One of the highlights of last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival was a charity ball hosted by the retailer on Friday night at the K Club. It was a fantastic evening for a fantastic cause – Irish Autism Association – at which all of us were reminded just how lucky we are compared
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Miscellaneous
Tight for time in Southampton
Southampton Airport has been my preferred departure point from the UK since I moved to Dorset two years ago, but I have never had a chance to review its commercial offer. That’s because I rarely spend more than half an hour there, so efficient is the passenger processing. That efficiency makes it an ideal airport
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The Moodie Tipster ‘looking for new challenges’
The Moodie Blog regrets to report that it has parted company with The Moodie Tipster, who is “seeking other opportunities”. As readers of this Blog will know, the Tipster, who insists on strict anonymity when advising our readers on their betting selections, called Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby disastrously wrongly. Going against all sane racing
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Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day boilover?
It’s the big race day at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival and one of the most sure-fire winners in the event’s history suddenly doesn’t look so certain. That’s because in traditional Dublin style, the rain has been pouring faster than an Irish barman at opening time. The gods relented a little yesterday but
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Dubai comes to Dublin
A couple of hours ago I arrived at Dublin Airport, though you could be forgiven for thinking it is Dubai International Airport. Dubai Duty Free signage is everywhere – on the luggage belts in the elegant new Terminal 2, and very prominently on the doors and walls as passengers exit to the arrivals hall.
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Escaping ‘heaven’ in Las Vegas
Vegas is some place… You just know it’s a party town when the local guide to the city’s tourist attractions, includes an advertisement for ‘Hangover Heaven’ therapy. “The good news: You’re alive – the bad news: You’re alive” the headline screams (probably very loudly in the case of sufferers). This “revolutionary new therapy” claims to
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Viva Las Vegas
I’ve arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada for the opening of the long-awaited new Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport, a US$2.4 billion extravangza that’s being decribed in local media here as a blend of glitz and hi-tech. What else would you expect of this spectacular place, fondly known as ‘Sin City’? I’m focusing on The
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Melody’s Bridal Grooming Mystery
Remarkable images are pouring into Moodie HQ of the Moodie Multi-National Marathon that has taken place all around the world in recent days. It looks like over US$400,000 will be raised for travel retail industry charity Hand in Hand for Haiti, an incredible effort from a global channel united in a common cause. A lot
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Dubai Duty Free serves up another ace
Last night, fresh off a plane from Istanbul (more of which another time!) this writer high-tailed it across London to one of the summer season’s hottest tickets: the annual WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Pre-Wimbledon Party. Looking short next to the amazing Ana Ivanovic I was a guest of Dubai Duty Free, the presenting sponsor of
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All set for a FAB-ulous time in Amsterdam
I’m writing from The Moodie Report’s (sadly) temporary bureau at the magnificent Okura Hotel in Amsterdam, where the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards kicks off in a few hours. After all the stresses of last-minute event preparations and the biggest breaking news week I can remember in the history of The
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Mann Power
Well, I did it. Yesterday I ran my leg of The Moodie Multi-National Marathon. And it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – reader, it was much, much worse. Today is no better. I’m stiffer in the hips than Gavin Henson on Strictly Come Dancing. In hindsight, my night-before preparation was perhaps
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Inspired Irish go oh so close to an almighty, All Black upset
Our competition to pick the winner (and the score) of the All Blacks v Ireland rugby international in Christchurch, New Zealand at the weekend attracted plenty of entrants but few got anywhere near the final score. All week the New Zealand media (with the exception of yours truly) had predicted that the All Blacks would
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A pint or two of the Black stuff as a wager is accepted
Aer Rianta International CEO Jack MacGowan has bravely accepted my wager on the outcome of this weekend’s rugby international in my hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand – and added a nice twist to it. As I wrote in my last Blog, this is the first rugby international to be played in Christchurch since the deadly