REGULAR Backchat readers will know one of our favourite industry people is Jim Paul, the general manager of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
But he jeopardised his popularity last week while hosting the NITB annual trade quiz in London.
He was firing off the questions and cracking a few funnies when one of them failed spectacularly and could spell trouble for Jim and his NITB.
Turning to Travel Weekly’s reporter Moe Kafer, he said: “Oh, you won’t know the answer to this one, being American and that.”
Stunned silence all round. Moe raised her head and narrowed her eyes, while the whole room cried out: “She’s Canadian.”
Jim reeled back a few steps, hand reaching for his mouth and professed his most sincere apologies.
We hope Moe accepts them – she is our tourism reporter.