Back on the road again

by Martin Moodie |
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Martin Moodie

Martin Moodie

Martin Moodie is the Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Report.

Some seven months since I last travelled outside London, I am finally back on the road again. It’s a gentle easing back – just the two-hour train ride to Manchester – but it feels both strange and wonderful to step tentatively back into my old life after my illness.

I’m back in a hotel room set up as a temporary bureau, Springsteen playing on my iTunes. Outside my airport hotel (the excellent Radisson Blu) window I can watch the planes coasting to and from the runways.

Manchester Airport_Small

It’s a world I sometimes feared I never would return to and already I know it’s going to take some time to ease back into things. I am being cautioned from all sides that one can’t just leap back into the fray after such a prolonged medical treatment and for once I may just listen to advice.

I’m here in Manchester for The Moodie Report’s inaugural Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. It’s being held at an amazing venue – Manchester Airport’s Concorde Conference Centre, where delegates during the conference and at the Gala Dinner will sit under the iconic British Airways Concorde. It is an absolutely spectacular sight.

Concorde 1_Small

It’s a pioneering event, designed to put a much-needed spotlight on the blossoming airport F&B sector. I conceived it in 2009 and the event was originally scheduled for September 2010 until my illness intervened and we postponed to this month.

Concorde 2_Small

Travelling around the world as much as I have over the past few years, it’s clear that there has been a quiet revolution in airport F&B standards. But for all the innovative, high-quality outlets there are also too many that are frankly substandard, over-priced or which offer poor service.

FAB aims to champion the former and help eradicate the latter. It should be a compelling couple of days. And boy, is it good to be back…

MM Concorde_Small

  • Please ease back to work slowly, and remember to take time to, smell the flowers, enjoy the wine and most important, make the most of friends and family.

    If your heading to Asia be sure to contact me.

  • This is wonderful to hear. Though we don’t communicate very often, I want you to know you are in our thoughts here at Smile Train. As a matter of fact, we just received your Moodie Report in the mail today and wanted to reach out. Shell and Monica (along with all the Smile Train international staff, including Meg) are currently in NYC for a big Smile Train meeting. They all wish you their best. Stay strong and be well.
    Warm regards, Karen

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