Hi Gayatri, you took your first flight at 10 days old and you haven't looked back since. Tell us why you're passionate about travelling...
I once read a quote that said, "The world's a book and those who do not travel read but one page." That pretty much sums up my attitude to travelling. The world is a huge place full of amazing things and places - how can you not want to explore it all?! And, if you do it right, travel exposes you to so many different cultures, foods, and ways of life that I think you can't help but become more open-minded.

That brings us to your journalism journey, how did you get started?
I had always wanted to go into journalism, but I started the journey quite by chance. I was living in Melbourne (Australia) and working in digital marketing at the time, and a friend in Hong Kong mentioned that Artemis Communications was looking for an Editorial Assistant. I applied for the role and got it, then moved to Hong Kong and started work a month later! At Artemis, I worked across a number of luxury travel and lifestyle titles that allowed me to hone my skills and build a good network within the industry.

You're now the Editor at The Loop HK. What does the publication mainly cover?
The Loop HK is a Hong Kong-based digital media outlet dedicated to finding the best of Hong Kong. We cover everything the city has to offer, from restaurants and events to shopping and culture, and regularly run new restaurant reviews, city features, personality profiles, and news pieces. Of course, Hongkongers are big travellers, so we also have a travel section where we run hotel reviews and destination stories. 

What's your role at The Loop HK and what does the average day look like? 
I'm the Editor, which means that I manage most of the day-to-day running of the website and brand. I oversee editorial content, manage our social media, and even handle a little bit of sales (we're a small team!). On an average day, I might be writing articles, editing our writers' work, planning the editorial calendar, organising social media posts, preparing our weekly EDM, or discussing advertising opportunities with clients. Of course, a big part of the job involves going to industry events, so I also attend a lot of tastings at new restaurants, openings, parties, and other press events.

Apart from working as a full-time Editor at The Loop HK, you’re also a Freelancer. Can you tell us more about that?
I've been a Freelance Writer for almost five years now and have contributed to multiple publications around the world, including Forbes Travel Guide, Elite Traveler, Buro 24/7 Singapore, Yachting 360, and +852 (Hong Kong Airlines magazine). These days, I'm a regular contributor to the Royal Bank of Scotland's ContentLive portal, where I create lifestyle content and the occasional financial article; I also produce expat living guides for Expatica; and write about wellness for Destination Deluxe. In addition, I'm also the Content Editor for Easyship - a logistics platform - where I manage their blog, produce white papers and handle their social media. 

How can PRs best work with you?
To put it simply - you have to be in it to win it! Email us and invite us to your events...we're always looking for content ideas, but if you're not getting in touch, we can't help you. But that doesn't mean you should just start sending us every press release you have. You need to be strategic - figure out what The Loop HK is about and how what you're promoting could fit into some of our regular sections. 

What's on the cards for The Loop HK in the coming year?
We're rebranding our "30 Under 30" event, so stay tuned for that! We also launched our first dining and bar awards last year and it was so well-received that we're planning to run it again later this year. We're also hoping to put more events on, but that probably won't be until the second half of the year.

What are your top three tips for places to visit in Asia?
I grew up in Bangkok, so I will always consider Thailand one of the best places in Asia. I also love the private islands off Indonesia - Nikoi, Cempedak, and Telunas, for example. Japan's also really fascinating. It's such an incredible mix of tradition and modernity...and it's a real foodie paradise!