WorldCity Business Magazine

Sky Warrior

by Mary Dempsey

Six years ago, Luisa Foyo moved to AT&T’s international operations. Suddenly, she found herself shuttling between airports on the way to negotiate deals for AT&T’s international service in a territory that includes Mexico and Canada. Foyo’s not the only Sky Warrior in her household. Her husband George, shown with her on vacation in Rio de Janeiro, is president of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

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Where do you travel most frequently?

New York, New Jersey, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Argentina although this year I have also been to Hong Kong, London and Paris .

It sounds like you live in airports. How do you pass the time?

On my cell!

Do you have a favorite airport?

Hong Kong is impressive.

Is there one you dread?

The best can be a nightmare on any given day.

What’s the edgiest thing you’ve ever seen in an airport?

The [SARS] monitors that detect your body temperature to determine if your entry should be denied for health reasons. At the Hong Kong Airport, they monitor you from the time you walk in.

Do you have a favorite business destination?

Mexico. It’s a very elegant country where we have very sophisticated partners.

What about a favorite business hotel?

The Nikko in Mexico City.

And restaurants?

I love Asian food. Asia de Cuba in Manhattan is my favorite.

Still, I understand food is sometimes a problem when you travel.

I’m very particular about what I eat. For example, I hate French food. In Paris not long ago I ordered fish. The fish I was served was very thick and raw. I didn’t want to eat it and the chef came out with a kitchen with a thermometer to prove that it was done. You just can’t always get what you want on the road, which makes it challenging. Generally while traveling, I stick to a bland diet of fish and salads. No pasta.

Any other any pet peeves while traveling?

In most Latin America countries, it’s common for people to come in smoking. Even in restaurants. They don’t think anything of it. I hate that. It’s very true in Europe, too. Especially Spain

What do you do with your time on planes?

I generally take a lot of work with me. Once work is out of the way, I’m an avid reader. I go from reading biographies to reading novels. I love the Russian authors. When I’m at home there’s no time. So that’s one of the good things about traveling.

What’s the hardest thing about traveling on business?

Time-zone changes and keeping up with your e-mail.

Have you ever had a life-changing experience on a trip?

I arrived in So Paulo on Sept. 11, 2001. After we got to Brazil, we found out what had happened. My husband George was with me so I knew where he was. But it was a horrible experience, not knowing what would happen and whether there was greater cause to worry. All air traffic to the United States stopped. We were stuck in So Paulo for four days.

I suspect we already know the answer, but what cell phone service do you use when traveling?

AT&T Wireless, now Cingular, works for all my destinations.