Less than 48 hours after the Oscars triumph of Smile Pinki, the documentary set in India that tells the story of a little girl with a cleft whose life is transformed by surgery funded by The Smile Train, we received this note from a delighted Brian Mullaney, Co-Founder and President of the charity. It tells
Miscellaneous
Smile Pinki wins Oscar glory…
Incredible. Just incredible. As I write, in the early hours of the morning London time, Smile Pinki has just won the Oscar for Best Short Documentary at the 2009 Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The true story of a young Indian girl with a cleft lip and palate, directed by American filmmaker Megan Mylan, beat
Read More
Events
“They all call me Pinki now”
It could be a big night for India at the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday evening. While most eyes will be on Slumdog Millionaire’s bid for the Best Picture Award, a few hours earlier a less celebrated but perhaps more important film, also set in India, will have its own chance of glory. I’m talking
Read More
Airports
Nuance-Watson (HK) says ‘Can do, no fear’
Would you buy a travel exclusive set from this very keen saleswoman? I know I would. Note the body language; the receptive, listening and attentive posture. Note the way she has the traveller’s eyes directed to the value message. This is a sale you just know is going to be made. Of course, this is no ordinary salesperson
Read More
Miscellaneous
Jameson rolls out the green carpet
Of all the brands in the Irish Distillers stable, Jameson has always had the most recognisable ‘international’ voice. That’s no accident: when Irish Distillers was created in 1966 to band together the remaining products in a badly faltering Irish whiskey industry, Jameson was carefully positioned to appeal to the overseas consumer, with Paddy and Power’s more often the choice of
Read More
Airports
Mercedes Manuel model guarantees automatic success in Mumbai
I am sure that Diageo India Managing Director Asif Adil (pictured above) has many tough days at the office like all of us. But you have to admit that he looks like a man who enjoys his job immensely in this picture of him launching a spectacular new retail promotion at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Adil
Read More
Airports
Delivering a travel tonic in New Delhi and Abu Dhabi
Last week’s travels reminded me (again) of just why I love this job so much. Not only did I visit two great places, New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, but in both instances I saw progressive forces within the industry doing their best to champion quality and partnership. The sort of stories that make any self-respecting reporter want
Read More
Airports
DFS and Sharaf make their mark in Abu Dhabi
The Moodie Report stopped off briefly in transit at Abu Dhabi International Airport earlier this week, en route to New Delhi and the unveiling of the commercial tenders for the new Terminal 3 by Delhi International Airport Limited tonight. We were just hours too early to see the new T3 at Abu Dhabi International, which
Read More
Airports
Bargain basement with Bushmills back label
En route to New Delhi on Sunday, via Abu Dhabi International Airport, I flew – as usual – out of London Heathrow Airport. I spend a lot of time at Heathrow and just about know every centimetre by heart. Generally the retailing is of a good standard but Terminal 3’s once stand-out liquor section is looking tired
Read More
Airports
Terminal 3 x two – on the road again
As a bitterly cold snap clamps England in its grip – the heating is turned up full in The Moodie Report Worldwide Headquarters (above) – it’s time to head to warmer climes. I’m flying out tonight to New Delhi to witness the marketing launch for the duty free tender at Indira Ghandi International Airport’s new Terminal 3.
Read More
Events
Supporting the DFNI Charity Ball
This year’s annual DFNI Charity Ball (to be held on 27 February in London) is dedicated to a fine cause – The Jim Corbett Environmental Primary and Junior School, Patrani in India. The school was nominated as the recipient of this year’s fund-raising by World Duty Free, Alpha Retail and Aldeasa Business Relations & External Affairs Director
Read More
Miscellaneous
Mirroring despair – then joy
It’s sometimes easy to grow weary of charities, weary of giving. All of us are blitzed from all sides with requests for donations to countless good causes. Maybe some of you feel that way about The Smile Train, the cleft charity which we and others in travel retail have so championed over the past two