The Moodie Report’s temporary Korean Bureau is about to close after a pleasant two day stay at the Korean Air-run Hyatt Regency Incheon, just a few hundred yards from Incheon International Airport. As the picture above shows, I have a room with a view – in fact a view of what was rated the world’s best
Airlines
Watch this (inflight) space
South Korea’s national carrier Korean Air continues to acheive remarkable milestones for its inflight retail business. Last year sales rose by nearly +18% to over US$200 million and Vice President Heather Cho is projecting strong single-digit growth again this year, despite the weakening Korean Won. I took lunch with Heather Cho and her Inflight Sales
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Miscellaneous
Welcome to Paradise
“Welcome to Paradise.” You Young-Sub, the President of Paradise Duty Free must have used the same greeting many times down the years but it has lost none of its warmth. Mr You (pictured with Director Merchandising Department Jin-Mo Kim below) welcomes me warmly to the Paradise Duty Free hotel and shopping complex in the southern
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Miscellaneous
Entering Paradise
The Moodie Report is in South Korea, beginning with a long overdue visit to one of the industry’s most acclaimed downtown duty free retailers, Paradise Duty Free, in Busan, right on the south coast (above). As I write, it’s midnight local time and the waves of the Pacific are crashing in on the beach outside
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People
The Loveliness of the Long-Distance Runners
This BLOG is dedicated to two outstanding men, who have just completed marathon efforts, both literal and metaphorical, in supporting very important causes. Their names are Paul Hogan (above) and Phil Burdekin. The former is a publisher of various industry titles, including those of ACI Europe as well as the excellent show dailies at the duty free
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Airports
Case study closed – (Terminal trouble at T5… continued)
“Mr Moodie, we have good news for you. Your suitcase has been located here in Miami and we’ll be sending it to you right away as we know you’ll be leaving tomorrow.” Gloria, the kind lady from British Airways’ handling agency at Miami International Airport, was bringing the case of the missing case to a
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Miscellaneous
Dillard’s man becomes Macy’s man… Terminal trouble at T5 continued
And so it goes… The Duty Free Show of the Americas comes to an end in Fort Lauderdale today. The 40th anniversary event was another success and as always the IAADFS put on a well-organised exhibition and array of social gatherings. The industry must count itself fortunate that IAADFS and not British Airways organises this
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Airports
A traveller’s tale – (‘Terminal trouble at T5’ continued)
Another day, another visit to the local department store to buy some more clothes here in Fort Lauderdale. Another day without my suitcase, still missing from BA 209 on Saturday (see earlier BLOG – ‘Terminal Trouble at T5’). Another day of wondering if there is any intelligent or caring life form left at British Airways.
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Airlines
Terminal trouble at T5
“Do you mind if I take a photo of my suitcase? It’s just in case anything goes wrong, I want to be able to describe it at the other end.” The check-in woman at British Airways in London Heathrow Terminal 5 gave me a quizzical but understanding look. “No problem,” she said. But there were
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Miscellaneous
Low-key beginning belies ambitions for Shanghai T2
The low-key opening of Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal 2 late last month belies the huge ambitions that Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA) has for the terminal, the airport and for Shanghai as an aviation hub. Speaking at the opening of last week’s Trinity Forum, SAA President Wu Nianzu said: “We are making every effort to develop Shanghai