For month upon miserable month through the pandemic, HKIA resembled a cross between a ghost town and a military hospital. You could almost sense the tumbleweed about to blow along the arrivals hall. How good it is to see the place humming once more.
Airports
Somrus tells it straight up but a columnist ends up on the rocks
This is why Americans think the economy is terrible,” wrote the irate critic on X (formerly Twitter) above a photo of a burger, fries and three sachets of ketchup (I know, I know, a journalist should never reveal his sauces).
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Airports
The power of four: Destination Doha assumes a new dimension
A Trinity-plus (or quaternity) collaboration if you like – airport, retailer, brand and Chef – is born.
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Airports
‘Pura vida’ – A captivating Costa Rican experience
I have not just been on location here but have undergone a full immersion in the culture and tourism highlights of Costa Rica.
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Events
Rum, food and music – a cultural tour of discovery in Jamaica
On an extraordinary evening, each food course – typically Jamaican of course – was paired with an Appleton rum.
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Food
Why you should get on down to Harry’s place
Talk to anyone in the business who knows him (and that’s a lot of people) and you will never hear a bad word spoken of Harry. And at a time when supply chain issues are such a challenge, he has become even more of a go to man.
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Food
Take the Toblerone test for your next flight upgrade
So here’s a way to save your company expense on that next long-haul flight and support the travel retail industry’s recovery. Simply fly economy and buy loads of chocolate at duty free before you board.
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Food
Local flavour, world-class experience – a snapshot of South Africa at Durbanville Hills
What we’ve discovered in the past few days is the sheer diversity, wealth and quality of South African cuisine, alongside magnificent hospitality.
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Food
A chance encounter with a great airport food pioneer
When the definitive history of airport dining is written, the breakthrough influence of the original Caviar House Seafood Bar at Heathrow may be viewed as the seminal moment that food quality and consumer satisfaction first got a look in.
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Events
Hopefully not a once in a blue moon Hong Kong encounter
We joked that it was the biggest travel retail gathering of the year and remembered that this was like it used to be in travel retail before a certain nasty virus came along and blighted our industry and our lives.
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People
How a chocolate called Pauline tells us that dumbing down in travel retail is a mistake
This underlines one of the key dilemmas facing travel retail as the sector emerges battered and bruised from the pandemic. Should consolidation of ranges spell the exclusion of new and exciting products such as Les Chocolats de Pauline?
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Food
Catching up with old friends for a last tango and the perfect re-torte
Through some exquisite contemporary design and advanced techniques, Arte by Padaria turns the humble cake into a culinary and artistic masterpiece.
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Airports
Southern hospitality at DFW
A remarkable week at FAB 2019 concluded for me with a memorable tour of Paradies Lagardère’s restaurants and retail stores at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where I was reminded again of the warmth of Texan hospitality and the rich blend of culinary culture in this southern state. The quality of food also underlined