Not surprisingly perhaps, The Moodie Report has always had a soft spot for family businesses. So we’re delighted to see one of travel retail’s most dynamic retailers, Gassan Diamonds, recognised as the Best Family Business in the Netherlands (CEO Benno Leeser is pictured above, centre, collecting the award). In a world where corporate giants dominate,
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Miscellaneous
Bond and Bollinger add to Schiphol’s licence to thrill
Bollinger (left) builds on the Bond theme at Schiphol Over the past three years Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s reputation as one of Europe’s most consumer-friendly airports has risen dramatically. That’s partly on the back of Schiphol Group’s investment in infrastructure – which continues soon with a partial redevelopment of Lounge 1 and a planned overhaul of Lounge
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Knock on Wood (three times): Hat trick hero hunts for Foxes
This is getting expensive. But boy do we love it… The goal-scoring carnage continued on Saturday at Leicester City Football Club (The Moodie Report’s adopted English football team) as the Premiership-seeking team known as ‘the Foxes’ routed Bristol City 4-0. The Moodie Report is donating US$50 to The Moodie Report Foundation (dedicated to funding cancer
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A thank you from Becky Edwards
A nice message arrived last week from Becky Edwards, daughter of Alan, that wonderful industry friend who passed away suddenly last September. Alan’s death prompted an amazing outpouring of love and grief on the comments section of our main website. As mentioned previously, this proved of rich comfort to his mum Cynthia. Becky asked me
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Toasting a man of true spirit
I couldn’t be more delighted to hear of John McDonnell’s promotion to President, International at Patrón Spirits. Since joining the tequila-to-liqueur company in January 2005, John has driven its remarkable emergence on the global stage – notably in travel retail where it has gone from virtual non-entity to one of the channel’s most ever-present, well-regarded
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Kiwi takes flight as Foxes run wild
A flying Kiwi and eleven Foxes on the rampage. That was the dramatic scenario at The Moodie Report’s officially adopted English football club, Leicester City, on Saturday as the promotion-chasing Championship team routed Huddersfield Town by 6 goals to 1. As reported, Leicester City is owned by Asian Football Investments, a Thai consortium led by
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Welcoming the most heart-warming Smile of all
I can think of no better way to close out the year than this heart-warming story from The Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity. Five years ago in Hong Kong, The Moodie Report (together with Hugo Boss) hosted our first Charity Ball. The beneficiary was The Smile Train and the night was rendered unforgettably
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Why Taiwan Taoyuan International is, for me, the best airport in the world
“We offer multiple service facilities and create a life circle in an international airport, allowing passengers a brand new airport experience.” – Ever Rich I am often asked, both by newspaper journalists and industry colleagues, to name my favourite airport. It’s a tough question. On what criteria do you base your answer? Operational efficiency? Quality
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It was Christmas Eve babe
It was Christmas Eve babe In the drunk tank An old man said to me, ‘Won’t see another one’ And then he sang a song The Rare Old Mountain Dew And I turned my face away And dreamed about you – Fairytale of New York, The Pogues And Christmas Eve indeed it is, all over
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A tale like no other in travel retail
What a brilliant day here in Taiwan. This morning, accompanied by Ever Rich Vice Chairman Kevin Chiang, and two of his managers, Allen Yu and Claire Ma, I took the drive to Yilan county, about an hour’s drive from Taipei. There Ever Rich has bought a huge parcel of land near the seafront, where it
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Towering achievements in Taiwan
I’m in Taipei on my last business trip of what has been a long, tiring but exhilirating year. I’m here to meet the management from Ever Rich DFS, to prepare a coffee table book on the company’s 18th anniversary (an auspicious landmark in Chinese culture), which they celebrate in 2013. Those celebrations kick off in
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What’s cooking at Jonathan Holland & Associates?
While most people let their hair down with a glass of bubbly for the Christmas celebrations, the team at Jonathan Holland & Associates (JH&A) this week rolled up their sleeves – with spatula in hand – and donned aprons to whip up their own Christmas feast. But this isn’t your regular cookout or potluck –
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Clogau’s Christmas spirit glows on festive fun run
You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town The big man in red (no, I don’t mean George North) came to town a little early yesterday, courtesy of the annual Festive Fun Run in Llandudno, North Wales, which raises funds for