Shanghai Business Trip 2016

Beautiful Shanghai infrastructure
View from the JW Marriot

Big bosses are in town for half the week and travelling to Shanghai by the end of the week. Luckily, they'll be tagging me along to promote "my expertise" 😉 in China!

1st order of business - Filipino dinner for our visitors

I was informed that I would be included in the trip late so I had to rush applying for a Chinese Visa. The trip would only be for 3 days Thu - Saturday, but still it is important that I get to tag along. I have already missed one important business trip when my career in analytics was just starting and didn't want to have to miss another one again. At the last minute, my visa was approved but I had to take a different flight than the rest of the bosses.

my first ever solo trip - looking forward to the alone time

I was so nervous during the trip, knowing the issues between PH and CH. And how a small Pinay like me is travelling alone and might get caught doing something I had no idea I shouldn't be doing. Get it? Yeah, I was paranoid as hell. I arrived in China late Thursday night. Given that I had to book flights on the last minute (Tuesday - same week) I wasn't able to get a seat on the direct flights. I had to take Cathay from Manila to HK then Shanghai and same itinerary home. Checked in to the JW Marriot Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square which is my 2nd favorite hotel to date (1st is of course, The Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas). The whole trip was exhausting being that it took me the whole day to travel because of the layovers.

morning view from my window

After a good night sleep, I walked right over to the big window and was amazed by the view. It was a beautiful view. Got ready for work and met up with my bosses for breakfast and headed to the Sykes site in Shanghai.

with SG our Digital Products Director also known as my Social Media Partner in crime

The Sykes site was old and outdated but they welcomed us very warmly given that the Global VP that I was with is a good friend of the Regional VP. Far from the horror stories I kept hearing about from my other teammate's trip to this site - which was also the main reason why I was very paranoid. It was a productive day and I am so proud to have been part of this meeting.

Sykes Shanghai

Filipina in China - PH represent!

We were treated to a buffet lunch by the team and again treated to a nice dinner by the river. The view was breathtaking. Shanghai indeed boasts of good food and beautiful cityscape. 

The Bund, Shanghai

The next day was my trip back to Manila. Took advantage of the buffet and got ready to leave. It was such a short trip and so glad to have been given the chance to be part of it.

on the way home