15th November

15th November

The sun was shining and everyone seemed to be in bright spirits as they poured into the Palais for the day ahead I was surprised at how busy it was so early...the focus this year definitely seemed to be on more work and less partying! I had a busy schedule today with two panel sessions:

First,  “The path to discovering Arabian Gold”, with Maninder Gill, Head of the Retail, Fashion & Franchising Group-Simons Muirhead & Burton, Simon Marshal, CEO-Fawaz Al Hokair & Co, Nick Gowens, Chairman & Business Development Director, Hiro Harjani, Founder & CEO Aftershock London and Helen Barnish, Head of International Real Estate, Hamleys. The session went well with lots of great feedback.
 
The second was "Outlet retailing: secrets for success", with Iestyn Roberts, Chief Executive-Freeport Retail; Phil Cottingham, Head of Retail, Quintain Estates & Development PLC, Sebastian Sommer, Neinver; Carmine Rotondaro, Worldwide Real Estate Director, PPR Group; John Devine, President Subway and Chris Kan, Subway. Another success with Developers queuing to hand out their cards to Subway and Gucci.


Another successful day of meetings finished with cocktails with the Benoy girls Valerie and Amy, followed by a Fashion Show hosted by PTAK Outlet at the Majestic Hotel. 

MAPIC 2012 opens its doors...

14th November

After a beautiful opening cocktail at the Majestic, participants woke early in eager anticipation for the days events. I had meetings from 8.30 am and didn't leave the Palais until after 7pm but all in all a very productive day. 

Exhausted and in need of a little relaxation I abandoned a couple of party's in favour of a few cocktails with friends Mike and Lea...naughty but nice!

A relaxing dinner and an early night...Midnight! Well for Cannes that is!

Lets Party...

13th November

I arrived in Cannes early afternoon and checked in at the Carlton Hotel before enjoying a leisurely lunch with Chris Lord. 

We were all set for MAPIC, the magazines once again had pride of place in all the Delegate bags, Principal hotels and Business lounge at the Palais Des Festivals...so all that was left was to have a productive 3 days of meetings.

Each year, MAPIC kicks off in style with a high-profile cocktail party, giving all Delegates the chance to engage with key industry players in a lively social setting. This year was no exception held at the Majestic Hotel, the opening cocktail, sponsored by Russian Developer Tashir, was a huge success. The Russian country of honour logo was all aglow on the facade of the building, emphasising their important presence here this year. Their was much buzz about the Diamond Party hosted by Tashir, as they distributed glasses of champagne with a ‘sparkling diamond’ inside. Participants then hurried to diamond experts to verify the authenticity of the sparkling gem. There were 8 lucky winners who walked away with the real deal!

Sadly I wasnt one of the lucky ones...but hey I had the next 3 days to look forward to!

RECon MENA awaits...

12th November

Enlivening and thought provoking sessions adorned the first day of RECon MENA. I especially enjoyed the discussion between Derek Barker and Phil McArthur...lots of banter and audience participation

We had a wonderful lunch at One & Only The Palm having taken the luxurious boat across from One & Only Dubai...sheer opulence with cream leather captain seats for all guests..thanks again Ishwar, if there was an award for entertaining you would win hands down!

After the conference it was a quick change for the awards dinner followed by drinks with industry friends and colleagues.

Sadly I will miss the second day of RECon MENA as I fly to MAPIC so it's goodbye for another year.

Until 2013...

Day off...

11th November

I think my body clock is wiped out since I woke up at 7 and could'nt get back to sleep...so what did I do? Worked:(

Spent a couple of hours by the pool then had lunch with Mike & Lea at Paul's in Dubai Mall. Chilled for the rest of the day and tried to recuperate some energy for for the conference tomorrow.

How can chilling be such hard work...I guess it's something I'm not used to!

A fond farewell...

10th November

Happy birthday to my sister today..Well the time has come to say a tearful goodbye to my friends as I continue my travels and they return to their families...safe travels...I'm going to miss you!

A much needed relaxing day by the pool was in order followed by a little shopping with my friend Lea Humar.
before we both joined Mike Ellis for an extremely chilled and relaxing evening at Calabar in the Address Hotel sipping strawberry mojitos.

We finished the evening at the Al Manzil Hotel smoking shisha...a hilarious experience which, I hasten to add I'm very bad at...but I managed to entertain the others by pulling it over and burning a hole in my dress and myself. It's probably a good job I don't smoke!

A great evening!

Goodbye Hong Kong

9th November

After saying goodbye to friends and colleagues at the show...though not the end of the road for all as a few are either going on to Dubai like myself for RECon MENA or onto Cannes for MAPIC...I returned to pack and get ready for our return trip.

A long wait ahead as our flight back to Dubai wasn't until 12.40am but it gave us time for some last minute shopping and time to chill and reflect on the last seven days... The girls had had an amazing time but were exhausted and could'nt understand how I do this all the time...and they were'nt even working. You just get used to it!

It has been great to have someone to travel with and it will be sad when they leave me at the airport in Dubai to return to Manchester without me.

Still two more trips to go...

Day two ...Mipim Asia

8th November

A bright and early start even though I didn't get to bed until 3am...but hey isn't that what it's all about Networking...that's the part I like most about my job! That and presenting.

Two panel sessions today...the first with John Devine,Subway and Carmine Rotondaro, PPR Group - two very different retail success stories yet both equally successful. The second,'Best Practices for successful retail expansion into Asia with Ishwar Chugani, Giordano; Eric Lee, Bossini and Filipe Correia, Parfois. A great combination...one retailer looking to expand across Asia, one looking to expand outside and one look to expand into Asia.

In the evening I caught up with mike and Lea, 5+ Design and an old friend Linda Patton, ex 5+ Design for a few drinks at the Four Seasons Hotel before joining my friends at the knight Frank party...always the annual not to be missed party, where the who's who of the retail world join together at Mipim Asia.

We finished our last evening in HK with a much-awaited visit for my friends to Aqua where we chilled with mojitos looking across a spectacular night view of HK. A quick visit to the Peninsula Hotel before hitting our beds at 3am.

A great finale to a wonderful trip for the girls and for me well it's two trips down ...two to go!

Mipim Asia awaits...

7th November

Surprisingly I awoke at 10 am remarkably refreshed since I only got to bed at 6 am...unlike my friends who were feeling very delicate and didn't rise until after noon.

I met Michael Ellis and Lea Humar 5 + Design at breakfast and after a much needed coffee we went to register for the conference.

My first panel session 'successful roll outs in Asia with Desigual, Pacific Coffee and C&A went really well and I received great feedback.

I met up with lots of friends at the cocktail party and bizarrely was approached by two people in the space of 5 minutes asking if I was Jayne Rafter they remembered me from the India Retail Forum in 2008... The girl who wore a bright pink sari with coloured crystals...the things that get you remembered maybe I should take it out of the closet!

I met up with the girls for Dinner, they had enjoyed an afternoon at the Ladies market.

We were joined by good friends Filipa Fernandes from SES Spar Shopping Centers and Filipe Corrria, Parfois. During our scrumptious international buffet we were joined by Ishwar Chugani and celebrity icon Morgan Parker who left his position as CEO Taubman Asia to set up a charitable organisation called 'Wheel to Wheel' where he travelled across 10 countries on his bike helping different charities along the way... You can follow his travels on Facebook or watch his incredible journey on National Geographic.

A great evening...good fiends, good company, good food, good wine who could ask for more!

Hong Kong Delights

6th November

After a pleasant flight the girls arrive in Hong Kong and boy were they excited. First stop the Peak we caught the tram which took us on an amazing almost vertical journey to one of the highest points in HK when we arrived the girls were stunned at the phenomenal views across the whole of Hong Kong (pic to follow). We had a lovely Dinner at the Peak Lookout one of my favourite restaurants in HK and then met up with Ishwar Chugani (MD Giordano) and his friends in Lan Kwai Fong who as usual didn't fail to impress as he entertained us in true Ishwar style until 5am...so much for an early night but it was well worth it!

Good job my panel session was in the afternoon tomorrow...goodnight!

All work and no play

5th November

An early start this morning, I had a full packed day ahead Chairing the inaugural Future Retail Conference, my second such role in the last few weeks...a new career maybe? I met
Some old friends its always great to catch up...it makes me feel like I've never been away.

The conference was a great success and I felt at home in my new role. There were some great speakers and an array of brands spanning from the US and Europe to across the Middle East including Neiman Marcus, Tiffany, Boutique 1, adidas, List, Campo Marzio and a live link in from Chicago with Gordon Segal, Founder of US retailer Crate & Barrel.

The panel sessions were enlightening and thought provoking and I was
complimented several times on my speaking and moderating skills.

The Conference ended with my infamous on-the-couch interview with Carmine Rotondaro, Global Real Estate Director for the PPR Group, who I will be seeing again in Hong Kong in a couple of days for a repeat performance at MIPIM Asia...at this rate I will be working for Gucci...mmm! The thought of all those clothes and accessories. Apparently Gucci have merchandise exclusive to a particular region so global travellers can shop wherever they go and be assured they have a unique purchase...if only I had a bottomless budget!

The perfect end to the day was an interview with Ignaz Gorischek, VP Stores and Development, Neiman Marcus for the December/January issue of RLI...don't miss it!

It is now 03.35 am and I am on the plane bound for Hong Kong so see you when I arrive.

Signing off...before I get my iPad taken off me!

A Retailers Dream...a husbands nightmare!

Sunday 4th November

Slept until 10am which is so unlike me as I had planned to be soaking up the rays before 9. Spent the morning by the pool before jetting off on a speed boat for Georgina to do some wake boarding...very impressive! Though I did have a slight heart attack the first time she fell in the water!

We took a taxi to Dubai Mall early afternoon had lunch at Pauls, a great British Patisserie! we then went to visit Kidzania one of my favourite concepts, I had arranged a tour for the girls and they were suitably impressed. Next on the agenda was shopping... Oh boy can us girls shop! Several bags, shoes and sunglasses later we returned to the hotel laden with our purchases. Too exhausted to go out, we had room service and finished packing with a bottle of champagne. An early night beckons...an important day tomorrow chairing the Future Retail Conference, moderating panel sessions and a finale on the couch interview with Gucci.

Until tomorrow...Ma' Asalam

If only Gucci had wings...

After two months of travelling the big one has finally arrived...two solid weeks of hopping on and off planes to 4 of the biggest global retail real estate events. first stop Dubai (one of my favourite places) for the Future Retail Conference 5-7 November, i'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and colleagues. Then it's off to Hong Kong early hours of Tuesday for Mipim Asia 7-9 November, back to Dubai on the 10th November in time for RECon MENA 11-13 November and finally to Cannes on the 13th November for this years much awaited Mapic.
2nd November

Where's Jayne...

Join me on my travels over the next 14 days as i update you on whats happening at the events and what I'm up to as I jet from Dubai to Hong Kong, back to Dubai and onto Cannes.

Girls on tour...Manchester's Sex and the City

The best part of my forthcoming world wind trip is that 3 of my closest friends are accompanying me on the first two legs. Georgina, Yvonne and Sophy...it all started on a girls night out last Christmas and they said how much they would love to come with me to Dubai, so I set the wheels in motion. They are so excited at the prospect of going to Dubai and Hong Kong that I hope that the last 9 months of planning, waiting and excitement pay off and it's everything they've anticipated. We are staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and I've organised a special tour of the Burj Al Arab with afternoon tea for tomorrow afternoon and then a special Dinner with Tomasso Cavalli, Roberto Cavalli's son tomorrow evening at the Cavalli club in the Fairmont Hotel Dubai...very excited as he's one of my favourite Designers, would love to get an interview for RLI , with his dad that is. A visit to Kidzania in Dubai Mall is planned for Sunday afternoon, one of my favourite concepts , I've talked about it that much I just have to show them. Then it's a little shopping...well one has to indulge when in Dubai, after all I always say "I'm a retailers dream and a husbands nightmare!" Sunday night we will explore the Madinat and take a trip to the Palm for cocktails and hopefully catch up with a few friends:)

Monday it's all work and no play...

I am now chairing the first day of the Future Retail Conference on the 5th November as well as moderating 3 panel sessions and one keynote interview with Carmine Rotondaro, Global Worldwide Real Estate Director of the PPR Group...a full packed agenda but I'm looking forward to it and its great profile for RLI.

Signing off until Dubai...see you on my travel)