"[Working with SimpliFlying] has expanded our minds, opened our eyes and showed us what to do in concrete, practical, and tangible terms. We see the benefits not only to ourselves but to our members as well." - 
"SimpliFlying has a great balance - providing strategic insights and directions while maintaining a down-to-earth attitude in guiding LAN in strategy implementation. Justifying our investment to senior management was not difficult." - 
"The SimpliFlying MasterClass was a combination of trends and insights from the industry, as well as tailor-made topics designed to help Lufthansa progress to the next level of customer engagement. By having every management level participate, Lufthansa achieved great results in regards to 'social status' and loyalty, which was one of the key topics." - 
"At Estonian Air, we always look for partners who can bring innovation and good ideas, with the ability to execute. With Simpliflying, we get exactly that." - 
![[Presentation] Airport travel retail, in the Age of the Connected Traveler #trinity2013](http://simpliflying.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Featured.png?dbce70)
I had the great opportunity to present for the first time at the Trinity Forum 2013, which was in its 10th year, and organized by the Moodie Report. And I was honored to deliver a presentation on the topic of how airport travel retailers need to win, in the age of the Connected traveler. Today’s travelers have the ability to compare prices instantly using their smartphones, and check-in online so they arrive at the airport late, all while being connected to the internet. The real competition for airport retailers then becomes Amazon and eBay, not necessarily the high-street.
I shared examples of airports like Gatwick, where travelers can scan QR codes at a Tesco-powered display and get groceries delivered to their home when they returned. I also emphasized the need for airport retailers to stock exclusive products to the region. For example, airports in Africa can stock Milart Designer Bead jewelry, rather than just run-of-the-mill stuff. And finally, my advice was not to get bedazzled by by the slew of initiatives they may see in the retail world, and to maintain focus.
You may view photos from the event over on our Facebook page.
The presentation was well received, and below are a few tweets from the Forum.
@simpliflying hammering home why airports and retailers MUST engage with social media #Trinity2013 http://t.co/FxWRoBSz
@TheMoodieReport
The Moodie Report
@simpliflying research has shown that 75% of smartphones connect to free airport Wi-Fi; airports charging for Wi-Fi missing out #Trinity2013
@APEXjon
Jon Norris
#trinity2013 the #future of #social #media is not about #fans but about FANtastic #customer #service
@PortlandDesign
Portland
I’ve seen many of Shashank’s presentations – but this was one of his best … good job! #Trinity2013 @simpliflying
@APEXjon
Jon Norris
Shashank Nigam
CEO at SimpliFlying
Shashank Nigam is the CEO of SimpliFlying and a globally sought-after consultant, speaker and thought-leader on airline branding and customer engagement strategy. He is also the youngest winner of the Global Brand Leadership Award and has addressed senior aviation executives globally, from Chile to Canada and from Sydney to San Francisco.
Shashank's perspectives have found their way into major media outlets, including CNN Travel, CNBC, MSNBC, Bloomberg UTV, Mashable and in leading publications like Airline Business, ATW, Aviation Week, and others.
Shashank studied Information Systems Management and Business Management at Singapore Management University and Carnegie Mellon University. Hailing from India, he splits his time between Singapore and Vancouver, among other cities.
Latest posts by Shashank Nigam (see all)
- Want your new route to make headlines? Bring Richard Branson on-board, like AirAsia X did in Perth! - May 14, 2013
- Influencer marketing comes of age in aviation – American Airlines Klout and Eindhoven Airport Facebook VIP in focus - May 9, 2013
- What does SimpliFlying stand for? Thinking Differently about aviation marketing (and lessons from Simon Sinek) - May 1, 2013
