MBA graduate nabs Millionaire chance at Changi Airport

SINGAPORE, 13 August 2012 – The second finalist of Changi Airport’s ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’ 2012 campaign hails from Shanghai, China.  Ms Sun Ming (孙明), 27, had completed her postgraduate studies at international graduate business school INSEAD in Singapore, and was on her journey home in late June, when she shopped at Changi Airport.  As a result of this shopping excursion, Ms Sun wrapped up her four-month stint in Singapore on a high note, gaining more than her MBA degree. 

Before boarding her China Eastern Airlines flight back to Shanghai on 24 June, Ms Sun bought S$280 worth of Estee Lauder and L'Occitane beauty products at the Perfumes and Cosmetics store at Terminal 3.  “I usually shop for perfumes and cosmetics at Changi Airport.  The prices of cosmetics here are really competitive, compared to both downtown stores in Singapore, as well as in Shanghai.  Plus, Changi offers a much wider range of products compared to other airports,” she said.  Her purchase turned out to be the winning ticket that could lead her to a million-dollar windfall.

 In early 2013, Ms Sun will join five other finalists at the ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’ Grand Draw for an exciting finale to determine which of them would win the grand prize of $1 million.  Organised by Changi Airport Group (CAG), ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’ has made two lucky shoppers overnight millionaires with its annual grand prize of S$1 million since the promotion’s debut in 2010.

 Ms Sun, who is currently a management consultant with an international firm, credits her boyfriend for her amazing piece of good fortune.  “I was about to give the lucky draw a pass, but my boyfriend, who was with me then, urged me to submit my entry.  Who would have thought I’d actually win, out of so many thousands of people that pass through Changi Airport every day!” she said.

 Ms Sun was at the hair salon when she received the call from CAG informing her about her win. “I was halfway through getting my hair permed, and I thought I must have heard wrongly.  But then I sort of remembered filling up the lucky draw entry.  So when I went home, I did some research online and found all the relevant information about the Millionaire Draw.  Besides, I have a good impression of Singapore as a country, and decided this must be real!” said Ms Sun.

 Should she be so lucky as to win the grand prize of a million dollars, Ms Sun would realise her dream to own a property, bring her family to a vacation to South America, and donate a portion to charity.  For now, Ms Sun is refraining from counting her chickens before they are hatched.  “I try not to think too much about it.  I have a one-in-six chance and that’s pretty good, but I don’t want to be disappointed, so I’ll celebrate only if I do win the big prize. Regardless of whether I win eventually, I already feel very lucky to be a finalist!” said Ms Sun.

 China is Changi Airport’s fifth largest source of passenger traffic, accounting for about 9% of total traffic at Changi.  For the first six months of 2012, Chinese nationals contributed 25% to total concession sales at Changi Airport. Their top three favourite product categories by sales include liquor and tobacco, perfumes and cosmetics, and luxury goods.

 During the six-month ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’ promotion which runs from 12 May to 11 November 2012, one finalist will be drawn each month for participation in the Grand Draw. Each finalist wins a cash prize of S$5,000 each, with return airfare to Singapore (for non-Singapore residents) plus a two-night hotel stay. For more details of ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’, please visit www.changiairport.com/millionaire.