London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 is absolutely humming. It’s about 8.45 p.m. on a Thursday night and this incredible melting pot of humanity is seething with activity. And while many of its passengers are sitting quietly waiting for their flights (above) many others are spending up large in T3’s stores and food & beverage outlets,
Airports
Pushing for proof of identity
Credit where credit’s due. Autogrill Lanka has withdrawn the controversial flyer (as in pamphlet, not passenger) at Colombo Bandaranaike Airport that sparked my recent Blog, A questionable question of authenticity. Readers will remember that I criticised the flyer (given out at the retailer’s Arrivals duty free store), which was headlined ‘Are you buying a genuine
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Miscellaneous
A colourful time in NYC with ck one
There were cocktails on the roof terrace of the Standard. A private gig by Dev. An achingly trendy hotel in NYC’s Chelsea district. And male models in their underwear (I saved the best till last). The occasion? The official reveal of the hotly-anticipated ck one color collection, from Coty Prestige. The make-up is being introduced
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Events
Bringing it all back home
It was far more than a rugby match. It was a coming home. Last night in my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand, a city devastated by two major earthquakes over the past two years and more than 8,000 aftershocks, regional franchise the Crusaders celebrated their long-awaited return by beating the South African Cheetahs 28-21.
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Events
Welsh wizard turns into marathon man
Qatar Duty Free senior consultant Alan Edwards (above, in white lamb’s wool socks) has become a marathon man on a mission. The popular Welsh travel retail executive is in dragon slaying, sheep chasing, leek munching, daffodil plucking, Grand Slam winning mood as he prepares to run the Virgin London Marathon on 22 April. He’s also on
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Miscellaneous
Test of endurance on the Padang
As someone whose cricket-playing career has been mainly restricted to the grounds of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, I always enjoy seeing the game played in more exotic surroundings. My hotel here in Singapore, the Swissotel Stamford, offers a lovely view over Marina Bay, with the famous Padang – headquarters of the historic Singapore Cricket
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Events
Cordon Bleu comes home
Royalty were there; some of the biggest names in French and European cinema were there. There were fireworks aplenty and the grand old Hôtel de Paris was lit up spectacularly in the night with brand imagery. The folks at Martell sure know how to throw a party. The occasion, as previewed in an earlier Blog, was
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Miscellaneous
Munich T2: a morning commuter’s perspective
I’m in Munich for the grand reopening of Munich Airport retail subsidiary Eurotrade’s main store in its Lufthansa-dedicated Terminal 2 (above), writes Gavin Lipsith. The event last night was a grand affair, and – as the 500 supplier, partner and celebrity guests discovered – the new store is bright, spacious and well merchandised. Arguably sight
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Events
Honouring one of the world’s great Cognacs
Hey I know the business has been performing strongly but a Monaco bureau for The Moodie Report? And in the famed Hôtel de Paris? Well, yes actually (can you make me out through the third window from the left? I’m the very sad person on the keyboard), though unfortunately for only one day. I’m here
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Miscellaneous
Changi: in a league of its own
I’m writing this in Singapore, my home for the next week as I make progress on our special publication to mark Changi Airport’s 30th anniversary and the renovation of Terminal 1. When travelling, my colleague Martin Moodie is fond of opening a new bureau in whatever country he finds himself in, but I am unable
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Miscellaneous
The heeling power of Heathrow
As the peak f&c launch season gets into its stride, The Moodie Report is once again on the road – and in the air. I write this Blog somewhere above the Atlantic, en route to New York City: one of my favourite places on the planet, alongside Louboutin HQ in London and, of course, Cardiff’s
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Airports
New WHSmith branding gets the nod of approval
Great reaction from London Gatwick Airport to my recent Blog on the impressively revamped news and books offering from WHSmith called London News Company and London Books Company. This is what I wrote: This is what a news-to-books (with plenty inbetween) store should look like. Bright, accessible, a good mix of products, clearly segmented, a
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Miscellaneous
St. Patrick’s Day becomes the longest day for Irish fans
One of the great days in the international rugby calendar is the annual Six Nations match between Ireland and England – not least in recent years (for those us in the green camp) because of Ireland’s tremendous record both home and away against the Old Enemy. Last Saturday (St. Patrick’s Day, as it happened) brought