TRI-POD Series 3: TFWA Managing Director John Rimmer : Moodie Davitt Report

Unfolding enveloping missiles of soul
Recall senses sadly
Mirage like soft blue like lanterns below
To light the way gladly
– Feel flows, The Beach Boys

This episode’s special guest on TRI-POD, The Moodie Davitt Report’s video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group, is John Rimmer, the Managing Director of Tax Free World Association (TFWA), a man well-known and highly regarded within the global travel retail community.

In this episode, we learn more about John from long before he joined the association in October 2012, initially as Conference, Research & Corporate Affairs Director. Five years later he was appointed to his current executive leadership role for one of our industry’s most important and effective associations, the host of TFWA World Exhibition, TFWA Asia Pacific and a range of other events and services.

We talk to John about his early years growing up in England’s version of Hawaii; his passion for a certain football club known affectionately as the Baggies; and his earlier years in the world of travel retail journalism – including a stint at what was then The Moodie Report. Plus a few other memorable and occasionally poignant stops along the way.

**Those were the days: The Rimmer family celebrate West Bromwich Albion’s promotion to the Premier League in April 2002**

Island-bound with creature comforts

As always with TRI-POD, it’s not just about talking shop. Once again we fly John on our (very) low cost carrier TRI-POD Airlines to our resident desert island (with offshore duty free status). There he reveals his chosen duty free purchases, including surely one of travel retail’s most exclusive products. Birmingham City and Aston Villa fans look away now.

What song would this boy on a beach choose as his island anthem? As for his preferred reading matter, it was clearly influenced by a fear that he may be left stranded alone on the island for a long, long time

However, he won’t be, as we allow John to invite three guests to dinner on the island. Exceeding his duty free allowance for once, he actually chooses four and what a quality quartet it is. Expect a combination of sharp wit and great music at an evening to remember before John says sayonara to the island and heads to his chosen bucket list destination. ✈

Note: Would you like to appear with Roger and Martin on TRI-POD? Drop Martin Moodie a line at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com and we will be in touch.