Dermot Davitt and I are holed up in some style at an apartment overlooking the Croisette. We’re right next to Louis Vuitton, apparently the French luxury brand having insisted on the adjacency. Or was it the other way around…?
Events
A man for all seasons – but just three colours
I recall my dear friend and ex-colleague Mandy Sime (now happily married and living in Spain with two gorgeous children) telling me it took her longer to pack than she spent at the trade show.
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Events
B.liars, Wild Tigers and pink ribbons: Cannes here we come
I would love to see TFWA show its more familiar progressive side and confer life membership upon Wild Tiger in return for what Gautom and Paul have done.
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Airports
Snowberry, pōwhiri, Pinot Noir and the All Blacks – how Kiwis fly high
The end result represents one of the world’s only skincare bio-discovery gardens, a place of wonder and great beauty. You could walk around the estate for hours, your jaw dropping at every turn.
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Airports
Kick-off before kick-off in Christchurch
Just about every kiwi from newborn child to old-age pensioner is tuned into the fortunes of national side, the All Blacks, who are pursuing an unprecedented third successive tournament triumph (#AllBlacks3peat).
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Airports
Nau mai! Haere Mai! Back in Aotearoa
When you look at the inflight screen flight path and you see the Antarctic looming up as next stop beyond your destination you know you’re a long way south.
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Travel
Homeless in Hong Kong but home again in the land of the long white cloud
Which airline could keep me connected for longest and with the best line speed? Cathay won hands down. I suspect I am not the only travel retail executive deciding that connectivity is key to choice of carrier.
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Events
Bridging the divide to Macau; opening in style at the Venetian; and feeling the pain in Hong Kong
Hong Kong might represent a tourist ghost town at present but Macau is proving relatively resilient to the escalating crisis faced by its near neighbour.
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Airports
The wonderful story of Anushree, a (formerly) unsung hero at Bengaluru Airport
If you watch one video of our industry this year, I suggest you make it this one.
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Airports
A very Grand Cru, a very big elephant in the room, and a very sweet Peranakan Love Story
The retailer’s decision not to bid on the Changi liquor & tobacco concession – which it has held unbroken since 1980 – came as a shellshock to everyone. Many tears were shed. The DFS team here is like family.
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Travel
Discovering ‘the bouquet that pervades across China‘
As I step onto my hotel balcony, the view is as intoxicating as the Moutai aroma that fills the air. “The bouquet pervades across China and Moutai is still the best,” runs an old adage.
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Airlines
Bound for Baiju country and the spirit of China
No time for movies or sleep then, though I may catch a nap at the Cathay Pacific lounge at HKIA. I get into Maotai in China’s Guizhou province late tonight, having flown back on myself. I might need a shot of Kweichow Moutai sooner than I had planned.
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Airports
Catching up with Severino Pušić, travel retail’s low-profile high achiever
Severino is a charismatic but distinctly low-key man. His word is his bond and he believes passionately in his principles, in his company and in his people.