“Good afternoon Sir. Wow, you are someone very famous! It’s so nice to meet you.” The greeting was as warm as it was unexpected. Meet Roland Santos Gripon, a young man from the Philippines who is today manning the Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises and Millennium Millionaire prize draw desk. Was this a case
Miscellaneous
Sizing up the odds at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup
I’m holed up in The Moodie Report’s interim Dubai bureau, the stylish Dubai Duty Free-owned and operated Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. And later today, I hope to be holing out in style at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, which tees off this afternoon. More of that in a moment. I flew here via that
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Miscellaneous
All fired up for the real Dragons’ Den
Nid wy’n gofyn bywyd moethus, Aur y byd na’i berlau mân: Gofyn rwyf am galon hapus, Calon onest, calon lân. Calon lân yn llawn daioni, Tecach yw na’r lili dlos: Dim ond calon lân all ganu Canu’r dydd a chanu’r nos. Tomorrow my autumn sporting odyssey continues, and I am (literally) back on familiar ground.
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Miscellaneous
Celebrating a quarter century’s achievements in style
I’m at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, en route to Hong Kong and then London, my head a little tender after a wonderful King Power International Group 25th anniversary party and concert last night. What magnificent hosts King Power were and the concert in the exquisite Aksra Theatre was a fantastic mix of top Thai artists and
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Miscellaneous
From Br’ansk, with a little help from Benedetti, to Bangkok
Sunday This Blog starts in The Moodie Report’s latest Interim Bureau onboard Thai Airways 911 from London to Bangkok. I’m 35,000ft above Russia, just east of Minsk and heading towards Br’ansk (I wonder why the apostrophe in the word?). As I write, I’m listening to the exquisite violin artistry of Nicola Benedetti, exploring her Scottish
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Miscellaneous
A fabulous Highland Fling with Glenmorangie Dornoch
After a week in Cannes, the body – especially the liver – craves rest. Plain fare. No alcohol. Early nights. Well, scratch THAT. The Moodie Report had barely unpacked from the Riviera before heading to the Highlands for a whisky launch, courtesy of LVMH and World Duty Free Group (WDFG). Out went the stilettos and
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Miscellaneous
Nailing down a Carpenter for a very different photo shoot
What a difference (nearly) four years makes… Earlier this week I had the welcome opportunity to catch up with a long-time travel retail pal, Clive Carpenter, formerly of Hennessy and Camus Cognac fame, who now runs a thriving golf website business (www.GolfToday.co.uk), as well as dabbling in the drinks sector. Our shared love of golf, satire,
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Miscellaneous
How NOT to win ‘Foxes’ friends and influence people
On Monday night The Moodie Report was lucky enough to meet a second football legend in the space of three weeks, following David Beckham’s appearance at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. Ex-England and Real Madrid star Michael Owen was at the Tower of London in the UK to launch his two Harvey’s of Edinburgh
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Events
Come on in, grab a drink and make yourself at home
You know the saying, “There’s no place like home”? Home is a shelter from storms, where we feel most safe and comfortable, and for most of us in the travel retail industry, I’m sure there’s nothing like returning home after long trips away for work. Spending time at home is a luxury – being able
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Miscellaneous
Tumult in the land of the morning calm
This Blog begins at Incheon International Airport, as I head home after a long but exhilirating week in South Korea. This is one of my favourite airports and that of many others, as underlined by it so consistently topping the ACI ASQ rankings in recent years. Along with Dubai International, it is also one of the
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Miscellaneous
Lotte hits new heights with towering retail acheivement
You get many special days in travel retail. And then you get ones like yesterday… This Blog comes to you from The Moodie Report Interim Bureau in Seoul, where I’m battling to articulate the wondrous sights from 24 hours ago. I ‘met’ Korean acting and musical celebrities Park Shin Hye and KS Jang (below). I
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Miscellaneous
Meet Ollie – a most inspiring young man (Updated)
Meet Ollie. A most inspiring young man. Ollie is 9 years old, the nephew of Sara Stevens (sstevens@thenuancegroup.com), HR & Training Manager for The Nuance Group (UK) down in Southampton. Ollie is currently in Birmingham Children’s Hospital undergoing gruelling treatment for a rare bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma. He wants to raise money for the
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Miscellaneous
From Cannes commotion to the land of the morning calm
I begin this Blog on a glorious, balmy autumn evening in London but, in common I suspect with many TFWA World Exhibition delegates, I’m feeling just a shade less than glorious. No, not because I overdid the hospitality on the final couple of nights (although I admit to drinking a bottle or… two of some very