How Hong Kong's former airport is redefining retail as lifestyle infrastructure—and what it means for the industry

Twenty-seven years after its final flight, Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport is preparing for a different kind of landing—one that challenges every assumption about what makes retail destinations work. In this episode 🎙️, Maya speaks with Christine Montard, Director of Markets and Events at IADS, about her firsthand visit to Kai Tak during the 2025 IADS General Assembly in Hong Kong. Christine breaks down the HK$100 billion transformation across three major developments—Kai Tak Mall's "sportainment" model, Airside's sustainability-driven "culturetainment," and IADS member Lifestyle International's The Twins dual-tower complex 🏢. 👉 Click here to learn more in the full Kai Tak Exclusive! For more updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iads.substack.com/subscribe