RIGHT NOW, TRAVEL is a newsworthy topic. Mention it, and someone is bound to bring up the subject of deadly pneumonia or terrorist revenge attacks as the war against Iraq rages.
But in reality, of course, the business person looking to do the best job possible has to grin and bear it, get to and from the airport, stay in hotels in foreign cities, utilise seminar rooms, eat food in airport cafes and, basically, travel.
If the company (or the client) wants them to go, they have to go.
Therefore, the organisers of Business Travel Expo 2003, which starts today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, are expecting as many, if not more, attendees this year as visited the last expo.
With companies tightening their belts substantially, people whose job it is to 'buy travel', to use industry jargon, will be looking for someone who can deliver the best overall deals when it comes to company travel.
The Informer spent some time with the group's visiting event director Paul Robin to find out how the expo is faring in such difficult times.
Q: How much interest in the expo are you expecting this year?