“The Whinging Pome Random Rules, Rule 22: Always engage with those sitting next to you on a flight, but very quickly make an assessment whether such an engagement is going to be worthwhile. If not, apply The Whinging Pome Random Rules, Rule 52: Cease all contact and employ diversionary tactics. If Rule No 52 fails,
Events
Toeing the line at the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup
The golf pro asks the hacker where his feet are. “They’re at the end of my legs,” replies the hacker, surprised at such a naive question. “Where they always are.”
Read More
Airports
Experiencing the world’s first run-through duty free store
“There seems to be a problem. I’m sorry, you can’t get on this flight. And you’re very late.”
Read More
Airports
Finding funnel-webs and missing apostrophes in Melbourne
I was tempted to go up to the information counter and ask politely, “Where can I find an apostrophe?”
Read More
Airports
#LifeinHel: Saving private Ryan moments on social media
Featuring the ‘World’s longest layover’, #LIFEINHEL is a mix of reality TV, game shows and social media. It relates the story of how Ryan is living in a little cabin inside Helsinki Airport for 30 days.
Read More
Airports
Prada fragrances to go (just) at Hong Kong International Airport
I’ll be taking off en route to the New South Wales gateway to report on the airport’s commercial revolution. And on that plane with me – and their generous purchaser – will be two bottles of Prada women’s fragrance. Viva duty free.
Read More
Quirky
First Dufry, today Deutsche Bank, tomorrow the world!
Perhaps we should now become The HNA Report, such is the dominance of the headlines that the acquisitional Chinese conglomerate has achieved in recent months.
Read More
Events
Mama please don’t take my Toblerone away
Thank you Mondelēz International for reminding me and Dermot that we’ve traversed a few peaks; roamed a few valleys; heck, fallen into a few troughs; but ultimately savoured some sweet, sweet moments along the way.
Read More
Events
Flaming heck! How Keith Spinks struck a chord
Not only does Keith specialise in getting travel retail out of serious jams but now he was getting it into one!
Read More
Miscellaneous
The M and M of instagrammable experiences
Surely that trusty fallback of spell check could help me out? No it couldn’t. It simply offered up a choice of ‘Instagram Mable’ or ‘Instagram Able’.
Read More
People
From the Horseshoe Tavern to Bruxelles
There’s a new chapter in the inspiring story of Canadian duty free veteran Jeff Orson: last week he made his musical debut in Dublin.
Read More
Airports
America first, duty free (a close) second: A message from the travel retail industry
“We sell stuff. It’s the best stuff in the world. We’ve got all the best stuff. And all the best prices. All the other shops they tried to match us. Failed terribly. Nordstrom’s? Total losers.”
Read More
Miscellaneous
Presenting the alternative facts of travel retail
I believe the world is actually a much safer place as clearly President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will get along just fine.
