I hate to say I told you so… but I told you so. Now imagine if we lose. In the immortal words of Captain Oates (tweaked a little), “I will just go outside and may be some time…”
Miscellaneous
Black or gold? Either way it’s the hope that kills you
[Eden Park in 2011 as black trumps gold. But four years is a long time in sport.] Now don’t get me wrong, I have many Australian friends in the business, right? Some of the best airport commercial executives I know, friendly suppliers, outstanding retailers, great family-owned companies such as Evelyn Danos’s JR/Duty Free. All top
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Miscellaneous
A get well message to our beloved Herr Flick
Some of The Moodie Report team, notably myself and Dermot Davitt, are well-known faces in the travel retail industry. But there are also a number of vital people behind the scenes who make the Moodie organisation tick. One such individual is Jon Elphick, Chief Sub-Editor since December 2003. Jon is responsible for policing (and, believe me,
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Miscellaneous
Looking beyond the human mask
Celine was very unhappy indeed. As my long-time industry friend Rakhita Jayawardena asked for two glasses of late-night, show-closing Champagne at his hotel (one of Cannes’ finest) on Thursday, bartender Celine was having none of it. “The bar’s closed.” No smile, in fact a frown like vinegar, then she turned her back on us to continue cleaning
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Miscellaneous
All Black magic and a serious case of the blues
One down, two to go. No I’m not talking about days at the Cannes show, I’m talking Rugby World Cup, of course. Outnumbered hopelessly by the French and (mainly French-suppporting) neutrals at Ma Logan’s Irish bar on Saturday night, I made a fair fist of raising Kiwi decibel levels to volumes as thunderous as the sound
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Miscellaneous
Cannes miracle workers ensure the show must go on
I’ve one of the early arrivals for this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. As always, we’ve set up The Moodie Report’s Interim French Riviera Bureau in our apartment just opposite the Palais (look out for our blue banner adorning the balcony) and are getting ready for a big week. Last night I enjoyed the
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Miscellaneous
A toast to the day when Rémy once more met Martin
(From The Moodie Report.com, February 2012) Every year, bar one, I have sat down at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes and chatted to Beauté Prestige International (BPI) President Rémy Gomez. It is an annual meeting I look forward to eagerly – with its humour, humanity and insight a welcome antidote to so much that
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Miscellaneous
Helping Beverly beat the bully: Why every action counts
Meet Beverly Walker Johansson. Many of you will know her already. Beverly (‘Bev’) was one half of the great wife and husband team that made up the wonderfully named Imagination Unlimited International with her husband Lars, the driving force behind the extraordinary duty free success of Canada’s Inniskillin IceWine through the late 90s and early
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Miscellaneous
An intriguing construction sight at Geneva Airport
Genius. If you’re having to build out a new dining outlet in a working airport, don’t apologise, make a virtue out of it. Welcome to the Under Construction Cafe. I’m at Geneva Airport and pretty soon this place will look very different as the latest incarnation of the successful Montreux Jazz Festival food & beverage
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Miscellaneous
Rum moments in Madrid at Botran’s birthday bash
On Wednesday night in Madrid, Guatemalan rum brand Botran celebrated its 75th anniversary and what an occasion it was. The Moodie Report’s Helen Pawson and Sarah Genest made the trip to toast the milestone along with VIP guests including Spanish socialite Genoveva Casanova and Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute. Surrounded by hundreds (if not thousands) of