Creating a (pink) hue and cry in Cannes and discovering some Michelin Star magic

Welcome to The Moodie Davitt Report Interim French Riviera.

Yes, I am back in Cannes for TFWA World Exhibition, the greatest travel retail show on earth.

It’s 39 years since my first sojourn here, way back in 1987, my first year in travel retail.

After mentioning that fact to my colleague and newly promoted Chief Technology and Creative Officer Matt Willey, he replied.

“Cripes … imagine how many kilometres you have walked in that town. It’s probably worth working out.”

Matt being the data boffin that he is, decided to do exactly that. And before I knew it, helped along by our AI, he came up with an answer.

Based on me arriving the Friday before TFWA World Exhibition and leaving on the Friday and allowing for repeated circuits of the Palais, dashes between meetings, and walking along the Croisette to hotel events, cocktails and dinners, Matt and his AI companion reckon I have walked around 4,400km, or roughly the distance between Lisbon, Portugal and Istanbul, Türkiye.

This week I will no doubt add a few more kilometres to that tally, having arrived Thursday evening after the long flight from Hong Kong International through Paris Charles de Gaulle, time to shake off the jet lag and get down to business.

With consummate timing, Thursday, 1 October –the final day of the show – marks my handover of the CEO (but not Chairman) reins to my admirable business partner of many years’ standing Dermot Davitt. I will enjoy the moment and with my long-time friend Rakhita Jayawardena, toast it over dinner that evening.

I certainly got in a few kilometres yesterday, albeit many of them in a golf buggy, as I played in the annual ‘Pinkies’ charity golf tournament, brilliantly organised by industry stalwarts Kevin Walsh, Andrew Webster and Garry Maxwell.

All players must honour the event’s name in their choice of garb and so the beautiful Golf Old Course Cannes Mandelieu, was ablaze with pink even if a lot of the golf – particularly mine – was certainly not of the same hue.

The chosen cause this year was The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, in honour of #KickCancerThon, the travel retail fund-raising and visibility campaign launched by my late daughter (and our former Chief Operating Officer) Sinead Moodie.

Thanks to a strict fines system for alleged on-course indiscretions (ranging from three-putts to unacceptable gloating about a good shot – I was clearly safe from that charge) rigorously applied by the organisational trio, an impressive €2,320 was raised. Bravo to Garry, Kevin and Andrew.

One of my fellow players was youthful industry veteran Catherine Bonelli, Founder & Commercial Director of Sky Connect, which introduces, develops and support brands and talents in travel retail.

Catherine kindly hosted me, my wife Yulim, Steve and Joanne Corrigan (Havadrink Enterprises) and The SEVA Group Founder Severino Pušić at the magnificent La Villa Archange – Bastide Bruno Oger last night. What an occasion, deeply privileged as we were to dine inside the kitchen at the Chef’s table.

La Villa Archange – Bastide Bruno Oger is a two Michelin Star restaurant rightly renowned for its classic yet magnificently innovative French cuisine and seafood dishes served in the sumptuous midst of an 18th-century Provençal villa.

The cuisine, the atmosphere – what an honour to dine just feet away from such wondrous craftsmen and craftsmen at work and to engage in warm conversation with Chef Bruno himself – was an unforgettable experience.

And so to the day after the night before, as they say. Tonight, Sunday, TFWA World Exhibition formally kicks off with the traditional Opening Cocktail and no doubt the equally traditional fireworks. How good in our war-torn world they are of the peaceful, celebratory kind.

Now, it’s time to add some kilometres to my walk. ✈