Growing up in a small provincial city in New Zealand, I could never have suspected that one day I would spend my working life travelling around the world and experiencing different countries and cultures. Perhaps that’s why I have never lost the sense of wonder that I felt in my early days of overseas travel, nor
Miscellaneous
“Ride it like you stole it!”
On Saturday, courtesy of Welsh jewellery brand Clogau, I was lucky enough to go to a Test Match and meet the Wales Team Captain. For a proud Welshwoman, this was the stuff of dreams. But for once, I’m not talking rugby; I’m talking Arena Polo. The Moodie Report’s Claire Wates and Rebecca Mann, with Clogau’s
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Miscellaneous
Up close with Korean culture, commerce and commitment
I’m at Incheon International Airport, preparing to fly to Beijing Capital International Airport for the TFWA/APTRA China Century Conference and then on to Hainan to look at China Duty Free Group’s dazzling new Haitang Bay project this weekend. It’s been an enthralling couple of days in Seoul. Yesterday I spent quality time in the company
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Miscellaneous
Vino Volo: A story of passion, pride and people
At The Moodie Report we like to champion those companies and individuals who put passion and heart into the way they run their businesses. Few do so with such commitment as the team at Vino Volo, the fast-growing US wine bar operator and retailer. Even if you’re not a wine enthusiast, you’d find it hard
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Miscellaneous
Returning to the world’s biggest duty free market
I’m back in South Korea, the land of the morning calm, though that description seldom applies to the country’s duty free industry, which always seems to be moving at frenetic pace. The harsh Korean winter is drawing to a close though it’s still a brisk 2 degrees here in Seoul. It’s a beautiful view over
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Miscellaneous
The icing on the cake
What kindness I find in people as I move around the globe. Today is St David’s Day, honouring the patron saint of Wales. It’s also my birthday, though I’m not the patron saint of anyone. But that didn’t stop the Ever Rich Duty Free team here who staff the Huan Yu VIP Terminal so graciously
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Miscellaneous
Memories of life and death on the Kinmen Islands
The Kinmen Islands are steeped in history. They are a place of beauty but also of poignancy and sorrow. Many people died here in the first and second Straits Crises between Taiwan and Mainland China decades ago. The islands, commonly known simply as Kinmen, are a small archipelago off the coast of Mainland China administered by