If you can’t come to Cannes, bring Cannes to you. That was the spirit behind a hugely enjoyable lunch last Saturday in London as I caught up with a delegation from the King Power (Hong Kong) team, Centaur Travel Retail’s Rakhita Jayawardena and Peter Sant, Managing Director of Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail. (Left to right):
People
A personal salute to a great Irish Rover
Today’s formal announcement of John Sutcliffe’s forthcoming retirement as Managing Director of Aer Rianta International-Middle East is no surprise (he gave long notice both to the company and his many friends in the business) but it still cannot be allowed to pass without comment. Make no mistake about the significance of the moment – one
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People
The road to recovery
Check one. Any angels singing? No. Check two. Any flames raging or little red-horned men around? No. So far so good. And confirmation that I was still in the real world rather than the after variety post my operation came in the reassuring presence of my wife by the side of my bed. I had
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People
True team-mates
The Moodie Report may carry the name of its founder but the organisation is built around a terrific team of people, many of whom I have known a long time. Events related to my health over the past few months have provided a real test for my team, placing a huge extra burden on several
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People
The fruits of one man’s labours
From Jeremy Belcher of Bardinet Vins & Adet Seward Export comes the lovely and moving story of a new wine that is about to be released in travel retail – Navasqüés Garnacha ‘100’ Navarra 2009. Jeremy is a top guy and one of the most knowledgeable people on wine that I know. The new wine
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Events
All change at TFWA?
It’s good to see TFWA open up on the subject of proposed changes to its statutes governing the role and eligibility criteria of the association’s President. In a refreshingly candid interview with me this week, Philip Gerzon (above), Managing Director of Gerzon Duty Free, speaking in his capacity as a Member of TFWA’s Management Committee
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Events
Nuance on track (and treadmill) for supreme fund-raising effort
How’s this for a heavyweight team set to participate in the forthcoming Moodie Multi-National Marathon? • Roberto Graziani • Chris Wood • Andrea Belardini • Alex Anson • James Turl • Clara Helmlinger Yes, it’s a team from The Nuance Group and it’s absolutely great to see the company’s President and CEO Roberto Graziani (pictured above) leading a fellow management team
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Events
Welcome to the ‘Trinity Walk’
You’ve heard of The Trinity Forum, now welcome to The Trinity Walk. In this case the industry ‘Trinity’ compromises three suppliers representing three categories – confectionery (Martyn Westbury, Mars), fragrances (Jan Kristiansen-Binder, Coty) and liquor (Peter Ayling, Taittinger). This real-life Trinity partnership will be undertaking a 3.5km mile walk in Cardiff on Sunday 12 December
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Airports
The dancing of the Northern Lights
“People always ask me how do you drink Scotch? I reply, ‘You’re either left handed or right handed’.” Meet Willie Tait, Master Distiller and Isle of Jura Ambassador at the Whyte & Mackay owned malt whisky maker. Willie was on hand at London Heathrow Terminal 5 this week as part of the airport company’s excellent
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People
A priceless exchange
I am not a deeply religious man but in illness I have found a spirituality I did not think existed. Not just in myself but in many of the people I know in this great, warm and embracing travel retail community. No-one will ever tell me again that we are a superficial sector that simply
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People
Ivo bowls them over
Anyone who knows Ivo Favotto, The Nuance Group’s Executive Vice President Strategy & Business Development (who is set to return to his native Australia to become Director – Sydney Airport for the company), knows that he plays a straight bat. The down-to-earth Italian Aussie is one of the good guys in this business, someone who
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Miscellaneous
The Moodie Report pictures come a cropper
The photos that people send you to accompany stories featuring them often reveal much about the subject. There is one well-known, lovable Asian figure in this industry for example who insists we use a photo that we believe was probably taken sometime in the 1970s – not that he has changed that much… When we
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Airports
Hooray for Andrew Harrison
It is great to see Andrew Harrison being promoted to Managing Director of Manchester Airport from his current role as Commercial Director. Not only is it justified and rich reward for the excellent developments that Harrison has driven across a wide range of sectors (including duty free, consumer services and food & beverage) in recent