It’s the big race day at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival and one of the most sure-fire winners in the event’s history suddenly doesn’t look so certain. That’s because in traditional Dublin style, the rain has been pouring faster than an Irish barman at opening time. The gods relented a little yesterday but
Miscellaneous
Dubai comes to Dublin
A couple of hours ago I arrived at Dublin Airport, though you could be forgiven for thinking it is Dubai International Airport. Dubai Duty Free signage is everywhere – on the luggage belts in the elegant new Terminal 2, and very prominently on the doors and walls as passengers exit to the arrivals hall.
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Miscellaneous
Escaping ‘heaven’ in Las Vegas
Vegas is some place… You just know it’s a party town when the local guide to the city’s tourist attractions, includes an advertisement for ‘Hangover Heaven’ therapy. “The good news: You’re alive – the bad news: You’re alive” the headline screams (probably very loudly in the case of sufferers). This “revolutionary new therapy” claims to
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Miscellaneous
Viva Las Vegas
I’ve arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada for the opening of the long-awaited new Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport, a US$2.4 billion extravangza that’s being decribed in local media here as a blend of glitz and hi-tech. What else would you expect of this spectacular place, fondly known as ‘Sin City’? I’m focusing on The
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Miscellaneous
Melody’s Bridal Grooming Mystery
Remarkable images are pouring into Moodie HQ of the Moodie Multi-National Marathon that has taken place all around the world in recent days. It looks like over US$400,000 will be raised for travel retail industry charity Hand in Hand for Haiti, an incredible effort from a global channel united in a common cause. A lot
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Miscellaneous
Dubai Duty Free serves up another ace
Last night, fresh off a plane from Istanbul (more of which another time!) this writer high-tailed it across London to one of the summer season’s hottest tickets: the annual WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Pre-Wimbledon Party. Looking short next to the amazing Ana Ivanovic I was a guest of Dubai Duty Free, the presenting sponsor of
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Miscellaneous
All set for a FAB-ulous time in Amsterdam
I’m writing from The Moodie Report’s (sadly) temporary bureau at the magnificent Okura Hotel in Amsterdam, where the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards kicks off in a few hours. After all the stresses of last-minute event preparations and the biggest breaking news week I can remember in the history of The
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Miscellaneous
Mann Power
Well, I did it. Yesterday I ran my leg of The Moodie Multi-National Marathon. And it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – reader, it was much, much worse. Today is no better. I’m stiffer in the hips than Gavin Henson on Strictly Come Dancing. In hindsight, my night-before preparation was perhaps
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Miscellaneous
Inspired Irish go oh so close to an almighty, All Black upset
Our competition to pick the winner (and the score) of the All Blacks v Ireland rugby international in Christchurch, New Zealand at the weekend attracted plenty of entrants but few got anywhere near the final score. All week the New Zealand media (with the exception of yours truly) had predicted that the All Blacks would
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Miscellaneous
A pint or two of the Black stuff as a wager is accepted
Aer Rianta International CEO Jack MacGowan has bravely accepted my wager on the outcome of this weekend’s rugby international in my hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand – and added a nice twist to it. As I wrote in my last Blog, this is the first rugby international to be played in Christchurch since the deadly
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Miscellaneous
A big day for the people of Christchurch but will Irish eyes be smiling?
Saturday is a very special day for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand. The city has had the heart (physical not spiritual) torn out of it over the past two years by two devastating earthquakes and thousands upon thousands of aftershocks. The Central Business District was largely destroyed by the deadly February 2011 quake and,
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Events
Let the Games begin…
As I write this Blog, we’ve just passed US$100,000 in fund-raising on the official Moodie Multi-National Marathon fund-raising site. The big event takes place on 15-18 June (with some variations, see below). That’s a lot of money for Hand in Hand for Haiti, travel retail’s own charity that not only funds, but runs, the wonderful Lycée
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Miscellaneous
Cometh the hour; cometh the Mann
They say time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies when you’re supposed to be training for a Marathon. And for most normal people, that’s anything but fun… Pleasure and pain in such close proximity… In February – just four short months ago – I blogged about my intention to run in the second