I’ve just returned from an enlightening and entertaining few days in Livingstone, Zambia, where the future of Africa’s airports – including their commercial activities – was the key theme of the ACI African Region Annual Assembly. In many ways, our final minutes in Livingstone encapsulated the challenges ahead for this region as well as any
Miscellaneous
Return to ‘the smoke that thunders’
The locals call it ‘Mosi-Oa-Tunya’ or ‘the smoke that thunders’, a far more evocative and beautiful name that the one this place is known by the world over: the Victoria Falls. Whatever name you give it though, a visit here – to one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World
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Miscellaneous
DAA hopes to bloom with Rose of Tralee exposure
“She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer Yet, ’twas not her beauty alone that won me Oh no! ‘Twas the truth in her eye ever beaming That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.” The 53rd annual Rose of Tralee international festival starts today (Friday 17 August), with young women
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Miscellaneous
World enjoys Dubai Duty Free’s hospitality at Ascot
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, in which the world’s top jockeys compete in teams for the trophy named in honour of the legendary Irish stallion, was held at Ascot last Saturday and attracted thousands of racegoers to one of the UK’s most impressive sporting venues. As ever, the Middle Eastern retailer’s hospitality was exemplary,
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Miscellaneous
Popping up with something new at Schiphol
It’s rare to see an airport activation or promotion that involves airport company and brand owner working in partnership with advertising, retail and food & beverage concessionaires. So when one comes along we do our best to go and see it. That’s what we did last week when we took a trip to Amsterdam Airport
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Miscellaneous
London plays the Games
With so many friends and family having tried and failed to acquire tickets for the Olympic Games in London, I feel fortunate and a little embarrassed to be at several events, thanks to an aggressive bidding strategy, the US National Olympic Committee (long story) and a lot of luck. It’s also thanks to the patience
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Miscellaneous
Memories of Danny
May 25 was the first anniversary of the tragic death of CTC-ARI Airports General Manager Danny Galvin in a road accident in Cyprus – and a year on family and friends gathered in Cork to mark the occasion. The event included a church service, a golf outing (where the top prize was the inaugural award
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Miscellaneous
Big in the Baltic
This week The Moodie Report is back in one of our favourite travel retail markets – the Nordic region – where we’re chairing the annual Nordic Travel Retail Seminar. Fittingly, in a tax free market that is so dependent on the cruise ferry trade, we’re being hosted by Tallink Group: the event itself takes place
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Miscellaneous
Who wants to be a Changi Millionaire?
Judging by our photo, quite a few people. As most delegates to the TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore this week will have discovered on their return through Changi Airport, this year’s Be a Changi Millionaire initiative was launched earlier this month, and the impact has been immediate. In Terminal 1, the new central piazza
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Miscellaneous
Paying tribute to Danny Galvin
The family of Danny Galvin, alongside his colleagues at Aer Rianta International, are finalising plans for a special memorial day to mark the anniversary of his passing. It takes place on 26 May in County Cork, Ireland and will include a charity fund-raising element. Galvin, the hugely popular CTC-ARI Airports General Manager lost his life
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Miscellaneous
The thrill of travel retail in Oslo
I’m in Oslo this week for the 21st ACI Europe Trading Conference & Exhibition, one of the key annual gatherings of the airport commercial world. And refreshingly, I’m also back in one of my favourite duty free regions: the Nordics. Many of the travel retail stores in this part of Europe still exude real excitement,
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Miscellaneous
Test of endurance on the Padang
As someone whose cricket-playing career has been mainly restricted to the grounds of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, I always enjoy seeing the game played in more exotic surroundings. My hotel here in Singapore, the Swissotel Stamford, offers a lovely view over Marina Bay, with the famous Padang – headquarters of the historic Singapore Cricket
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Miscellaneous
Munich T2: a morning commuter’s perspective
I’m in Munich for the grand reopening of Munich Airport retail subsidiary Eurotrade’s main store in its Lufthansa-dedicated Terminal 2 (above), writes Gavin Lipsith. The event last night was a grand affair, and – as the 500 supplier, partner and celebrity guests discovered – the new store is bright, spacious and well merchandised. Arguably sight