Question: Does travel retail need to become more eco-friendly? Answer: In an age where oil is tipping the US$100 a barrel mark, where rates of fuel burn are a major issue, and where more and more travellers are becoming aware of the impact on their activities on the planet, the answer has to be a
Airports
Regulatory intervention at Heathrow
“Excuse me Sir, can I ask you where you’ve just come from?” Dismissing as unwise a curt reply to the effect of “No, you can’t sorry, I’m in a hurry,” I smiled nervously at the Customs officer at Heathrow Airport and wondered what it was that had attracted his attention on this day after I
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Airports
And I’ll be a World Rover, no never, no more…
The Moodie Report is more used to writing about best-sellers in duty free than being one of them. So imagine our excitement at spotting a beautiful display for a limited-edition version of our book ‘The World Rovers’ at Dubai Duty Free this month. The book, co-authored by Dermot Davitt and yours truly Martin Moodie, tells
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Airports
A (wash)Room with a view
The folks at the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have thought of everything in creating the ultimate consumer experience at the long-awaited new Terminal 3. It’s a spectacular place, spacious, futuristic and user-friendly all in one. We were given a sneak preview of the terminal by CAAS Director (Commercial) Lim Peck Hoon this week and we
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Airports
The good, the bad and the ugly
A quick return trip from London to Madrid the other day offered interesting contrasts between some of the stores in London Heathrow T1 and Madrid Barajas T4. Generally Heathrow and Madrid count among the better exponents of airport retailing but my experiences last week showed that our sector can get it badly wrong as well as thrillingly
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Airports
Savouring the spirit of partnership
Cask 811. It’s a name that promises to be on more than a few malt whisky lovers’ lips in 2008. The cask in question hails from the beautiful Isle of Islay – the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’ as it is often dubbed. It currently resides in the dank warehouse of Morrison Bowmore Distilers, where the air is filled
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Airports
Avoiding the perfect storm
Just when it all seems to be going wrong, it all goes right. Airport construction delays, the now all-too familiar LAGs restrictions, a sharp decline in passenger numbers driven by the country’s pull-out from an important regional carrier (Gulf Air) and even – yes, you read it right – a Middle East cyclone. It all
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Airlines
A Regal journey
This Moodie BLOG comes to you from the lounge at Frankfurt Airport, 7 hours into a unique travel retail journey from New York JFK Airport to Singapore Changi. I’m travelling with the Pernod Ricard Asia travel retail team, Managing Director Alexandre Ricard and two of his senior team, Patrick Castanier and Gloria Song. And one
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Airports
Quivering at inflight security
It’s little wonder that we have an aviation security crisis when you see what some passengers try to take onboard. The transparent disposal bins at many airport security points always make fascinating viewing and it’s amazing how many passengers still seem to think it’s fine to take scissors and pocket knifes onboard, let alone the odd litre
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Airports
True style knows no boundaries
One of the nicest, most tasteful stand-alone stores The Moodie BLOG has encountered in recent times is at Madrid Barajas Airport. It’s an absolutely delightful Carolina Herrera store that lives up to the designer’s oft-stated motto ‘True style knows no boundaries or generations’. Where so much airport retail is loud and unsubtle, this store is understatement epitomised.
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Airports
Just another day at Dubai Duty Free
Every picture tells a story. Or in this case a myriad of stories. Our image was snapped early on a Saturday morning at Dubai International Airport as we rode up the escalator towards the gate. The picture captures the incredible throng of people and the sheer buzz that constantly pervades the retail area at Dubai
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Airports
All Black in the investment community?
Kia Ora. The Maori greeting beckons arriving passengers into Auckland International Airport – ‘where New Zealand touches the world’. World Cup Rugby fever has struck here. As one alights off the plane at Auckland Airport the Air New Zealand walkway features giant-sized photographs of members of the country’s famous, iconic rugby team, the All Blacks
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Airports
A six-pack with a difference
Bahrain Duty Free has sold plenty of six-packs in its time. Usually cans of Heineken or Amstel, cartons of Nido milk powder or multi-packs of best-selling confectionery such as Jewels. But the multi-award winning retailer has really outdone itself with its latest mega-promotion – The Magnificent Six x 2. The six is a reference not to