"Globe shoppers", for whom shopping is a fundamental part of their travel experience, are one of the most important tourist groups. According to a recent Global Blue survey, 82% of Chinese outbound travellers said that shopping is their preferred activity at destination. Globe shoppers are so important that the retail industry at destination simply calls them tomorrow's customers.

Globe shoppers are particularly important to the luxury goods industry. According to the chairman of LVMH, 50% of luxury goods are sold in relation with travel and Global Blue has evidence that globe shoppers spend four times more on average than local customers on the high streets.

China was the top globe shopper nation in terms of tax-free spending and growth in 2011. Given the fact that Chinese outbound travel is expected to double by 2020, globe shopping spending by Chinese tourists has plenty of room to increase. Taiwan is well-positioned to benefit from this trend. Taiwan's luxury landscape has changed drastically in recent years following the opening of direct flights from China, which has led to the sharp increase in the number of Chinese tourists and numerous new luxury hotels and flagships stores to serve them. This has made Taiwan more attractive and competitive as a luxury destination compared to Hong Kong and Singapore. Retailers and hospitality industry players operating in Taiwan, particularly luxury brands, therefore have great potential to benefit from this trend in terms of increased revenues and profits.

However, Chinese shoppers are sophisticated. Global Blue released its Global Blue Dossier in 2011, which gave valuable insights into the growing complexity of Chinese Globe Shoppers based on extensive research of the available data. In this special lunch, our speaker will give an overview of the main findings of the dossier and insights into the latest globe shopper figures and trends. Among other topics he will talk about:

‧    Who the top 10 shopper nations are, how much they spend and how fast spending is growing
‧    Where Chinese tourists are shopping and what they are buying
‧    What is more important to globe shoppers: Price, Brand or Service?

About the speaker
Nigel Dasler is the Vice President of Business Development in the Asia Pacific region for Global Blue, a traveller services company that operates in 42 countries with more than 270,000 affiliated retailers, brands and banks around the world. Global Blue has a two-fold mission: to help merchants improve their globe shopper business and to help travellers to shop better and cheaper at destination. Dasler's experience ranges from heading global relationships for international luxury brands, like Burberry and Harrods, to being responsible for Global Blue's UK operations. He has been based in Asia Pacific since August 2011 and has wide government and travel industry engagement throughout the region. Through his work, Dasler has gained expertise in international traveller shopping habits and how retailers and tourism bodies can target these valuable visitors to attract increasing foot traffic and expenditure.