This story originally appeared on The Moodie Davitt Report, our content share partner.
Melbourne Airport is marking Chinese New Year with the launch of a retail promotion starting February 5 – “Lunar Luxe.” The airport has partnered with luxury brands, lounges and hospitality venues to offer specials to travelers flying overseas.
The Lunar Luxe promotion includes offers from the airport’s Terminal 2 luxury precinct, discounts for entry to airport lounges plus added value offers on selected restaurants and cafés.
Highlights of the promotion include 20 percent off Australian-made products; 50 percent off entry to The House – Lounge; spend AU$300 and save AU$75 on selected sunglasses as Sunglass Hut; 10 percent off full-priced items at Australian Way when shopping with Alipay; a free trolley bag from Rémy Martin when spending AU$500; and 30 percent off the Valentine fragrance range at Duty Free Melbourne by Dufry.
The Lunar Luxe brochure, showing participating brands and details of the special offers.
Promotional staff are on patrol in Terminal 2 from February 5 until February 15 giving away Lunar Luxe “lucky wallets.” There is also a big prize to be won as part of the promotion; the winning traveler is set to receive a return business class trip to China in partnership with China Eastern.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Retail Andrew Gardiner said that the airport wanted to recognize Chinese New Year, as China is one of Melbourne’s strongest markets.
For the past three years Melbourne’s Chinese visitor market grew by 12.3 percent annually, higher than the Australian average of 11.8 percent.
Key market: Around 1.4 million people fly between Melbourne Airport and China annually.
Gardiner said: “Summer is also one of the busiest times for inbound passenger travel and this year forecasts predict Melbourne Airport will welcome more than 145,000 people from China between January and February, making it an ideal time to celebrate and activate the terminal.”
Throughout the promotion period there will also be a range of special performances and live music at the airport, to celebrate the Year of the Pig, which represents wealth, good fortune and prosperity.
Performers dressed as Chinese lions and wealth gods are roaming Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 2 and members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform traditional Chinese folk songs for international travelers.
