Long service award

Peter Long, the TUI Travel chief executive, is to be decorated by Spain in recognition of his “extraordinary work” in supporting the country as a tourist destination. Mr Long, whose holiday empire includes such brands as Thomson, First Choice and Hayes & Jarvis, is to be presented with the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic - the equivalent to being made an OBE - at the Spanish Embassy in London at the end of next month. Ironically, the veteran tour operator has spent much of the past few years slashing capacity to Spain, although it remains a key destination and Peter does have a villa in Majorca.

Sweet smell of excess

My article last week about the scent created for the Holiday Inn chain has prompted LateRooms, the hotel booking website, to contact me about a new “Home from Home” kit it is developing for frequent travellers. The main element is a “unique scent devised by a scientologist to capture the smell of the individual's home”, helping to destress the traveller. LateRooms has even offered to create a personalised kit for me by sending a scent specialist to my home to create a spray I can take on my travels. But, to be frank, the smell of damp springer spaniel and old nappies is not that appealing.

Vodka with teeth

With the alcoholic drinks industry increasingly being demonised, it is a relief to find a legitimate excuse to down a couple of sharpeners. Snow Leopard, a premium Polish vodka, has helped to fund a number of new conservation projects run by the Snow Leopard Trust. These include a scheme for villages in Northern India that pays compensation to herders who lose livestock to snow leopards in return for their agreement not to kill the rare animals. The company gives 15 per cent of its profits to the projects, so the more you drink the better the chances of survival for the leopards.

Tennessee two-step

Last week's purchase by Campari of Italy of Wild Turkey, the Kentucky bourbon whiskey, has sparked speculation over the future of Brown-Forman, the US owner of the much bigger Jack Daniel's brand, made in neighbouring Tennessee. Some people have fingered Diageo as a possible predator, but industry insiders are increasingly talking about a merger between BrownForman and Bacardi. If the controlling families can be persuaded to the negotiating table, it would be a neat fit.

businessfeatures@thetimes.co.uk

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