One thing we should never stop applauding in this business is ambition. I’m not talking the naked, money-lusting form but ambition in its purest form as in the desire or aspiration to achieve something, to be better. Over the past two days I have twice witnessed exactly the right sort of ambition in Singapore, firstly
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Miscellaneous
From browser to shopper, the Benefit way
I’ve dropped into Hong Kong en route to Singapore to attend one of the great events on the travel retail calendar, DFS Group’s Masters of Wines & Spirits, which opens tomorrow. Today I lunched with the dynamic, well make that effervescent, Beatrice Charreire, Global Travel Retail Director for LVMH-owned Benefit Cosmetics, a brand which has
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Miscellaneous
How Sonny Bill Williams transcended sport
Very occasionally, things happen in sport that transcend it. Moments that are about more than skill, teamwork, iron will or ultra-competitiveness. Moments that stand apart from the excitement, the fans’ emotions, and the whole unscripted (and often unscriptable) drama that great sport can offer. Such a moment happened on Saturday after the Rugby World Cup at
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Miscellaneous
Indian tee planters and Irish divots at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup
Having decided I could no longer inflict any more damage on the golf courses of Dubai at the recent Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, I sat out the second day. Instead I did my best David Attenborough impersonation and caught up with some local wildlife instead. Some of it, as you will see, was
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Miscellaneous
Grubby journalism raises the trans-Tasman sporting stakes
I hate to say I told you so… but I told you so. Now imagine if we lose. In the immortal words of Captain Oates (tweaked a little), “I will just go outside and may be some time…”
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Miscellaneous
Black or gold? Either way it’s the hope that kills you
[Eden Park in 2011 as black trumps gold. But four years is a long time in sport.] Now don’t get me wrong, I have many Australian friends in the business, right? Some of the best airport commercial executives I know, friendly suppliers, outstanding retailers, great family-owned companies such as Evelyn Danos’s JR/Duty Free. All top
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Miscellaneous
A get well message to our beloved Herr Flick
Some of The Moodie Report team, notably myself and Dermot Davitt, are well-known faces in the travel retail industry. But there are also a number of vital people behind the scenes who make the Moodie organisation tick. One such individual is Jon Elphick, Chief Sub-Editor since December 2003. Jon is responsible for policing (and, believe me,
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Miscellaneous
Looking beyond the human mask
Celine was very unhappy indeed. As my long-time industry friend Rakhita Jayawardena asked for two glasses of late-night, show-closing Champagne at his hotel (one of Cannes’ finest) on Thursday, bartender Celine was having none of it. “The bar’s closed.” No smile, in fact a frown like vinegar, then she turned her back on us to continue cleaning
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Miscellaneous
All Black magic and a serious case of the blues
One down, two to go. No I’m not talking about days at the Cannes show, I’m talking Rugby World Cup, of course. Outnumbered hopelessly by the French and (mainly French-suppporting) neutrals at Ma Logan’s Irish bar on Saturday night, I made a fair fist of raising Kiwi decibel levels to volumes as thunderous as the sound
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Miscellaneous
Cannes miracle workers ensure the show must go on
I’ve one of the early arrivals for this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. As always, we’ve set up The Moodie Report’s Interim French Riviera Bureau in our apartment just opposite the Palais (look out for our blue banner adorning the balcony) and are getting ready for a big week. Last night I enjoyed the
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Miscellaneous
A toast to the day when Rémy once more met Martin
(From The Moodie Report.com, February 2012) Every year, bar one, I have sat down at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes and chatted to Beauté Prestige International (BPI) President Rémy Gomez. It is an annual meeting I look forward to eagerly – with its humour, humanity and insight a welcome antidote to so much that
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Miscellaneous
Helping Beverly beat the bully: Why every action counts
Meet Beverly Walker Johansson. Many of you will know her already. Beverly (‘Bev’) was one half of the great wife and husband team that made up the wonderfully named Imagination Unlimited International with her husband Lars, the driving force behind the extraordinary duty free success of Canada’s Inniskillin IceWine through the late 90s and early
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Miscellaneous
An intriguing construction sight at Geneva Airport
Genius. If you’re having to build out a new dining outlet in a working airport, don’t apologise, make a virtue out of it. Welcome to the Under Construction Cafe. I’m at Geneva Airport and pretty soon this place will look very different as the latest incarnation of the successful Montreux Jazz Festival food & beverage