Q. Where are you based? I'm based in Singapore, where I've lived for 15 years. Originally, I'm from the UK.

Q. What outlet do you write for? I write for DestinAsian (https://destinasian.com/).

Q. Who is your audience? The DestinAsian audience consists of travelers who love exploring the Asia Pacific region in luxury and seek insider insights for their journeys.

Q. What are your travel specialties? We specialize in luxury travel throughout the Asia Pacific region. DestinAsian has been a trusted authority in this space since our print magazine launched in 2001. Our focus is on sharing the hidden stories that inspire travel. We've also run the highly respected DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards for the past 18 years, where our readers vote for their favorite destinations, hotels, and experiences across the region.

Q. What are your professional pet peeves? Senior people not sparing time to give advice to those starting out in the industry.

Q. In your past professional life, you were … I trained as a newspaper journalist and have been writing and editing ever since. Today, I work across multiple platforms and formats, not just print.

Q. Where would you like to return to? I'd love to return to Japan as I feel I've only scratched the surface. Luang Prabang in Laos, Siem Reap in Cambodia are all places I'd love to go back to. 

Q. What's on your bucket list? I've always wanted to witness the Northern Lights, visit Bhutan, and explore Mongolia.

Q. Where do you travel for fun? All travel is fun for me, but when I need a break from air travel and hotels, Cempedak Island in Indonesia is perfect. It offers Robinson Crusoe-style luxury just a ferry ride from Singapore—no TV, just relaxation!

Q. Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is … One of my most memorable travel moments was thinking I had been poisoned eating fugu fish in Tokyo when my lips started tingling. It turned out the spicy sauce I dipped it in was to blame!  On another trip our car's brakes failed while we were driving up Alpe d'Huez in France, but the silver lining was enjoying a three-hour picnic in the mountains while we waited for the mechanic.

Q. What advice would you give your younger professional self? Get out there and talk to everyone—on a plane, at a bar, anywhere! You never know who you'll meet or where your next story might come from.

Q. What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on? Everyone has a story to tell. Find out some background to inform your angle but don't overthink or over prepare, it spoils the flow. If you meet someone at a party for the first time you find out about them through natural conversation; think of an interview as an extension of that.

Q. How best should people contact you? You can reach me by email at alison@destinasian.com or via LinkedIn. I'm always open to pitches, and great travel stories from writers or PR firms. And if you're ever in the mood for a coffee or cocktail, let me know!