ON THE SOAPBOX: Editorial by Malcolm Ginsberg

Dear reader

All good things come to an end.  This is my closing travel review for TNU says Malcolm Ginsberg
 
It started for me back in 1993 with the purchase of Air & Business Travel News (ABTN).
 
For the most part it has been fun, even the pinching of the title by an unscrupulous publisher who added the word “Europe” to Business Travel News (BTN).  And then Covid.  As a weekly, pre-Covid and pre-GDPR, BTN was prescribed reading for 70,000 registered readers on a Monday morning.

I can be outspoken with these final comments.

I have seen the fall from grace of British Airways, no longer the “World’s Favourite Airline”, and the 747 and A380 rule of the skies coming to an end. And the demise of Concorde. 

As forecast, cruising has become big business.  London has at least retained its position as the entertainment capital of the world, with its hotels just about holding up in terms of quality.  Yes, certain Gulf cities are now seen as the epitome of leisure, but no real entertainment and limited sport.  You can dine well but London offers a larger choice, or retreat into the countryside. 

The word “influencer” is in vogue, the qualifications vague.  As a receiver of news, for the most part Public Relations has reached a new low with a myriad of agencies.  There are some very good professionals out there whose staff really know the product they represent and their way around the media, but nothing beats a good and experienced in-house practitioner, preferably a former journalist who will get out and network.  And my worst gripe!  People who do not return phone calls or emails.  In desperation I occasionally send letters via the Royal Mail, usually with no response!

But it has been exciting, reasonably remunerative and I have not yet been sued. 

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