It was far more than a rugby match. It was a coming home. Last night in my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand, a city devastated by two major earthquakes over the past two years and more than 8,000 aftershocks, regional franchise the Crusaders celebrated their long-awaited return by beating the South African Cheetahs 28-21.
Events
Welsh wizard turns into marathon man
Qatar Duty Free senior consultant Alan Edwards (above, in white lamb’s wool socks) has become a marathon man on a mission. The popular Welsh travel retail executive is in dragon slaying, sheep chasing, leek munching, daffodil plucking, Grand Slam winning mood as he prepares to run the Virgin London Marathon on 22 April. He’s also on
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Events
Cordon Bleu comes home
Royalty were there; some of the biggest names in French and European cinema were there. There were fireworks aplenty and the grand old Hôtel de Paris was lit up spectacularly in the night with brand imagery. The folks at Martell sure know how to throw a party. The occasion, as previewed in an earlier Blog, was
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Events
Honouring one of the world’s great Cognacs
Hey I know the business has been performing strongly but a Monaco bureau for The Moodie Report? And in the famed Hôtel de Paris? Well, yes actually (can you make me out through the third window from the left? I’m the very sad person on the keyboard), though unfortunately for only one day. I’m here
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Events
Fashion with Heart
New York Fashion Week came to Orlando this week, as Oscar de la Renta presented the first-ever fashion show at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas on Monday. Women in Travel (WiT) members were out in force at the event, which celebrated the partnership between the fashion house and Essence Corporation in the
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Events
Almost show time in Orlando
It’s cold and wet here in Orlando, not what any of us expected in the Sunshine State. From The Moodie Report’s Florida Bureau, I am looking down over the Hawk’s Landing golf course, where the Philip Morris Duty Free-sponsored tournament is taking place in steady rain. For once I don’t miss being out there one bit.
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Events
Farewell to the Duty Free Philippines family
So it’s thank you and see you again Duty Free Philippines. Farewell Manila. It’s been a tremendous few days here with Chief Operating Officer Lorenzo ‘Enchong’ Formoso, a man whose handprint (now literally, see image below) is all over the success of this company. I’ve enjoyed working with his amazingly dedicated ‘Coffee Table Book Committee’
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Airports
Coming to a coffee table near you…
Wow, that’s what I call a welcome. The Duty Free Philippines 25th anniversary team rolled out a banner greeting for The Moodie Report at the Fiesta Mall downtown duty free shopping complex in Manila yesterday. I spent an enjoyable and busy afternoon with a committee of great and dedicated people set up to work on
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Events
See you in Seoul
The Moodie Report Seoul Bureau is open for business. I’ve arrived at the Grand Hyatt, where I will be joined by many industry colleagues over coming days. This year’s Trinity Forum has attracted over 500 delegates, an incredible number, with a very encouraging mix of airports, retailers and other service providers, and brands. This morning
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Events
Trinity 2012 here we come
I’ve arrived in Korea for the 2012 Trinity Forum, via an excellent Asiana Airlines flight from Heathrow. A warning to all delegates who are flying in this weekend – wrap up warm. It’s cold, very cold here, about 6 degrees below zero and it might dip further in coming days. But don’t worry. The Korean
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Events
Wedding bells in Colombo
The Moodie Report Sri Lanka Bureau at the famous Galle Face hotel is now fully functional and I am wondering with this view whether I shall ever return to dank and dismal London. Anyway, why would I need to? The travel retail industry has descended on Colombo. Or that’s how it feels anyway… Industry figures from all around
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Events
Be Inspired
Here’s a story that has particular resonance for me, as a fanatical supporter of the All Blacks rugby team but also as a huge admirer of the Munster provincial side in Ireland and their outstanding supporters. Last year I was contacted by Limerick-based author John Garrett (below), who was writing a book (now published*) on heroic
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Events
Plenty of cause to smile in China
Heartwarming news reaches us from Beijing where cleft charity The Smile Train (www.SmileTrain.org) this week called a press conference to announce that it has now funded and performed 250,000 free cleft repair surgeries in China. The conference was attended by over 50 media agencies, while three live surgeries were broadcast to show the nature and