I don’t know what my year will bring, either personally or professionally. But I embark on the 24th year of The Moodie Davitt Report with hope in my heart, clarity in my vision and determination to make a difference in anything I and we do.
Quirky
Mundo Fantástico da Sardinha Portuguesa – where “the sardine is queen”
I ended up buying two more tins, each bearing the birth years (most definitely not to be revealed but clearly I knew what was on their Christmas fish-lists) of my wife Yulim and The Moodie Davitt Report Publisher Irene Revilla
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People
In memory of Roopa, a Mitti Café and travel retail heroine
Roopa and Bhairappa’s love story was of two people who found strength, dignity and joy in each other. Two hearts that showed all of us that love has no barriers, no labels, no limits.
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Airports
Discovering a show-stopping Spanish brandy at Alicante Duty Free
A nightcap was called for, Torres 15 Reserva Privada Imperial Brandy to be precise. But could I open the unusually shaped top? It looked like a simple enough exercise but the only thing that was simple was my bafflement. Without giving the game away, the technique is what Bob Dylan might call A Simple Twist-off Feat.
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Events
Get yourself down to El Gordo, ‘Asia Pacific Travel Retail HQ’, for a Sinead Especial, the best Taco in town
November is lung cancer awareness month. Harry responded by launching ‘The Sinead Especial’, a sublimely tastebud-tempting taco based on some of my daughter Sinead’s favourite ingredients. How about that?
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People
Discovering Nomad’s land and bumping into an old friend in Alicante
When I spied him at the British Airways desk, I noticed Peter was checking in his golf clubs. “What did you need those for?” I asked, a fair question, I thought, given I had played golf with Peter on a couple of occasions at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup.
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Airports
Flying Kiwi meets Travelling Omelette with a drop of Penderyn in between
My palate might not have been best attuned to sipping whisky at that hour of the morn but a combination of the TREX status, the renowned quality of Penderyn and Lee’s persuasiveness overcame my admittedly feeble resistance.
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Events
Spending time in Ystradgynlais but no Tick Tock to be heard
Where once, the town was synonymous with the Wagnerian thunder of ironworks and coal mines, now you’re more likely to hear the soothingly sweet symphony of birdsong from 70 species of feathered friends.
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Events
Battening down in Hong Kong as Super Typhoon Ragasa rages
When the Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 10 Hurricane Signal, I reckon if I had stepped outside I wouldn’t have needed British Airways – I would simply have been blown to London.
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Miscellaneous
Time for the reign of cats and dogs in travel retail
Luxury brands, including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Celine, Gucci, MCM, Prada and Tiffany & Co. are all offering pet products, ranging from dog bowls to waterproof coats to cotton fleece hoodies. And yet in the whole travel retail world there is just a solitary pet accessories store.
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Travel
Bidding a fond and perhaps final farewell to my Whānau and my homeland
So good is the wine and food combo that I’ve almost forgotten last night’s catastrophic rugby result. I said almost.
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Travel
Nau mai, haere mai – welcome to the Land of the Long White Cloud
Over some succulent oysters and a pan-fried snapper so fresh it was practically flapping on the plate, washed down with fine Man O’ War Estate Chardonnay from the island and back-lit by a sublime beach, sea and sky view, it was an unforgettable moment in time.
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Miscellaneous
Welcome to The Discovery Channel, travel retail style
“We are reinforcing the ability of this channel to become a destination to discover newness… with things consumers do not yet find anywhere else.”