Dubai Duty Free serves an ace as Wimbledon nears

[Left to right: Dubai Duty Free Vice President of Marketing Sinead el Sibai, tennis ace Venus Williams, Vice President Corporate Communications Salah Tahlak] It was a case of doubles all round as Dubai Duty Free turned on its legendary hospitality in London last Thursday night at its traditional pre-Wimbledon party. Dubai Duty Free owns and runs acclaimed tennis  tournaments on

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Roth misses Hannibal Lector role, lands Sepp Blatter part

The Moodie Report receives countless digital newsletters each week, some of them requested, most of them not; some of them essential, many drivel. But one mandatory and brilliant read is the Daily Briefing from foreign exchange specialists Money Corp. It’s typically no more than six or seven paragraphs, linked to key curency movements and trends. It’s

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Keynote speakers of mass distraction

With five of the last seven weeks spent on the road, it’s been tough to keep up with my blogging despite a wealth of material to talk about. So let’s play catch-up through this week. First, the response to my criticism of former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s lousy speech at the TFWA Asia Pacific

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From Huaraches to Herring as a FABulous event begins

From Mexico City to Copenhagen, with one day off for good behaviour in London with my kids and Golden Labrador Mickali. Despite the shot above I didn’t cycle into Copenhagen Airport, though I reckon I have seen more bicycles here than I’ve seen in the rest of the world put together. I’m here in the Danish

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Love Hertz for the Grumpy Old Men on the Alsace Wine Trail

“Il ne nous reste qu’une seule voiture, Monsieur (We only have one car left Sir).”  “Pas de problem. C’est bon (No problem, it’s fine).”  My French wasn’t good enough to ask what type of car. Perhaps, I was to later conclude, I should go back to language school… This Blog comes to you after a

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All that glitters…is Eau My Gold!

The Moodie Report’s Rebecca Mann goes for gold in Paris On 3 April I was invited to Paris for the launch of Lady Million Eau My Gold!, the latest feminine fragrance from Paco Rabanne’s blockbuster ‘Million’ masterbrand. Having been fortunate enough to attend the launch of the original Lady Million – which featured vintage Paco

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When Martin met Melody, and then met May

Meet the Ngs – mother May (left) and daughter Melody. Melody Ng is known to many in the trade as The Moodie Report’s Asia Bureau Chief, based here in Singapore. Since taking up the role around six years ago she has become a critical member of the Moodie team, much respected by her colleagues and

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How a keynote became a low note – and a lost opportunity

Take one ousted political leader with time on her hands. Add in a lucrative, all-expenses paid speaking opportunity in a glamorous city abroad. The recipe for an entertaining, insightful, maybe even revelatory conference presentation, right? Wrong. Yesterday’s address by the former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, plumbed new depths of irrelevance and poor value

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All set for show time in Singapore

Really, does it get any better than this? Welcome to The Moodie Report’s interim bureau on the 48th floor of the magnificent Marina Bay Sands. Well I did ask for a room with a view… I’m here of course for the annual TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition and conference, which formally kicked off last night with

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Fraser’s fantastic five-year survival story

“Hi Martin, “I do hope this finds you well. I write to you today on my 5th year anniversary, (since original diagnosis), so a rather odd day as you will know… although a good one too – all things considered.” The day in question was last Wednesday, 30 April. The e-mail was from Fraser Dunlop,

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Getting the odds – and evens – right in St Petersburg

Lenrianta Director General Anatoly Shashin (second from left) is my kind of social companion. “Never drink vodka in even numbers,” he told me on Monday night as I tried to make my excuses after dinner (and two large vodka shots) in St Petersburg to head to my room and complete my ferocious feature writing schedule

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