You are here: Home » Editor's Note »

Welcome Guest, sign in or register here.

Margie T Logarta, managing editor, Asia, Panacea Publishing Asia and Business Traveller magazine, has observed the travel and hospitality industry long enough to be constantly asked for her opinion on issues affecting service and burning industry concerns. Here's her take on the world of business travel. She welcomes your comments, arguments and other musings.

AIN'T EASY GOING GREEN

It was only just before noontime of day one of AIME, the prestigious trade show in Melbourne for the business events and incentive travel industry, and already the strikingly purple coloured trolley bag, handed out to delegates by our hosts, was already bulging with folders of information about the latest places to network and discover.

I knew there was more to come, but I just couldn’t resist picking these up for fear of missing out on some tidbit of news that would prove useful for a future article for Business Traveller or MIX, our magazine for meetings and incentives or businesstraveller.asia. Who knew what news gems lay within the pages of those glossy daily bulletins or thick publications and directories? And contact details of helpful sources were always valuable for the ever hungry company database.

My cardholder was also bursting with business cards collected during pre-show functions, and while card scanners were available, people still preferred to conduct the exchange personally than using a machine to zap each other’s particulars. Besides, it cost A$49 dollars to rent.

After hearing so much about “green meetings” and “carbon offsetting”, I was a bit surprised to see that plastic mineral water bottles were still being used during the educationals and press conferences when one would have thought this high-profile industry occasion would be a chance to put the money where the mouth was. Was this a cost issue or an oversight, I could not tell.

Back at my serviced apartment, no matter how many times I hung my used towel on the peg, I would find a neatly – and presumably new – folded one in the evening on the accustomed spot that I had taken it from in the morning. My puny attempt to help preserve the environment thwarted again.

Habits are obviously difficult to lick – including my own to seize any scrap of paper I deem to yield news leads – and but our attempts to reduce waste and conserve resources, have to continue vigorously. And it’s starts with awareness to take a more pro-active stance.

It’s now day two. I will try to do better and ask for flashdrives before grabbing any material, or ask to be emailed the copy. And oh yes, call up housekeeping.

Margie T Logarta

Managing Editor, Asia

FINAL CHECK OUT 15/02/2012

I don’t know of a hotel that doesn’t crave some kind of publicity, and this week, the Beverly Hills Hilton received it in full measure — full story »

THE WEALTH OF HEALTH 08/02/2012

Hearing one’s heart beating amplified through the magic of state-of-the-art medical technology is - for lack of a better word - awesome. — full story »

WHEN RUDENESS ENDANGERS 08/02/2012

Hotel lounge singers and flight attendants, delivering safety instructions, may not realise it, but they share one thing in common – they often find themselves performing before inattentive audiences. — full story »

TRYING NOT TO LOSE IT 31/01/2012

Residing in a city (Hong Kong) that observes two New Year calendars (Gregorian and Lunar), Monday’s festivities provided me the opportunity to reiterate a personal resolution — full story »

PRICE OF PARTNERSHIP 16/01/2012

I just received a press release from a well-known luxury chain — full story »

FOCUSING ON THE FUN PART 11/01/2012

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) recently released a new country caption: “It’s more fun in the Philippines — full story »

SOME INFO, ANY INFO, PLEASE 04/01/2012

It was an all too familiar scene. We were to have left Manila for Hong Kong at 1835, but it was already 1845 and we were still waiting, — full story »