GRANT FLEMING APPOINTED PRESIDENT APTRA

The Members of the Board of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) are pleased to announce the election of Grant Fleming, Head of Strategic Development, ASIA, Lagardère Travel Retail to the role of President with immediate effect.

The election took place following the Annual General Meeting of the Association at TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore on Wednesday 15 May at which the new 12-strong Board was

Mr Fleming, who has served on the Board since 2017, latterly as APTRA Treasurer, succeeds Andrew Ford of Chabot Armagnac.

Grant Fleming commented: “It is a great honour to be elected President of APTRA and, in taking up this important role, I commit to continuing the excellent work that has been done by my predecessors to sustain and develop the duty free & travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region.

“I wish to convey the thanks and appreciation of the Board and our 116 corporate members to Andrew, who has led the Association with energy and dedication over the last two years in addition to several years as an active Board Member. APTRA has achieved some significant successes in the field of advocacy and research and I am determined to continue the forward momentum.”

Andrew Ford added: “The work of APTRA and its sister associations is fundamental to the welfare and security of our industry. Challenges appear without warning on the horizon and we have to be ready as an industry to address them. APTRA has put in place an archive of solid research to underpin our work, including the forthcoming Economic Impact Report Asia Pacific which provides essential data about the vital role our industry plays in local and national economies. In passing the baton to Grant and the new Board, I am confident that the Association is in good hands and the progress we have made to date will be used to build the foundations for a strong and successful future.”

Prior to the start of TFWA Asia Pacific, the Association hosted a successful APTRA Airport Forum at Singapore Changi on 12 May, attended by over 40 delegates from 14 airports, which included a tour of The Jewel as the guests of the Changi Airport management. Discussions included a presentation by Kansai airport on their “Shaping a customer journey”, a summary by Stephen Hillam of NPD of the ‘Understanding Young China’ research, as well as a presentation by Teo Chew Hoon of Changi Airport on regulatory pressures across Asia Pacific.

At the content-rich APTRA KPMG Insights Seminar on 15 May, 45 delegates had the chance to engage and exchange ideas about current issues following presentations by Stephen Hillam on Understanding Young China, Anson Bailey of KPMG on Data & Innovation, and Vinoop Goel, Regional Director (Airports & Public Affairs), IATA who provided an aviation outlook for Asia Pacific.

For further information about the work of APTRA or to join the Association, please consult www.aptra.asia or contact info@aptra.asia

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About APTRA

APTRA is the trade association for the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region, serving all members and the industry to help grow the business and protect it when challenges arise.

• Through technology-led initiatives, seminars and conferences, APTRA serves to facilitate contact between members;
• Through bespoke training initiatives, APTRA is building the industry’s brand as a highly professional, caring and responsible retail channel;
• Through intensive consumer and market research, APTRA provides a solid knowledge bank, bringing valuable, actionable data relevant to all sectors;
• Through regular communication, APTRA seeks to spread awareness and knowledge about the industry and the importance of travel retail for governments, airports, airlines and related businesses;
• Through regional monitoring, and in collaboration with member companies and trade associations in other parts of the world, APTRA is constantly on the alert for new challenges where its advocacy on behalf of the industry is needed with national governments and policy-makers in order to safeguard and grow the business of all concerned.

The geographical area covered by APTRA includes countries in Eastern Asia, South Eastern Asia, South Central Asia and Oceania.

www.aptra.asia