Up close and personal in travel retail
Ever Rich Duty Free is indeed, like Confucius, standing firm at 30. Firm to its values of integrity, professionalism, innovation, commitment to public welfare and dedication to the greater good laid out by Founder & Chairman Simon Chiang three decades ago.
Any requests? Something by The Moodie Blues, I suggest?
The calligrapher kindly asked me to choose a design of my choice. Admiring the bright orange hues and the lovely shape of the lettering, I made my choice. “What does it mean?” I asked. “It means ‘Write like an angel.”
Vivek told me he’s been reading The Moodie Davitt Report every day since he started in the business a decade or so ago, catching up with brand launches, product trends and, yes, my Blog.
For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see/Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be/Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails/Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales
My Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is done and I hear my gate calling like an aviation equivalent of Danny Boy’s pipes. Christchurch here I come
Gary and I have inhabited the same industry for decades (he joined Plaza Bali in Indonesia in 1991), battled at various points an identical health foe, and retained our joy for travel retail over all those years.
In my view, no airport in the world better encapsulates the much talked-about, often poorly served concept of sense of place as Taoyuan International.
My photos capture prime examples of the incredibly rapid transformation in the Kingdom. What will endure longer in my memory, however, from my journey here is the pride, passion and emboldenment of the people of Saudi Arabia and of the vision and vibrancy that underpins a startling societal and business transformation.
“What’s happening in aviation in Saudi Arabia is magnificent, and something that we all want to be part of and contribute to.”
I’m in Abha, often described as the cultural heart of Saudi’s Aseer region and I’m almost breathless, not because of the rarefied air in what is known as Abha High City (some 2,000sq m above sea level) but because of its majestic beauty.
My lengthy visit to the domestic and international zones underlined time and again not only the ambition underpinning the airport’s transformation but also the huge potential this already flourishing gateway offers.
“Welcome to Al Balad and Jeddah,” says Abir, our wonderful tour guide. “Once you come here you will never want to leave.” Take a look at my pictures and you will see why.