Embracing the Cannes-do spirit and a Dr. Seuss philosophy

– Feelin’ mortal, Kris Kristofferson (sadly departed 28 September 2024)

It’s 4.50am London time but fast approaching noon at my destination, Hong Kong, China, as I open my latest Moodie Davitt Interim British Airways Bureau.

In fact, I’m already flying over China, the four hours 37 minutes remaining flying time reminding me of the vast scale of the country. To BA 237’s left is Urho, to the right Karamay. Soon we’ll be over Urumqi and then onwards south towards Hong Kong.

I’m homeward bound after two weeks on the road, the first in the UK to see my family – now including three young grandchildren – and to start a new chapter in the 22-year history of The Moodie Davitt Report. More of that in a moment. The second was, of course, spent at TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, the event’s 40th anniversary.

I have attended 32 of those shows, the first in 1988, which dates me almost as much as some of the industry personalities that TFWA so nicely honoured at this year’s edition. They include the admirable President Erik Juul-Mortensen, now in his final stanza in the role, who has given such sterling and unselfish service to the assocation and the wider travel retail community.

While sadly I did not catch up with him in person, I was delighted to see my long-time colleague and – for a period – rival Doug Newhouse singled out for mention among a roll-call of luminaries. Doug was the pioneer of real journalism in the travel retail sector, whose work ethic and competitiveness first taught and then spurred me.

When Doug and I worked together through the largely pre-digital days from 1989 to 1997, we had no aid from email, the internet nor video, let alone AI. We crafted our copy on old Amstrads and then transferred the stories via ‘floppy disks’ to be edited. And no-one could get near us for quality nor speed.

Later, when we became rivals, we fought like cat and dog to be first to a story (never once bleating to sources that the other had been ‘given’ the story first but each vowing to do better the next time).

Media has changed so much in terms of technology, immediacy and reach and, even in my advanced years, I constantly feel like a kid in a sweet shop at the power of possibility the digital world offers.

On the eve of the show, we launched Airport Wonders of the World, a film series from our recently created Moodie Davitt STUDIO arm. The first edition is a three-episode portrayal of Hamad International Airport and Qatar Duty Free. You can view Episode 1 below, to be followed by subsequent episodes on food & beverage and shopping in coming weeks.

I’m equally excited about the subject matter (I have dreamed of doing this project for years) and the filmmaking quality – kudos to the wonderfully talented, Hainan-based videographer, editor and director Alexander Roux for his exquisite work.

My pre-Cannes visit to London also focused on a seminal change in our business – our recently concluded sale to Mark Allen Group. Like The Moodie Davitt Report, our new owner is a family company, led by the redoubtable Founder, Mark Allen, and his son (and CEO) Ben.

We have something else in common, Mark is also a journalist, a man who bought out a title he was editing and went on to create a £65 million turnover group.

Of which we are now part. When Dermot and I decided to explore sale options, we knew we would only take that route if we found the right partner. A company that would respect our editorial integrity and focus and one whose values we shared.

I dined with Mark and Ben in London after completion and came away more convinced than ever that we had made the right decision. The Moodie Davitt Report’s future is secured for the long term; we will run very much as before (you’ll have to put up with me for a few more years yet); and we have additional firepower for acquisitions and organic development.

While the Cannes show had a celebratory air due to the 40th anniversary, that atmosphere was mixed with a real concern about the state of the travel retail sector and the (very much related) world at large.

Fears and very urgent concerns over catastrophic events in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel (and the growing possibility of an all-out regional conflict), the war in Ukraine and Russia, and soft Chinese consumer sentiment have combined to chip away at the positive mood generated by the accelerating post-COVID travel recovery.

Travel retail is, of course, no stranger to crisis and has a remarkable dual propensity to both weather and recover from it. And we shouldn’t forget there are still many positives out there, especially the likely doubling of air traffic by 2040.

Take a look at my recent interviews with Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen and L’Oréal Travel Retail President Emmanuel Goulin and you will discover not only an encouraging ‘glass half-full’ mentality but also a desire and ability to top that glass to the brim.

For me, there were plenty of other upbeat moments in Cannes. Here in pictorial form, are some of them. ✈