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IRELAND. The Moodie Report’s new feature series again brings you impressions of our industry as viewed by Blogs, other social media and consumer websites.
This column, which includes views not necessarily supported by The Moodie Report, is intended as a window to the opinions of the consumer press, bloggers and travelling consumers.
WEB – THE DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY
This week’s web coverage picks up on some of the enormous consumer coverage being generated by Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the Irish Derby, which takes place at The Curragh racetrack, Dublin, this Sunday.
At www.Herald.ie, in an article announcing the finalised runners for the weekend’s big race, it’s noticeable that the report always refers to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, not just the Irish Derby. And there’s the point. Those naming rights generate almost incalculable media mileage all over the globe, in print, web and television footage. Expect to see a plentiful supply of Dubai Duty Free branding at Dublin Airport, and of course at the racetrack itself (where The Moodie Report will be on hand).
Read more: http://www.herald.ie/sport/horse-racing/positive-vibes-over-house-hitting-curragh-2801342.html
IrishTimes.com picked up on the sponsorship theme, noting: “The Dubai sponsorship is slightly odd to the extent that there is no longer an airline flying direct between Ireland and Dubai. The Maktoum family who rule the emirate have deep links with bloodstock breeding in Ireland, though their fortunes on the track have waned in recent years. The only Arab-owned runner in the Derby is Best Hello, a rank outsider.
 The Moodie Tipster: Who will win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby? |
| Odds of 25-1 suggest he has two chances. Slim and none. And Slim, as they say, just left town. |
| The Moodie Blog |
“Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the Derby Day card has as much to do with Ballinasloe-born Colm McLoughlin as the Maktoums. McLoughlin runs the massive duty free retail operation in Dubai, which claims to be the largest airport retailer in the world, with sales last year of €900 million.
“According to Evan Arkwright, the Curragh Racecourse’s commercial manager: “˜There is one more year to go in DDF’s five-year contract, and we are hoping they will renew. Dubai Duty Free wanted to put a heavier stamp on the weekend; hence it has become the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, and DDF has naming rights to six races on Derby Day.’
This trend for sponsors to move from sponsoring individual races to taking over an entire race day has been noted by Horse Racing Ireland, [which said] “Merely sticking the company sign on the event as a gesture of support is a thing of the past. The new sponsorship approach seeks to own the event and participate in shaping it.”
Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0623/1224299455348.html
At UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph‘s website, Dubai Duty Free even gets a mention alongside Queen Elizabeth II, whose horse Carlton House is among the favourites.
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/8590140/Queen-has-prospects-of-Derby-double.html
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Nearer its home turf as opposed to racing turf, Dubai Duty Free also grabbed major headlines at GulfNews.com
In an article headed “˜Dubai Duty Free to turn on the style at this weekend’s Irish Derby’, the website notes: “This weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1), which takes place at the Curragh Racecourse from June 24 to 26, is set to be a spectacular weekend of style, sport and hospitality.
“This year’s festival is set to be bigger than ever with Dubai Duty Free also sponsoring the prestigious Ladies Day on Saturday, June 26, for the very first time. The lucky winner will walk away with a 5 star trip to Dubai and a shopping spree at Dubai Duty Free.”
If you wonder (apart from the obvious Irish connections of Managing Director Colm McLoughlin) why Dubai Duty Free sponsors a horse race so far from home, such media coverage gives you the answer.
BLOG – THE CONTRARIAN TRAVELLER
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Our next entry comes from “˜The Contrarian Traveller’, a witty and provocative Blog from travel expert and writer Peter Greenberg, now posted regularly on Bnet, a portal owned by CBS Network. Our industry may not always agree with his opinions but it’s a fair bet that his views reflect widely held public sentiments.
In our featured Blog, Greenberg rants about the amount that airlines are generating in ancillary revenues (according to the US Department of Transportation, in 2010 US airlines raked in US$3.4 billion in checked-bag fees and US$2.3 billion in ticket/reservation change fees.)
He notes: “On balance, the airlines profited more from checking your bags than they did from actually flying you anywhere. The accountants are clearly running the asylum and are trying to generate as much revenue from as many sources as possible. And passengers are clearly forking over the money.
“You can call it a la carte pricing if you want, but it’s not positioned or offered by the airlines in a way that helps anyone truly budget their travel expenses. There’s a lack of transparency, and many airline websites force travelers to opt out of some of these charges, not opt in.
“Sadly, for business travelers, other parts of the travel industry are wanting to follow their example of charging for everything. Will hotels now charge guests for soap in their bathrooms? If you rent a car, will there be an extra charge for putting luggage in the trunk? (I can’t believe I even suggested this”¦ now someone will make it a policy!).”
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