Fifty years ago this week Robert Miller and Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney opened an office and showroom to service their fledgling duty free business in Hong Kong. Tonight, the company they founded – DFS – is set to mark its 50th anniversary with a very special event in Hong Kong. As our photo shows, this afternoon
Miscellaneous
Making a difference at MIS-HIT
The annual Moodie International Superstars Honorary Invitation Tournament – affectionately known as The MIS-HIT – isn’t only notable for the wide variety of golf swing on show among the players. It’s also remarkable for the depth of generosity and humanity among the people that play in it. After this year’s event, played in glorious sunshine
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Miscellaneous
Don Navarro lights up Pernod dinner
The Pernod Ricard Travel Retail dinner is a highlight of Cannes week for any tired and emotional trade hack, and this year was no exception. Held at the Hotel Carlton’s Salon de la Cote, this year’s event saw the usual mix of fine food, copious spirits and engaging conversation. And while the supplier’s Head of
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Miscellaneous
Autogrill’s new era…and a lovely tribute
“This is our first official gathering as two teams united in one vision and in one project.” The words of José Maria Palencia, who heads the combined WDF-Aldeasa travel retail organisation, as he welcomed guests to the Autogrill-owned company’s cocktail party on Monday night in Cannes. Palencia paid tribute to the group’s brand partners, and
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Miscellaneous
An emotional evening for John Sutcliffe
John Sutcliffe, one of the most respected and influential executives in travel retail, was the subject of a special celebration from industry colleagues on Sunday night at the Carlton Hotel. Sutcliffe is retiring from his post as Aer Rianta International-Middle East Managing Director at the end of the year. At midnight last night, many of
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Miscellaneous
Anglo-German partnership captures MIS-HIT trophy
The Anglo-German partnership of WDF CEO Mark Riches and Gebr Heinemann Co-Owner Gunnar Heinemann captured the annual Moodie International Superstars Honorary Invitation Tournament – affectionately known as The MIS-HIT – yesterday. A field of 24 industry colleagues from across the world took part in the event, now in its ninth year. It took place amid
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Miscellaneous
A deep breath before a wild week
The Moodie Report team has once again taken up residence in our Riviera apartment opposite the Palais, as Cannes prepares itself for TFWA World Exhibition 2010. As the picture shows, the finishing touches are being put to the facade of the Palais for this year’s event, as Sunday night’s opening draws near. Arriving here
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Miscellaneous
Fine food: shame about the football
Fine food and football: two essential ingredients of a balanced, fulfilled existence. Both were available in abundance to guests of Delaware North Companies at their suite at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night, although at very different levels of quality. The Moodie Report was fortunate enough to be among guests of the ambitious F&B operator to
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Miscellaneous
Catching up with Usain Bolt
The Moodie Report and our friends at Delaware North Companies last weekend managed where the world’s top sprinters have so often failed: we caught up with Usain Bolt, Olympic 100-metre champion and the world’s fastest man. On Sunday, The Moodie Report was a guest of Delaware North’s UK division at Wembley Stadium for the Community
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Miscellaneous
‘Mentorship’ momentum
The ‘Mentorship Experience’ might not trip lightly off the tongue as a phrase, but based on the openings weeks of the concept’s installation at Dubai International Airport, it’s a project that could pave the way for future ‘Trinity’ style industry collaboration. In brief, this new initiative between Diageo GTME, Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Airports
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Miscellaneous
Raising the bar at Belfast
HMSHost’s new-look food & beverage offer at Belfast City Airport, which was launched at a special event this week, hits some real high notes for the all-important qualities of newness and Sense of Place, we believe. The Autogrill-owned concessionaire, which crucially, has an investment-friendly 10-year contract at the airport, unveiled a new Harvest Market concept,
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Miscellaneous
Dubai Duty Free backs another winner
In the months and years to come there will be many a good reason to look back with fondness on this year’s running of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, which took place at The Curragh in Ireland’s County Kildare on Sunday. First, there’ll be the great sporting memories. Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is a
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Miscellaneous
Qatar Airways answers China’s call
It’s almost two years to the day since China Duty Free Group launched a worldwide industry appeal to aid the victims of the terrible earthquake in Sichuan Province in May 2008 – a disaster that killed 70,000 people and left 300,000 injured. The earthquake was the catalyst for the creation of the China Duty Free