DDF and Ctrip sign strategic partnership in China

Dubai Duty Free has signed a strategic partnership with C-Trip to promote Dubai Duty Free to C-Trip's customers travelling to Dubai from China. The partnership agreement was signed at C-Trip's offices in Shanghai and the ceremony was attended by senior officials from both companies including Mr Ramesh Cidambi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Duty Free and Ms. Christine Zhang, Senior Vice President of C-Trip.com and CEO of C-Trip Global Shopping.

C-Trip is the leading Chinese online travel agency with over 300 million active members worldwide, and one out of every five tickets purchased by Chinese nationals for travel abroad is bought from C-Trip. Dubai Duty Free is the world's number one travel retailer in a single location with sales of $1.93 billion in 2017 and serving customers at the world's biggest airport for international passengers.

The agreement reflects the importance of the Chinese traveler to Dubai Duty Free as they account for nearly 15 percent of DDF sales while being around 4 percent of the passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport. Customers of C-Trip will enjoy a 5 percent discount (on a wide range of items and terms and conditions apply) when shopping at Dubai Duty Free and this particular promotion will run until end of 2018.

Dubai Duty Free's partnership with C-Trip started during a meeting at the 'Dubai Week in China' event in October 2016. This event aimed to increase the cooperation between companies in Dubai and China for their mutual benefit.

Commenting on the partnership, Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin said, "Our team up with C-Trip has been very successful, and we strongly believe that through this initiative we are able to interact directly with travelers before they fly and help them make informed purchasing decisions at Dubai Duty Free. "

Ramesh Cidambi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Duty Free said at the signing ceremony: "I am very pleased to be here in Shanghai at the C-Trip offices and sign this agreement. We believe that our strong partnership with C-Trip will benefit thousands of C-Trip customers that will travel to Dubai each year and shop at Dubai Duty Free".

Representing C-Trip, Ms. Christine Zhang, Senior Vice President of C-Trip.com and CEO of C-Trip Global Shopping said: "We are pleased with our partnership with Dubai Duty Free and who have provided C-Trip members with an excellent shopping experience in the past, and we are glad that our members will continue to enjoy these exciting facilities and offers brought upon by this partnership."

Also present at the signing ceremony in Shanghai, China was Dubai Duty Free Vice President – HR Service Delivery, Mona Al Ali and Assistant Manager – Resourcing and Manpower Planning, Sunshine Bian together with C-Trip's Michael Liu - Executive VP/Global Shopping CEO, Scarlett Xing - Regional Business Director, Shuo Zhang – PR in Charge of C-Trip and Ruby Lan - Account Manager of DDF in C-Trip.

Dubai Duty Free looks forward to deeper integration between its marketing plans and C-Trip's reach with the Chinese customers to better service this important market over the next three years.