The Moodie Report, though created by a proud Kiwi, has long enjoyed a special affinity with Sri Lanka. Two of our key present and past team members – web programming guru Dilantha Fernando (above left) and long-time ace reporter Soharni Tennekoon (right) – hail from the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Well-known industry executive and APTRA
People
Going belly-up in Dubai
It was that moment that hardened Middle East Gala Dinner attendees fear. The local Belly Dancer is swaying and gyrating as the audience claps in time. She begins to swirl her way into the audience as she looks for a partner to take on stage. Everywhere men’s heads are looking down into their laps, keen
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Airports
A laid-back retailer-airport relationship
The relationship between airport authority and concessionaire is one of the most critical, yet often under-rated elements of airport retail success. So chances are that when you find an airport with thriving commercial revenues, the human relationships are in pretty good shape too. Nowhere is that more the case than at Toronto Pearson International Airport,
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Quirky
In the beginning there was ‘the shed’…
My mother, a proud Irishwoman till the day she died, used to tell me never to forget my roots. While my barber, shaking his head sadly, gave me exactly the contrary advice 30 years later, I have never forgotten those maternal words. So when readers ask where The Moodie Report started I’m always delighted to
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People
Here’s Jonny!!
Regular readers of The Moodie Report – and certainly those who know its Kiwi publisher – will know that affinity towards the English rugby team falls rather low in our list of passions. But we make one honourable exception – namely the world’s second-greatest number 10 (behind Dan Carter of course), Jonny Wilkinson.It was Jonny,
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Miscellaneous
Aussies take no prisoners as lags are left behind
Somebody had to come up with an abbreviation to save the endless repetition of ‘liquids, aerosols and gels’ – the items at the heart of the aviation security restrictions since the 10 August terror alert. And with typical ingenuity, it is the Aussies who have done it – with the acronym LAG. Announcing the country’s
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People
Golfers go into charity overdrive in Dubai’s ‘other’ golf challenge
The Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup may have grabbed the industry sporting headlines in November, but the emirate welcomed another international golfing field last month, to the Al Badia Pinkie Pairs golf tournament. The event – played under the rules of the International Order of the Pink Tee – began life as a
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Airports
In the hold!
Confiscations under the new EU aviation security regulations nearly claimed their greatest victim to date recently – the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup. The magnificent trophy was in the hands of American golfing ace John Kammerman of Imperial Tobacco, en route from his triumph in Dubai through London Heathrow and home to Singapore. With it
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Events
This one’s for the Yipper
The big travel retail event here in Dubai is just days away and expectations and tension are equally high. Some of the industry’s top names will be on show and some animated dialogue is expected. The MEDFA conference? No – the Dubai Duty Free World Golf Cup, by popular acclaim the best social event in
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Miscellaneous
The Moodie Report wings its Cannes news coverage
The Moodie Report prides itself on the use of new technology to bring the latest news with immediacy to a global industry. But we are not too proud to call on more traditional means of communication where necessary. Such a situation arose as we planned our coverage of TFWA World Exhibition in the lead-up to
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People
Frank gets plastered in Cannes
Frank Hunwick has been coming to the Cannes show for more years than he can remember, in the past with Allied Domecq and Hiram Walker. This year the amiable PR expert and show specialist was guiding Peller Estates Icewine around the show, helping set up the stand, client dinners and much more besides. All had
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Quirky
Putting duty free in the hold at Frankfurt
Gebr Heinemann’s fragrances offer and merchandising at Frankfurt Airport has always been attractive. In fact it proved just too attractive for two members of the Ukrainian women’s national wrestling team this month. Store detectives – brave men indeed – caught the pair of athletes trying to steal €2,000 euros worth of fragrances during a stopover
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Quirky
Security gets in a pickle over Branston
“Red alert – can you get extra security over here? A jar of Branston Pickle has just been found in a passenger’s hand baggage. Yes… Branston Pickle. I have confiscated it. Why? Because it’s a liquid. Or a gel? Well it depends how thickly you like it spread.” Yes it’s true. The Moodie Blog can