Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It’s a wonderful wonderful life
– ‘Wonderful life’, Black
I’m back in The Moodie Report’s Hong Kong Airlines’ Bureau, replete with Wi-Fi, 38,000 feet above China.
I do love this airline, not only for the fact that it allows me to catch up with my e-Mails, Blog and website, but for its standard of service, one that I’ve yet to see matched in 25 years of travelling the world.
As I mentioned in a recent Blog, it’s still a fledgling carrier so I pretty much have a whole cabin department to myself. After the frenetic pace of a week at TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore, it’s a glorious oasis of calm. To keep me going on the writing front I’m being fuelled by a nice glass (or two) of Aussiéres Blanc and listening to Arlo Guthrie, Warren Zevon and Andy Irvine and Paul Brady on iTunes. Such lives we lead…
It’s been a great couple of weeks in Asia, a journey that has taken me from London to Hong Kong to Manila, on to remote Bolinao in the Philippines, back to Manila, Hong Kong, Macau and down to Singapore, then to Hong Kong once more and now home to London.
Time to take a breather till… next Thursday when I head to Antalya, Turkey. And then, days later, there’s ASUTIL in South America. It never stops but why should it? Travel retail is a global industry and the pace of innovation and of store and terminal openings is simultaneously impressive and relentless. And there’s nothing like being on location to report on it. In fact we insist on it.
That means our editorial team is on the road constantly. Right now Peter Dowling is on the move through Latin America; Rebecca Mann is in Venice; John Rimmer, Dermot Davitt, Mary Jane Pittilla and our latest recruit Gavin Lipsith (who joins us full-time next month) are probably somewhere in the air after departing the Singapore show; and I’m flying above Urumqi. Such lives we lead…
Each trip brings indelible memories. The emotion of the Duty Free Philippines team at their 25th anniversary celebrations in Manila and Singapore; the rich and diverse hospitality of numerous hosts across many dinners and functions in Singapore; the opportunity to embrace so many friends from around the globe. Truly, one is blessed to work in this sector and it should never, ever be taken for granted.
The Singapore show was a success on every level, a real testament to Tax Free World Association Managing Director Alain Maingreaud (an admirably apolitical, decent individual respected by anyone you choose to talk to) and his team.
It was great to catch up with so many friends in an industry that transcends all boundaries. Another show over and a hectic schedule ahead. Such lives we lead…