There’s lots of innovation and newness and plenty of store and food & beverage openings, of course. But there’s also a refreshing willingness to try different, even risky things.
Travel
A flying Kiwi once more
This is the closest I’ve got to Hainan since before the pandemic. Where’s my parachute when I need it?
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Travel
Feeling the buzz – and appplying the Max factor
“We were comfortable before as an industry, surfing a good wave… now we aim to be the best at what we know and become great at what we might not yet know.”
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Events
Just a (kinda oldish) kid with a crazy dream
If you’d offered me 20 years back then I would have, as they say, bitten your hand off. Probably, without sounding too cannabalistic about it, your arm, elbow and shoulder too.
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Travel
Baby steps in Hong Kong as Dr. Duty Free’s clinic opens
Don’t punish the airlines for circumstances beyond their control. As long as appropriate documentation was provided and properly checked at the departure airport how can the airline be held to account?
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Miscellaneous
Of long beaches, dense forests and topical tropical nonsense
I suspect that another beautiful island off a nation’s south coast could so with such an economic stimulus. Offshore duty free in Tasmania anyone?
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Events
Show time… from a distance
It almost feels like déjà vu looking at my colleagues’ daily update from Florida with the usual show diet of exhibitor photos, workshop speeches and social gatherings. Almost. Some of the exhibitors are wearing masks, something we would have considered weird at the equivalent show in 2019.
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People
None shall sleep: How Khun Vichai’s legacy will be remembered forever
I shall never forget the scene at The Trinity Forum in Shanghai when the 550-strong audience stood as one to honour Khun Vichai, a giant photo of him beamed out while the mournful lament of Bill Fay’s ‘The Healing Day’ played.
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Quirky
So what’s in a (very, very long) name?
Yes, the story veered just a microscopic degree away from being true. Admittedly we are talking a very large microscope. But it was April 1, after all.
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Airports
Announcing World Airport Shopping Day (well, maybe)
Soon afterwards, a gorgeously green World Cucumber Day full and fruity Hendrick’s gin tapestry dazzled readers, who could have been forgiven for not knowing whether to drink or read us.
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People
A farewell to Boris Romantschenko – survivor of the Holocaust but not of Putin
Boris Romantschenko died in a new world. But one in which the very antithesis of the peace and freedom that he stood for reigned. This strongest and bravest of survivors deserved better than that.
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People
How Martin’s Block thrived through a pandemic
The flourishing of Martin’s Block coincides pretty much entirely with the sustained period of the pandemic. A beautiful reminder of the halcyon days that preceded this descent into a world covered by a deep black cloud.
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Lifestyle
The greening of Twickenham
I can think of no better way to kick off the week in which Irish people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) than with a stirring rugby victory over England in Twickenham. Being there in person on a lovely spring afternoon on Saturday made the moment all the more special. Along with