Almost time to go airside at Taoyuan International Airport to kick off what promises to be an exciting and celebratory project
Greetings from my Interim Taoyuan International Airport Bureau. In fact, make that a whole series of Interim Bureaux dotted around the main Taiwanese gateway’s Terminal 2, one of my favourite airports for reasons I will explain.
I am here with my Moodie Davitt STUDIO camera and editing crew, Hainan-based Alexander Roux and Olmo Reverter (Shanghai), to film a video and research a book I am writing to celebrate Ever Rich Duty Free’s 30th anniversary this year.
After a long first day’s shooting it was time for an enjoyable dinner with members of the Ever Rich leadership, including family owner members President Kevin Chiang (left) and Assistant Vice President Michelle Chiang (back row, right). Also pictured are (back row) Chief Digital Strategy Officer Scylla Tsai and Section Manager Claire Ma, and (front row) me, and filmmakers extraordinaire Alexander Roux and Olmo Reverter.
The biggest challenge of filming here is the sheer wealth of rich (make that Ever Rich), authentic and culturally expressive content on offer.
Ever Rich is far more than a duty-free retailer. It also manages a wide array of customer services ranging from information desks to washrooms, as well as an expansive, eclectic food & beverage offer. And, most importantly, the gate lounges or Waiting Rooms as they are known here.
Alexander Roux (front) and Olmo Reverter shoot inside the National Museum Shop
Taoyuan International Airport’s Waiting Rooms are destinations in themselves, all themed around an aspect of Taiwanese food, culture, tradition, business and more.
The Wooderful Lounge, featuring as the name suggests an array of wood features. A wonderful (sorry, wooderful) example of the standard airport gate lounge experience being transformed into a space of education and cognitive training.What better and more tranquil place then to set up my latest Interim Bureau?
There are international aspects too, notably the gloriously pink Hello Kitty Waiting Room featuring the famous fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu and her cool buddies Badtz-Maru, Pompompurin, Keroppi and Cinnamoroll as they explore various parts of Taiwan and embark on a global journey.
Sing us a song, you’re the piano man/Sing us a song tonight/Well, we’re all in the Moodie for a melody/ And you’ve got us feelin’ alright; Any requests? Something by The Moodie Blues, I suggest?And now experiencing some very different kinds of notes
Time for a tea ceremony, an immersive experience combining education and enjoyment (and a great cup of Oolong tea)An interesting new height measure inside the Lego boutiqueThe heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s words (much favoured by King Power Traveler President and Co-owner Rakhita Jayawardena, a great pioneer of inflight retail) could be the motto for ‘The website that never sleeps’I seem to have grown one brick since my last visit to reach the heady heights of 189 Lego bricks. All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall.MM meets (Yellow) M&M’s…… and catches up on the latest chatter with his old friend and fellow globetrotter Mr. Bones from Kiehl’s
Together with my mega-talented film associates, I am on the move around the airport constantly over four days of filming so this Blog is necessarily brief as within moments, it is going to be a case of “Lights, camera, action”.
Look out for what I promise will be a very special commemorative book (in English and Chinese) and film, out in September. A story like no other in travel retail. In the meantime, here is a taste of what is to come. ✈
