Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/09/10
 PUERTO RICO. The 14th ASUTIL conference closed on Friday 3 September with a stirring call to exceed customer expectations from Michael J. Reardon of the Disney Institute, while economist Carlos Melconian set out a cautiously optimistic forecast for regional growth. The Moodie Report's Peter Dowling reports from Puerto Rico on the annual conference's closing day.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 03/09/10
 PUERTO RICO. The 14th Asutil conference opened yesterday at the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico with delegates and ASUTIL officials in confident mood. Not only has this year’s event broken the previous attendance record, but sales are rebounding to pre-crisis levels in many sectors of Latin American travel retail. The Moodie Report's Peter Dowling reports from Puerto Rico.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 01/09/10
 USA. Los Angeles World Airports is forging ahead with further expansion of its Tom Bradley International Terminal, following an earlier renovation of the terminal and the landmark Theme Building. Budgeted at US$1.545 billion, the Bradley West project promises to deliver a world-class airside retail concourse when it is completed in December 2012.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 01/09/10
 FRANCE. L’Oréal CEO Jean-Paul Agon has praised the group’s strong first-half results, driven by dynamism across all four divisions. “We are tackling the second half with confidence, and intend over the full year to keep on strengthening our worldwide positions and the profitability of our businesses,” he declared.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 23/08/10
 INTERNATIONAL. Long-time Philip Morris International duty free executive and occasional columnist for The Moodie Report Mick Dawidowicz has hit out at a recent Kelkoo survey that claimed to compare online and airport 'tax free' retail pricing in Europe. “Once again the industry is being defined by outside ‘observers’ or self-styled experts who know little or nothing about the business – and generally get it wrong, usually to the detriment of the industry,” he says in a hard-hitting reply. The Moodie Report invites further comment.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/08/10
 LATIN AMERICA. The inaugural meeting of the Latin American chapter of Women in Travel (WiT) networking group will be held at the ASUTIL conference in September. Federica Tojo and Lois Pasternak will host a breakfast meeting on 2 September at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan. Funds raised from a raffle will be donated to charities helping children injured in the Chilean earthquake.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 19/08/10
 JAPAN. Travel retailers targeting Japanese travellers around the world are benefiting from the continued strength of the Yen against the US Dollar. DFS Chairman and CEO Ed Brennan told The Moodie Report: “Yen spending in our core Japanese markets has increased better than 10 points since the Yen’s strengthening to 85. Big ticket items such as watches and jewellery are seeing sales trends which are double other categories."
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/08/10
 INTERNATIONAL. What does ‘going green’ mean to the travel retail industry? How have companies incorporated eco-consciousness into their brand and business models? How genuine are their commitments to the environment? These are just a few thought-provoking questions prompted by CNN’s Tourism Advertising Solutions and Knowledge Group in its latest article, ‘Going Green: Conscience, Not Campaigns’.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 13/08/10
 UK. "These sorts of strikes never achieve anything apart from damage: damage to business, damage to jobs, damage to the interests of tourists who want to come to visit Britain, or people who want to leave Britain and have a holiday overseas." British Prime Minister David Cameron hits out at proposed union action that threatens disruption at BAA airports this summer, and which would seriously affect travel retail.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 05/08/10
 INTERNATIONAL. The most overriding factor affecting the wines & spirits industry across much of the world in 2009 and early 2010 has been the global economic downturn, although some countries as diverse as China, Australia and Poland have bucked the trend, notes IWSR. Its Snapshot Trends Report 2010 reveals the far-reaching effects the downturn has had on many markets, brands and categories and what they mean for the future, as well as highlighting some newly developing trends.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 27/07/10
 ASIA PACIFIC. Young, single and independent consumers are planning to save more, with over 40% of consumers in Asia Pacific preparing to save more in the six months ahead, according to the latest MasterCard survey on consumers’ saving priorities. This indicates a boost in future consumption, says MasterCard Worldwide Asia Pacific Economic Advisor Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 22/07/10
 UK. JCDecaux Airport has confirmed today that it has retained the outdoor advertising contract for London Luton Airport. The five-year contract with London Luton Airport Operations was awarded following a competitive tender. JCDecaux Airport has operated advertising at London Luton since 2000.
Source: Channel NewsAsia; The Straits Times - 21/07/10
 SINGAPORE. Singapore has imposed tighter restrictions on the tobacco industry, including a full ban on tobacco advertising. These changes were introduced by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan this week in a bid to stem the recent increase in smoking, particularly among young adults.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/07/10
 INTERNATIONAL. Leading aircraft manufacturer Boeing forecasts a US$3.6 trillion market for new commercial aeroplanes over the next 20 years as world economies rebound and demand for new and replacement aircraft spurs growth. Asia Pacific, with China leading the way, will play a major role in driving growth, according to the Boeing 2010 Current Market Outlook.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 01/07/10
 BRAZIL. Dufry has pledged its support for international children’s charity, SOS Children’s Villages, through its dedicated ‘Dufry – Global Support’ programme. This week, Dufry inaugurated its new social centre in Igarassu, Brazil, committed to the support of disadvantaged Brazilian families. The Dufry-Social Center was constructed with funding by Dufry, which will also finance the running of the centre and the training classes.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 25/06/10
 JAPAN. Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) has unveiled its new branding as World Sky Gate Narita. The wording and logo, which will form a part of all corporate communications, aim to highlight Narita’s potential for Japan and the world. "World Sky Gate Narita is a declaration of Narita International Airport's pride and commitment as Japan's premier gateway to the world, the world's portal to Japan, and the major East Asia hub airport serving the global air transport network," said NAA.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/06/10
 INTERNATIONAL. As the travel retail industry's attention turns to the next trade fair in October, The Moodie Report talks to Ian Kirk, Managing Director of exhibition consultants Pentalpha, which transforms the brands' visions for their stands into reality.
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