In 1958, Aldo Vastapane created the first duty free shop at Brussels Airport Company; a humble incarnation of a retail concept that only existed at Shannon Airport in Ireland. What a beautiful image, so evocative of an age gone by.
Miscellaneous
In defence of Frontier and DFNI
“Media coverage is rarely without bias, especially in the B2B press.” Says who? What a shoddy, Trump-esque ‘fake news’ generalisation.
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Airports
Time to Split after a tough couple of days
After an horrendous couple of days. it’s time to split. As in get the hell out of the UK and as in fly to Split.
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Miscellaneous
Saying no to journalism’s grey market
Plagiarism? Let’s just call it what it is. Theft.
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Miscellaneous
Saluting true Kiwi spirit
Here’s a toast to the spirit of Christchurch and of New Zealand. And to a local gin that disproved the belief that Kiwis can’t fly.
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People
Accepting differences in a divided world
Billie’s Book focuses on basics such as truthfulness and generosity, and highlights the importance of accepting differences in opinions, faith, and choices.
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Miscellaneous
Determined to stay uncomfortable – in and out of the heat
London (my home) and much of England is broiling like a garlic chicken basted in onions and mushroom, with a lashing of hot chilli peppers thrown in.
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Airports
Flames at HQ, typhoon in Taipei
My original Worldwide Headquarters back in West London is looking more interim than permanent after my neighbour decided to light a bonfire at the back of his garden on Saturday. During a heatwave. As you do.
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Miscellaneous
Shake-up time in travel retail media
Its banner claim, ‘The Genuine Market Leader’, is an affront to the Trade Descriptions Act.
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Miscellaneous
This changes everything: Towards a smoke-free, duty-free world
It potentially turns a deeply troubled category into a resurgent one. For once our industry is (positively) disrupting itself, rather than playing the role of passive disruptee.
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Miscellaneous
Heading home from my Jeju journey
What a beautiful island Jeju is, full of natural wonder, history (some of it dark and poignant) and culture. It is known as a healing place, somewhere to take stock of life’s pressures and priorities.
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Miscellaneous
Welcome to Korean duty free 2018-style
It’s a simple formula. The demand exists in China, it is fulfilled in Korea. Welcome to Korean travel retail 2018-style. It is like nothing you will see anywhere else.
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Miscellaneous
Korean duty free – no place for the faint-hearted
Shinsegae Duty Free has been in my view travel retail’s most impressive newcomer of recent times and based on their current momentum will be a top ten industry player in the near future.