Driving blips, thinned chips, and putting yips aside, though, what a couple of days it has been. The hospitality of Dubai Duty Free is on such a level that you not only feel treated and privileged but also humbled.
Blog
Events
Hair today and gone tomorrow at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup
I predicted he would shoot the lights out the next day. And he did, an errant drive on the front nine flying into the car park and smashing the headlamp of a Lamborghini.
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Fashion
Shortening my odds for the Dubai Duty Free World Golf Cup
It doesn’t do wonders for your golfing confidence when you see your coach hurriedly put up a ‘Closed’ sign on the door and hide behind a golf bag when you pull up into the car park outside.
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Events
All black in Dublin but all good in Dubai’s Turmeric Open
I know the Irish founded the duty free industry but I didn’t realise they a) still populated it in such quantity and b) all had my phone number.
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Airports
Take a break KitKat (and take a bow)
Is this the most productive airport retail space in the world by sales per square metre?
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Airports
On location in Oman, a country of contrasts
Before travelling to Muscat this week for the inauguration of the new airport terminal and Muscat Duty Free stores, I mentioned to a few people that my next trip was to Oman. Even those who knew a little about this Gulf state struggled to conjure up an image of the country and its place in
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Airports
Shop windows on the world at Paris CDG
The most important marketing tool in the armoury of any physical store is the shop window. Be creative and colourful and blend art, design and fashion, and you’ll stop people in their tracks. Be drab, grey and lifeless, and they’ll walk on by. Amid increasing pressure from e-commerce, those messages have never been as important.
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Miscellaneous
Writing around the clock in beautiful Busan
By the time my first coffee kicked in, I had big stories on the boil from the USA (14 hours behind) and Brazil (11 hours), and news in from New Zealand (four hours ahead). All I need is a store opening from Kiritimati and I could (almost) report on yesterday, today and tomorrow simultaneously.
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Events
Zàijiàn Shanghai, annyeong-ha-seyo Busan
So, Zàijiàn Shanghai, annyeong-ha-seyo Busan. Another Trinity Forum done. Time for a moment to be, as it were, free of duty.
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Events
Sleepless in Shanghai but tremendous in Trinity
“Can you swap out the decaff for Ristretto (Nespresso’s short, strong version) please?” Give me strength. I need it.
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Miscellaneous
“In Khun Vichai, the world has lost a great man”
Khun Vichai was a man not simply of great achievement but one of compassion, grace and humility. He gave then gave again to all manner of causes, big and small.
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Events
High times at Happō-en as IQOS changes everything
Here was PMI CEO André Calantzopoulos cast in an almost messianic role, treating an audience of influencers, journalists, business partners and company executives to a catwalk-style reveal of the new IQOS product lines. Versace, Dior, Chanel, Apple, eat your hearts out.
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Events
From Novosibirsk to Nespresso, Lost in Translation in Tokyo
Lost in Translation? The story of my life. As Irving Berlin said, “I got lost but look what I found.”