Welcoming the most heart-warming Smile of all

I can think of no better way to close out the year than this heart-warming story from The Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity. Five years ago in Hong Kong, The Moodie Report (together with Hugo Boss) hosted our first Charity Ball. The beneficiary was The Smile Train and the night was rendered unforgettably

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Why Taiwan Taoyuan International is, for me, the best airport in the world

“We offer multiple service facilities and create a life circle in an international airport, allowing passengers a brand new airport experience.” – Ever Rich I am often asked, both by newspaper journalists and industry colleagues, to name my favourite airport. It’s a tough question. On what criteria do you base your answer? Operational efficiency? Quality

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It was Christmas Eve babe

It was Christmas Eve babe In the drunk tank An old man said to me, ‘Won’t see another one’ And then he sang a song The Rare Old Mountain Dew And I turned my face away And dreamed about you – Fairytale of New York, The Pogues And Christmas Eve indeed it is, all over

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A tale like no other in travel retail

What a brilliant day here in Taiwan. This morning, accompanied by Ever Rich Vice Chairman Kevin Chiang, and two of his managers, Allen Yu and Claire Ma, I took the drive to Yilan county, about an hour’s drive from Taipei. There Ever Rich has bought a huge parcel of land near the seafront, where it

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Towering achievements in Taiwan

I’m in Taipei on my last business trip of what has been a long, tiring but exhilirating year. I’m here to meet the management from Ever Rich DFS, to prepare a coffee table book on the company’s 18th anniversary (an auspicious landmark in Chinese culture), which they celebrate in 2013.  Those celebrations kick off in

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What’s cooking at Jonathan Holland & Associates?

While most people let their hair down with a glass of bubbly for the Christmas celebrations, the team at Jonathan Holland & Associates (JH&A) this week rolled up their sleeves – with spatula in hand – and donned aprons to whip up their own Christmas feast. But this isn’t your regular cookout or potluck –

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Clogau’s Christmas spirit glows on festive fun run

You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town The big man in red (no, I don’t mean George North) came to town a little early yesterday, courtesy of the annual Festive Fun Run in Llandudno, North Wales, which raises funds for

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Miami nice: A salute to Juan

I may just have been served by one of the nicest sales people I have ever encountered in a duty free store. The encounter happened at Miami International Airport Concourse B, just beforeI took a Virgin Atlantic Airways flight to London Heathrow. As always I decided to peruse the duty free shops, all run here by Duty

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DFASS puts the icing on the cake

The Moodie Report’s temporary Miami bureau is in full production mode and comparing this view and temperature with what faces me when I return to wintry London overnight, I might just make this a permanent base. It’s been a great week here in Florida, starting with my visit on Tuesday to Orlando International Airport to see

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On the rocky road to Dublin

I’m writing this from 35,000 feet… 34,000 feet…. 34,450 feet…. We’re over the Atlantic Ocean and Virgin Atlantic Airways flight 15 has been bumping around like some crazed rodeo ride for the past 45 minutes. Looking around the cabin, people are trying to put a brave face on things but there are more green faces

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Outlook ‘fine’ in Dubai at the Pinkie Pairs

in·frac·tion (n) – The act or an instance of infringing; a violation. Word reaches The Moodie Blog of strange goings on at the annual ‘Pinkie Pairs’ golf tournament played in Dubai to coincide with the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) conference and the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup. The tournament, organised by Premier Portfolio, has become

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Scoring football’s biggest goal of all

“No child should have to live on the streets.” So says Julián Díaz, CEO of Dufry, which today announced it is to sponsor the next Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in March 2014. And so (should) say all of us. In a world where so many of us live in comfort and

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Why I remain (always) the man in black

Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day, And tell the world that everything’s OK, But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back, ‘Till things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black – Johnny Cash 48 hours later, it’s time to take off the dark sunglasses. To come out of

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