A post-Cannes boost

If you can’t come to Cannes, bring Cannes to you. That was the spirit behind a hugely enjoyable lunch last Saturday in London as I caught up with a delegation from the King Power (Hong Kong) team, Centaur Travel Retail’s Rakhita Jayawardena and Peter Sant, Managing Director of Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail. (Left to right):

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Blue is the colour…but Nivea is the name

Attention to detail is often what differentiates average from outstanding – which bodes well for the Nivea brand, which unveiled its new travel retail strategy at last week’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. As previously revealed on The Moodie Report.com, the Nivea brand’s travel retail presence is set to grow worldwide, following the creation earlier

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Making a difference at MIS-HIT

The annual Moodie International Superstars Honorary Invitation Tournament – affectionately known as The MIS-HIT – isn’t only notable for the wide variety of golf swing on show among the players. It’s also remarkable for the depth of generosity and humanity among the people that play in it. After this year’s event, played in glorious sunshine

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A personal salute to a great Irish Rover

Today’s formal announcement of John Sutcliffe’s forthcoming retirement as Managing Director of Aer Rianta International-Middle East is no surprise (he gave long notice both to the company and his many friends in the business) but it still cannot be allowed to pass without comment. Make no mistake about the significance of the moment – one

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Don Navarro lights up Pernod dinner

The Pernod Ricard Travel Retail dinner is a highlight of Cannes week for any tired and emotional trade hack, and this year was no exception. Held at the Hotel Carlton’s Salon de la Cote, this year’s event saw the usual mix of fine food, copious spirits and engaging conversation. And while the supplier’s Head of

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Autogrill’s new era…and a lovely tribute

“This is our first official gathering as two teams united in one vision and in one project.” The words of José Maria Palencia, who heads the combined WDF-Aldeasa travel retail organisation, as he welcomed guests to the Autogrill-owned company’s cocktail party on Monday night in Cannes. Palencia paid tribute to the group’s brand partners, and

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A belated cheers to life

It’s all a French conspiracy. Not only can I not be in Cannes this year, but my first post-gastrectomy efforts to drink some wine to celebrate my return home were foiled by Gallic disasters. So relieved was I to be out of hospital last Friday evening that I decided to road-test my new internal plumbing

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An emotional evening for John Sutcliffe

John Sutcliffe, one of the most respected and influential executives in travel retail, was the subject of a special celebration from industry colleagues on Sunday night at the Carlton Hotel. Sutcliffe is retiring from his post as Aer Rianta International-Middle East Managing Director at the end of the year. At midnight last night, many of

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Anglo-German partnership captures MIS-HIT trophy

The Anglo-German partnership of WDF CEO Mark Riches and Gebr Heinemann Co-Owner Gunnar Heinemann captured the annual Moodie International Superstars Honorary Invitation Tournament – affectionately known as The MIS-HIT – yesterday. A field of 24 industry colleagues from across the world took part in the event, now in its ninth year. It took place amid

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A deep breath before a wild week

  The Moodie Report team has once again taken up residence  in our Riviera apartment opposite the Palais, as Cannes prepares itself for TFWA World Exhibition 2010. As the picture shows, the finishing touches are being put to the facade of the Palais for this year’s event, as Sunday night’s opening draws near. Arriving here

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A little welcome clarity from Clinique

The day before any big press-day is never easy – the day before your annual Cannes issue closes is stressful enough to see most journalists run low on lucidity. Thankfully, for this writer, a little clarity was on offer pre-press day last week at the swish Dorchester Spa, courtesy of Clinique and the launch event

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Fine food: shame about the football

Fine food and football: two essential ingredients of a balanced, fulfilled existence. Both were available in abundance to guests of Delaware North Companies at their suite at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night, although at very different levels of quality. The Moodie Report was fortunate enough to be among guests of the ambitious F&B operator to

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Toasting the collective spirit of travel retail

Tomorrow, the Thursday before the TFWA World Exhibition, I would normally depart for Cannes, playing a couple of rounds of golf with industry friends before the show begins. Like all of us, I probably take – or took – for granted, the enjoyment, conviviality and pleasant surrounds of Cannes. Not any more. I have been

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