Source: ©The Moodie Report - 08/02/10
 UAE. The seventh Middle East Exclusive exhibition concluded last week on a “distinctly more positive note” compared to its predecessor event, following one of the toughest years on record, according to organisers Channels Exhibitions. The new Hosted Buyers Programme helped boost numbers, and Channels Exhibitions says that it is already looking forward to producing next year’s event from 28 February to 2 March.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/02/10
 INTERNATIONAL. ACI's December results showed “clear signs of renewed passenger traffic demand at many airports worldwide”, boosted by a strong Asia Pacific showing. Full-year traffic in 2009 dipped by -2.6%, a far healthier performance than previously expected.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/02/10
 DUBAI. On Tuesday evening Channels Exhibitions hosted a Gala Dinner, held on the open lawn of the Grand Hyatt Dubai, as part of this year’s Middle East Exclusive event. Guests were entertained by a live band and a belly dance performance. In the raffle, two lucky attendees won a pearl necklace, courtesy of Dhamani Jewels, and a ticket for Dubai Duty Free’s Double Millionaire draw.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 02/02/10
 QATAR. The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which concluded on Sunday, offered leading travel retailer Qatar Duty Free a major showcasing opportunity for its activities. The company was named ‘Preferred Retailer Partner’ for the US$2.5 million European Tour event, which was won by Swede Robert Karlsson.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 02/02/10
 DUBAI. The seventh annual Middle East Exclusive travel retail and luxury goods exhibition began earlier today at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, hosted by Channels Exhibitions with support from Dubai Duty Free, Emirates and MEDFA, takes place from 2 to 4 February.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 01/02/10
 UAE. Passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport climbed by +7.3% year-on-year to 9.7 million in 2009, with new routes and additional frequencies from Etihad Airways a key factor in the growth drive. The top five city destinations from Abu Dhabi in the year were London (Heathrow), Bangkok, Doha, Bahrain and Cairo.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 29/01/10
 BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free recently held a four-day staff seminar aimed at enhancing internal communications and team spirit, as well as improving customer service skills among employees at the Middle East travel retailer.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 28/01/10
 INTERNATIONAL. International scheduled air traffic fell by -3.5% year-on-year in 2009, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which said the result marked the “largest post-war decline” in passenger demand in a single year. IATA said that airlines will lose US$5.6 billion in 2010 as the industry struggles for profitability.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 27/01/10
 BAHRAIN. Karl Sutcliffe joins Bahrain Duty Free on 1 February as Head of Purchasing & Logistics. He moves from sister company Muscat Duty Free – also part of the Aer Rianta International–Middle East network.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 25/01/10
 UAE. ‘Routes – The World Route Development Forum’ will come to Abu Dhabi in 2012, after Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) won the bid to bring the air transport industry’s largest international event to the UAE capital.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 21/01/10
 BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free’s website (www.bdutyfree.com) generated a record 10 million hits during 2009, underlining its growing importance to the powerful Middle East travel retailer. And the company plans to introduce a range of new services this year as the web becomes an integral element of its shopping offer. Read on for full details.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 21/01/10
 INTERNATIONAL. Welcome to The Moodie Report Print Edition, available in full through our unique online digital format. In this issue you'll find our review of 2009 and preview of 2010; we reveal our People of the Year, plus there's much, much more.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 21/01/10
 TUNISIA. ATÜ Duty Free opened its newest location last month, with 2,500sq m of space in Departures and Arrivals at Enfidha International Airport in Tunisia. The Moodie Report brings you the first images of its duty free operations in a special Picture Gallery.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/01/10
 INTERNATIONAL. Passenger traffic at the world’s airports posted a healthy +5.8% rise year-on-year in December, according to preliminary figures from leading aviation analyst Air4casts. Asia Pacific led the way, with healthy results from Europe’s airports too.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/01/10
 BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free has given away a jet ski in its latest raffle draw at Bahrain International Airport. William Spencer, a Canadian national, wins a Yamaha Jet Ski FX Cruiser SHO. Travellers can purchase tickets for the retailer's draws at the airport or online.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/01/10
 INTERNATIONAL. International tourist arrivals fell worldwide by an estimated -4% in 2009 (compared to 2008), with the figure hitting 880 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Read on for a detailed guide to world tourism in 2009 – and its prospects for 2010.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/01/10
 UAE. Just over two weeks remain until the seventh annual Middle East Exclusive (MEE) travel retail and luxury goods exhibition takes place in Dubai. The event, which showcases liquor, fine food, tobacco, jewellery, watches and cosmetics, will be held on 2–4 February.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/01/10
 QATAR. Qatar Airways has complemented the launch of its new Shopping Extravaganza catalogue this month with a strong programme of cabin crew product training in Doha, involving a number of leading suppliers to the fast-growing retailer’s business.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 17/01/10
 QATAR. Qatar Airways has launched its new inflight duty free magazine, featuring over 120 new items – including 40 that are exclusive to the airline. One of the highlights of the offer is a US$40 gift voucher for any traveller who purchases goods worth over US$200.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 15/01/10
 UAE. Dubai International Airport handled 40.9 million passengers in 2009, a leap of +9.2% year-on-year. The growth was aided by a strong late-year surge in volumes, including a +14.5% increase in December traffic to 3.8 million passengers. Read on for details.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 12/01/10
 SYRIA. Syria Duty Free announced this week that it has completed the acquisition of Ramak Duty Free Shops’ travel retail business. Owned by a group of Arab and Syrian investors, Syria Duty Free is pledging a new era of expansion and improved relationships with key suppliers.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 11/01/10
 QATAR. Qatar Airways is expanding its international operations with the launch of flights from its Doha hub to three new cities – Tokyo, Bengaluru and Ankara. They will join the airline’s growing international network over an eight-week period beginning in February.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 07/01/10
 QATAR. Qatar Airways has donated QAR25,000 (US$6,900) to the Qatar Orphan Foundation (Dhreima), part of the funds raised from the Arabian Gulf Adventures Car Rally it sponsored last year. Qatar Airways was the official airline of the inaugural event, said to be the first tour of its kind ever held in the Middle East.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 06/01/10
 INTERNATIONAL. Global airport passenger traffic increased by +4.2% in November 2009 compared to the same month in 2008, according to the latest PaxFlash from Airports Council International (ACI). International passenger traffic continued its recovery, posting a +3.1% rise year-on-year.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/01/10
 QATAR. 2009 got off to a perfect start for a Doha-based Indian national after he became an instant millionaire in Qatar Duty Free’s US$1 million prize draw. The winner plans to help worthy causes after landing the big prize as well as setting up a family business in his native Kerala.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/01/10
 UAE. Dubai Duty Free has released details of its record-breaking 2009 sales, revealed by The Moodie Report on New Year’s Day. The all-time high was notable for outstanding showings by tobacco, confectionery, sunglasses, precious jewellery, women’s fashion and destination merchandise.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 01/01/10
 UAE. Despite the fact that 2009 will go down in history as the most difficult year in the duty free industry’s history, Dubai Duty Free overcame both regional and global difficulties to post record annual sales of AED4.1 billion, some +3.7% ahead of the previous high set in 2008. Our first story of the new decade is a remarkable one that speaks volumes for the resilience of the industry's leading single duty free operation.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 31/12/09
 INTERNATIONAL - 31/12/09: The year closes out on an optimistic note as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announces a +2.1% year-on-year rise in international passenger traffic for November. However, while passenger demand is +6.4% better than the low point reached in the first quarter of 2009, it is still -6% below the peak levels of early 2008, IATA cautions.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 30/12/09
 UAE. Duty free revenues at Abu Dhabi International Airport have passed AED500 million (US$136 million) for 2009 to date, up +12.7% on last year, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) said today. And the company is forecasting a further +18% surge in duty free revenues – principally from key concessionaire DFS - for 2010.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 23/12/09
 UAE. Dubai International Airport posted a surge of +12.6% in passenger numbers in November, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit growth; Dubai Airports says it will handle 95 million passengers a year in the next decade, from 40.6 million this year, and is maintaining its major infrastructure investment to manage that growth.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 22/12/09
 UAE. Leading vodka brand Absolut has presented a specially printed Absolut bottle to Dubai Duty Free in recognition of its achievement in becoming the world’s number one airport retailer last year, and to mark its 26th anniversary on 20 December.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 22/12/09
INTERNATIONAL. Airports Council International today released its annual Economics Report on the health of the global airports business (based on final 2008 figures). The airports industry worldwide had income of US$96 billion in 2008, with non-aeronautical revenues worth US$44.1 billion, or 46% of the total; looking ahead, passenger traffic is predicted to grow by +2% in 2010, but could even exceed that forecast, ACI says.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 21/12/09
 TURKEY/TUNISIA. Inbound duty free allowances in Turkey are cut from 600 to 400 cigarettes, and from three litres of alcohol to two, but the country’s leading travel retailer ATÜ Duty Free says its new-look Arrivals stores at Istanbul Atatürk will help offset any impact of the reduced allowances; plus the company salutes the recently opened duty free business at Tunisia’s Enfidha International Airport.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 21/12/09
 UAE. Dubai Duty Free yesterday marked its 26th anniversary with a remarkable AED62.5 million (US$17.3 million) in sales, as it offered big discounts on many items and held a series of major prize draws, including the Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise. And the retailer remains on course for record sales in 2009, says Managing Director Colm McLoughlin.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 17/12/09
 INTERNATIONAL. Travel retail giant Dufry announced today that it has signed agreements to open new shops in Egypt, Honduras, France and the US – adding more than +3% to its global retail footprint.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 17/12/09
 INTERNATIONAL. Oman Airport Management Company Commercial Manager Stephen Brown has won a personalised case of Johnnie Walker Black Label in The Moodie Report’s year-end readers’ competition held in association with Diageo Global Travel & Middle East.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/12/09
 UAE. In recognition of Dubai Duty Free’s pioneering use of sponsorship to build awareness of its business and reach potential consumers, Managing Director Colm McLoughlin has been awarded a special accolade for Lifetime Services to the Arabian Sponsorship Industry.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/12/09
INTERNATIONAL. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its financial outlook for 2010 to an expected US$5.6 billion global net loss among the world’s carriers, larger than the previously forecast loss of US$3.8 billion. But passenger traffic is expected to post a rise of +4.5% in the year ahead.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 16/12/09
 INTERNATIONAL. “The global economy has started to stabilize in the second half of 2009; and conditions have improved especially fast in the Asia Pacific region. The latest findings of the overall robust rebound in consumer confidence mirror progress seen in the real economy.” MasterCard Worldwide Economic Advisor, Asia Pacific Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong notes resurgent consumer confidence across most markets in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa covered in the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence, published today.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 14/12/09
 FRANCE/INTERNATIONAL. The auction of four original paintings by children cared for by The Smile Train and The Lotus Flower Trust has raised another €16,000 for the two charities through TFWA’s Heart2Art campaign, which began at TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 12/12/09
UAE. Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin has been named Duty Free Manager of the Year by the judges of the Aviation Business Awards.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 10/12/09
 MIDDLE EAST. The big turnout at last month’s Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) underlined the resilience of the region’s travel retail business. The conference programme was mixed in quality but the networking opportunities were, as always, outstanding.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 10/12/09
 UAE1. On 21 November the second ‘Miles for Smiles’ fun run took place in Dubai to raise funds for The Smile Train, the world's leading cleft charity. Click through for highlights from the event in our special Picture Gallery.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 08/12/09
 INTERNATIONAL. In its latest strategy paper the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched what the European Travel Retail Council calls a “direct attack” on sales of duty free liquor. The paper, which could be adopted as policy in mid-2010, recommends taxing liquor sales to international travellers.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 07/12/09
 AUSTRALIA. Qatar Airways is celebrating the launch of scheduled services to Australia following the airline’s inaugural flight into Melbourne last night. “We are entering the Australian market at a time of continued growth, despite the current economic climate when many airlines worldwide are consolidating and retrenching," says a delighted Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 07/12/09
 TUNISIA. TAV Tunisie, a subsidiary of powerful Turkish group TAV Airports Holding, has begun operations at Africa’s newest airport – Enfidha Zine El Abidine Ben Ali International Airport. ATÜ Duty Free operates the large duty free space at the location.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/12/09
INTERNATIONAL. Passenger traffic at the world’s airports maintained the recent robust trend with a +1.8% rise in volumes in October compared to the same month last year, ACI has reported. The growth was led by domestic traffic (+3.5%), with international passenger traffic marginally down.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/12/09
 UAE. The Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup is traditionally one of the social highlights of the industry calendar – and the 17th annual event, held this year at The Montgomerie and Dubai Creek courses, was no exception. Read on for our special Picture Gallery of a memorable event.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 04/12/09
 UK/INTERNATIONAL. Airline registration for the 2010 Inflight Salesperson of the Year (ISPY) Awards and Conference opens on 14 December, organiser Travel Retail Training has announced.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 30/11/09
INTERNATIONAL. Passenger demand on the world’s airlines rose by +0.5% year-on-year in October as market conditions continued to improve, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But, says IATA Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani, “The crisis has cost the industry two years of growth. Adjusting costs and capacity to meet that reality will be challenging.” Read on for details and reaction to the latest figures.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 26/11/09
UAE. James Kfouri, General Manager Sales & Marketing for Australian confectionery company Paton’s, was a popular winner of the 2009 Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, which finished today.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 26/11/09
 MIDDLE EAST. “I am not proposing a re-alignment of margin but I do argue that the potential profit pool for us would be very much bigger if we all invested behind shifting shopper behaviour – far bigger than current income from selling media spaces.” At the MEDFA Conference in Dubai, Diageo Global Travel & Middle East Managing Director Phil Humphreys called on all travel retail stakeholders to contribute their share if the ‘Trinity’ concept of mutual partnership for mutual gains is to really take hold.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 25/11/09
 DUBAI. The 17th annual Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup – one of the social highlights of the industry calendar - kicked off today at The Montgomerie, one of Dubai’s best golf courses. The event concludes at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club tomorrow.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 23/11/09
 UAE. The annual Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) conference begins today. Some 370 delegates have registered for the event, underlining the importance of the region to the travel retail channel.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/11/09
 UAE. The second ‘Miles for Smiles’ fun run took place in Dubai to raise funds for cleft charity The Smile Train. The 10k race was won by Karl Marnane of Butlers Chocolates in a sizzling 40 minutes and 17 seconds. The event culminated on an extraordinary note when Dubai Duty Free announced a US$1.5 million donation to assist The Smile Train’s work in the Philippines. Read on for a full report and an interview with Dubai Duty Free Manager Corporate Responsibility Anne Smith.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/11/09
UAE. Tomorrow morning sees the second ‘Miles for Smiles’ 10k/5k fun run in Dubai to raise money for cleft charity The Smile Train. Already nearly US$35,000 has been raised; here’s your final chance to support this great pan-industry initiative.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/11/09
 UAE. Welcome to The Moodie Report's Middle East Duty Free Association Official Guide 2009, published to coincide with the annual MEDFA Conference, which begins on Monday in Dubai. This title is available in full – editorial and advertising – through our unique online digital format. Read on for an invaluable guide to travel retail in the Middle East region.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 20/11/09
 UAE. Dubai Duty Free has been selected as the first airport retail operation in the Middle East – and only the second in the world – to carry the exclusive Tom Ford Private Blend Collection. The line of 13 signature, unisex fragrances will be available from this month in Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 19/11/09
 CYPRUS. Welcome to the latest edition of The Moodie Report PLUS, our popular feature series published in PDF format. In this edition we visit Cyprus for the historic opening day (7 November) of the new Larnaka International Airport. We talk to both partners in the CTC-ARI Airports joint venture that holds the 25-year retail concession at the new terminal, and which also oversees the food & beverage operation in partnership with SSP. Read on for our report of a landmark day for aviation in Cyprus.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/11/09
 BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free has launched a new online service in partnership with Singapore Flower. Travellers arriving at and departing from the Kingdom can buy flowers from Bahrain Duty Free and have them delivered locally to all areas in Bahrain.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/11/09
UAE. Dubai International Airport posted a year-on-year rise of +11.7% in passenger traffic for October, the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth; for the first ten months of the year traffic is up by a healthy +8.3%.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 18/11/09
 MIDDLE EAST. A meeting of Women in Travel (WiT) will take place on 23 November during the MEDFA conference in Dubai. And the organisers of this Saturday's Miles for Smiles fun run in aid of The Smile Train are encouraging other WiTs to join in the fundraising.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 17/11/09
 MIDDLE EAST. The Middle East airline fleet is set to more than double in the period from 2008 to 2028, according to manufacturer Boeing. The company’s Vice President Marketing Randy Tinseth was speaking at this week’s Dubai Air Show, where he underlined the bullish outlook for the Middle East region.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 13/11/09
 BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free's staff are showing their support for the Bahrain national football team ahead of tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup (South Africa 2010) play-off match with New Zealand by wearing special T-shirts.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 12/11/09
UAE. With just nine days to go before the second ‘Miles for Smiles’ fun run in Dubai, organisers are heartened by a wave of sponsorship that is pouring in. But they have called for a final push from the industry to raise the overall fundraising total.
Source: ©The Moodie Report - 12/11/09
 UAE. Scotch whisky aficionados have the chance to bid for one of the first six bottles of The John Walker, Diageo’s new ultra-premium Scotch whisky – and help out a deserving cause in the process. BIDDING NOW CLOSED.
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