the economies of the region.

For trade information please contact:
APTRA
Christina Oliver
Executive Director
Tel: +65 91697741
Email: [email protected]

For media enquiries please contact:
Kavanagh Communications
Email: [email protected]