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A group of top-tier national journalists sail in Bodrum, Turkey, as part of a press trip for Alpaytac client Turkish Airlines. |
ALPAYTAC
MARKETING
COMMUNICATIONS / PUBLIC RELATIONS
445 North Wells Street, Suite 401
Chicago, IL 60654
312/245-9805
www.alpaytac.com
Huma Gruaz, President/CEO
Caroline Sherman, Vice President
Michelle Mekky, Vice President
Alpaytac Marketing Comms. / Public Relations is an award-winning full service integrated marketing and public relations firm with an accomplished track record in the travel and tourism industry.
Founded in 2004 under the leadership of multi-lingual Huma Gruaz, a praised PR, marketing and branding expert named 2011 Brand Marketer of the Year by PR News, Alpaytac’s travel industry practice includes clients such as Turkish Airlines, British Airways, OpenSkies, Jet Edge International, private airlines such as Avantair — as well as countries across the world. The agency has strategically helped build and maintain strong brand presence and generate unparalleled nationwide media coverage in major publications and on national television shows for our travel industry clients. Alpaytac is renowned for organizing exclusive press trips recognized as “best in industry” by top-tier journalists which have resulted in millions of impressions. We have partnered with international hotels including the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to bring national exposure to their properties and countries. Alpaytac’s executive team has also represented major hotel brands including Marriott, Renaissance, Swissotel and W Hotels Worldwide.
Our comprehensive services include public relations, integrated strategic marketing, cutting-edge social media initiatives, event marketing, trade show support, and crisis communications.
Alpaytac has offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. We are also the leading U.S. agency for ECCO, one of the world’s largest networks of independent PR agencies providing the opportunity to represent our clients in 40 countries.
BLAZE
225 Santa Monica Blvd., 3rd Flr. Santa Monica, CA 90401
310/395-5050
mkovacs@blazepr.com
www.blazepr.com
Matt Kovacs, EVP/GM
Blaze is the nationally recognized PR firm that attracts compelling and aggressive consumer brands that need to win. Blaze develops campaigns that help our clients create relevance in the marketplace. Utilizing comprehensive strategic communications campaigns to differentiate and elevate our clients from their competitors, we are able to exceed our clients’ expectations when it comes to positioning them to their audiences, and attracting positive attention from both consumers and the media. Blaze creates and manages interactive communities using Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and YouTube for clients. Our social media division works hand-in-hand with the PR team to reach targeted media, influencers and consumers to support all PR initiatives. Blaze also offers full public affairs capabilities through its parent company Davies.
Clients: 7-Eleven, Ama Waterways, BrunchButler, Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa, Dripp Coffee, Grill Concepts, Marina del Rey CVB, Natural Ad Campaign, SnöBar Cocktails, Royal Jelly, Snowcreek Resort, The Bank of Santa Barbara, The Living Christmas Company, The Original Tommy’s Burgers and The Veggie Grill.
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Coyne PR was enlisted as the agency of record for South African Tourism to promote and educate media and consumers on the rich and vibrant culture of South Africa. In addition to news bureau, FAM/VIP trips, consumer and trade events, tradeshows, media tours
and key partnerships, Coyne PR is charged with producing creative platforms to reinforce South African Tourism’s promotional efforts in
the U.S. |
COYNE PR
5 Wood Hollow Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054
973/588-2000
www.coynepr.com
1065 Avenue of the Americas
28th Floor
New York, NY 10018
212/938-0166
Tom Coyne, CEO
Rich Lukis, President
John Gogarty, Executive Vice President, Travel, Entertainment & Lifestyle
Jennifer Kamienski, Vice President
Lauren Mackiel Gory, Assistant Vice President
Min Tak, Assistant Vice President
Coyne PR’s Travel practice possesses the creativity, experience and passion to make a game-changing impact on your business. Our team has managed and executed world-class events and promotions, brand building campaigns, social media programs and media relations for some of the travel industry’s most prominent brands and destinations. Clients include: Hard Rock International, Disney Parks & Resorts, Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Lines, South African Tourism, Heathrow Airport and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The Coyne Travel team has developed ideas and campaigns that take our clients where they want to be — and beyond. Our in-depth knowledge of the travel industry and long-standing relationships with the travel media help brands stand out in the crowded travel marketplace.
DEVELOPMENT COUNSELLORS INTERNATIONAL (DCI)
215 Park Avenue South, 10th Fl.
New York, NY 10003
212/725-0707
www.aboutdci.com
Twitter: @AboutDCI
Andrew Levine, President/Chief
Creative Officer
Karyl Leigh Barnes, Senior Vice
President/Partner
DCI is the leader in marketing places. Since 1960, our firm has represented more than 400 destinations around the world, stimulating visitor arrivals and investment through economic development and tourism marketing. DCI’s Tourism Practice features three divisions: public relations/consumer marketing; travel trade marketing/representation and meetings/incentive sales.
Each division has access to our tourism digital/social media strategist, whose recommended programs can be implemented in-house. Our current client roster includes some of the most dynamic destination brands in the travel space including such states as California, Massachusetts, North Carolina; cities such as Park City, Portland (OR), and Toronto (ON); and international destinations including Dubai, Namibia, Scotland, Tasmania; as well as the U.S. Travel Association. These destinations are served by our staff of more than 50 destination marketers, from our New York headquarters, and regional offices in Denver, Los Angeles, Tampa and Toronto.
EDELMAN
200 E. Randolph St., Ste. 6300
Chicago, IL 60601
312/240-2659
Cathleen.johnson@edelman.com
250 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
212/704-4501
Julie.freeman@edelman.com
Julie Freeman, Executive Vice President
Cathleen Johnson, Executive Vice President
Edelman is a global family of public relations companies, ranked #1 on O’Dwyer’s list of agencies specializing in tourism since 1999. Edelman’s Travel, Hospitality and Lifestyle practice is unique among its peers for strategic combination of consumer branding, digital innovation and media relations savvy within the travel landscape. Our global team of passionate, involved tourism experts uses the worldwide reach and resources of the Edelman network to deliver award-winning results with a boutique service ethic and dedication to clients. Clients include destinations, hospitality brands, airlines, iconic attractions, cruise lines, online tourism providers and technology companies and industry associations.
In the rapidly changing world of tourism, Edelman is helping its clients find new perspective and solutions to marketing challenges, particularly in social media integration. A new breed of traveler is focused on technology for the travel process, a change that has led to online travel agencies, websites, mobile applications and travel aggregators all fighting for the travelers’ attention and dollars. We develop programs that are grounded in research and strategy, demonstrate thought leadership and integrate marketing needs from traditional media relations to crisis and corporate social responsibility, to the many opportunities that abound in social media management.
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Fahlgren Mortine CEO Neil Mortine and members of the FM tourism
team enjoyed some sand between their toes after a presentation in Myrtle Beach, S.C. |
FAHLGREN
MORTINE
4030 Easton Station, Suite 300
Columbus, OH 43219
614/383-1500
www.fahlgrenmortine.com
Neil Mortine, President and CEO
Melissa Dykstra, Chief Engagement Officer
Marty McDonald, VP, Tourism Practice Leader
Fahlgren Mortine works with clients in various industries in 29 states and is a top 30 independent firm nationally. The firm has been recognized with dozens of national PR and tourism awards, including Silver and Bronze Anvils from PRSA and a Mercury Award from the U.S. Travel Association, and was most recently recognized as a 2011 Bulldog Reporter Agency of the Year and a 2012 PRWeek Agency of the Year finalist.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Fahlgren Mortine also has locations in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio; Parkersburg and Charleston, W. Va.; Denver, Colo.; Ft Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Travel industry client experience includes Ohio Office of Tourism; Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB; Experience Columbus; Hilton Columbus Downtown; Hocking Hills Tourism Association; U.S. Department of the Interior; National Park Service; North Dakota National Parks; Franklin Park Conservatory; and many other destinations, regions, festivals, hospitality properties and more.
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The global media spotlight shined on Jamaica as Prince Harry visited
the island nation as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour. Prince Harry raced the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, in a friendly match among dozens of media and spectators. Finn Partners
is AOR for the Jamaica Tourist Board in the Americas. |
FINN PARTNERS
Headquarters
301 East 57th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212/715-1600
gail@finnpartners.com
www.finnpartners.com
Gail L. Moaney, APR, Practice Head, Managing Partner
212/583-2749
The Finn Partners Travel and Economic Development practice is a team unrivaled by the creativity, execution and commitment we bring to our clients. It is a commitment to being available 24/7, to sacrificing, engaging and achieving on their behalf. It’s a commitment we’ve always made, with dynamic, research-based PR programs customized to the specific challenges of the travel industry. It’s a commitment to being an extension of our clients’ brands — a true partner in every sense of the word. When that commitment is united with unsurpassed skill and experience in all the critical areas of tourism marketing and economic development — including promotions, crisis management, and strategic public relations planning — and a global network of travel media, trade and sales contacts, we produce the results our clients demand and deserve.
FRENCH | WEST | VAUGHAN
112 E. Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
919/832-6300
www.fwv-us.com
Rick French, Chairman & CEO
David Gwyn, President / Principal
Natalie Best, Executive Vice President / Principal
French | West | Vaughan (FWV) is the Southeast’s leading public relations, public affairs and brand communications agency, independent or otherwise. Founded in April 1997 by Agency Chairman & CEO Rick French, FWV now employs 70 public relations, advertising and digital marketing experts. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., FWV also has offices in New York City, Tampa, Dallas and Los Angeles.
FWV’s dedicated travel and tourism practice, ranked as the #15 firm for Travel and Tourism PR by O’Dwyer’s, boasts extensive destination marketing experience, specializing in lifestyle and leisure marketing and public relations. Current travel and tourism industry clients include the Dude Ranchers’ Association, the Wilmington and Beaches CVB (N.C.), Carolina Beach, Kurie Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Tweetsie Railroad — North Carolina’s Oldest Theme Park. In addition, FWV has worked with Divi Resorts and its nine Caribbean properties, and co-operative destination marketing with each of the tourism organizations for Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, St. Croix (U.S.V.I. Dept. of Tourism) and St. Maarten; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Cabarrus County, N.C. — home to NASCAR’s Lowe’s Motor Speedway; Oakland County, Mich..; Branson, Mo.; the Old Salem Moravian Village in N.C.; the Greater Raleigh CVB; and America’s Historic Triangle, located in Williamsburg, Va.
In addition to its diverse range of travel and tourism clients, FWV works with many of the world’s leading companies and brands, including international utility provider ABB, Wrangler, SAS, RBC Bank, Justin Boot Company, Melitta Coffee, Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants, spirits company Hood River Distillery (Pendleton Whisky, Pendleton 1910, Yazi Ginger Vodka, Broker’s Gin and SinFire Cinnamon Whisky), and the U.S. Polo Association. The agency’s fully integrated creative and digital team provides award-winning advertising, graphic design and digital and social media services for a wide range of clients.
GRAHAM & ASSOCIATES
111 Maiden Lane, Ste. #650
San Francisco, CA 94108
415/986-7212
Fax: 415/986-7216
PR@graham-associates.com
www.graham-associates.com
Graham & Associates is renowned for award-winning expertise in strategic national and international PR, communications, branding and social media programs for travel and hospitality, consumer lifestyle and real estate clients. The agency also has a proven specialty working with companies with an environmental and socially responsible focus.
Founded in 1996, the agency is known for its successful launches, relaunches and highly creative and results-driven campaigns. Graham & Associates has a successful track record with hallmark and emerging companies and properties, including Cavallo Point, Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, Post Ranch Inn, El Capitan Canyon, Evergreen Lodge, Wyndham Worldwide, Luma, and more.
Graham is recognized in the industry with 59 top national PR awards (since 2002) including Stevie’s Best Communication Campaign, North America, PRSA’s Silver Anvil; a Special Creativity Award from the International Public Relations Association (all in tourism); and the Magellan “Best Agency Communications Campaign Worldwide.” Graham operates throughout Europe via Plexus, an exclusive organization of agencies, it co-founded.
GREGORY FCA
27 West Athens Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
610/642-8253
www.GregoryFCA.com
Greg Matusky, President
Kristin Elliott, Vice President, Business Development
Jackie Zima-Evans, Associate Vice President
Gregory FCA is a full service, strategically integrated public relations firm with over 20 years of experience, located outside Philadelphia. Considered one of the finest travel and tourism PR firms, Gregory FCA develops award-winning solutions to marketing challenges for its clients to engage target audiences with maximum credibility and effectiveness, grounded in measurement and reporting. Travel industry experience includes strategic public relations counseling, social media campaign development, integrated digital marketing programs, travel deal and campaign launches, trade show support and speaking engagements, issues management for world events, reputation management, press tours and new destination launches.
Travel industry client experience: Friendly Planet Travel, a full-service leading tour operator that offers exotic travel at exceptional prices around the globe; United Airlines; LAN Airlines; Emirates Airline; Lufthansa; Air China; EgyptAir; Singapore Airlines; Sheraton; Marriott; Renaissance; and Crowne Plaza.
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The staff at J Public Relations. |
J PUBLIC
RELATIONS
131 Varick Street, #909
New York, NY 10013
212/924-3600
Fax: 212/898-1361
www.jpublicrelations.com
1620 Fifth Avenue, #700
San Diego, CA 92101
619/255-7069
Fax: 619/255-1364
Kim Julin Guyader, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Founding Partners
Sarah Evans, Managing Partner
J Public Relations (JPR) is a savvy, connected and proven bi-coastal public relations firm specializing in innovative travel, hospitality and lifestyle clientele. With offices on both coasts, in New York City and San Diego, JPR is committed to devising strategic media relations campaigns designed to have personal appeal while maximizing brand visibility and media coverage across a broad range of top tier media outlets. We are known for creating a sustainable “buzz” among media, influencers and industry insiders. Our clear strategy is based on specific client goals, “wish lists” and revenue-driving markets and verticals.
Our long-standing relationships with top national journalists and freelancers, coupled with our extensive travel, hospitality and lifestyle expertise, has earned the JPR team a reputation as a trusted industry resource. We are committed to providing our contacts with spot-on, newsworthy content ideas related to consumer focused, travel, design, culinary and lifestyle articles, as well as respected industry trade and business focused publications in key regional and national markets.
We are publicists, strategists, tastemakers, social media mavens, foodies, travelers, and above all — passionate. We consider ourselves an extension of our clients’ internal sales and marketing teams, providing a personal, customized approach to our clientele and their media campaigns. Having added several new international travel clients to our roster over the past year, our portfolio continues to expand, solidifying our position as one of the top hospitality public relations firms in the country.
A sampling of our current client list includes: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Mayakoba, The Surrey, Rancho Valencia Resort, Washington School House, Lake Placid Lodge, The Regent Palms Turks & Caicos, Vanderbilt Grace, THE US GRANT, L’Auberge de Sedona, JC Resorts, The Chanler Hotel, Y.CO Yachts, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Enlightened Hospitality Group, and RMD Group.
JANINE GORDON ASSOCIATES
11 East 26th Street, 19th floor
New York, NY 10010
212/831-3020
jgordon@jgordonassociates.com
www.jgordonassociates.com
Janine Gordon, President & CEO
Alvin Schechter, Chairman and Director, Branding
John Donofrio, CFO
Janine Gordon Associates excels at expanding brand connections for travel and tourism clients through big ideas and flawless execution. The agency is highly focused on luxury lifestyle brands. JGA understands the challenges inherent in building relationships with high net worth and super-affluent travelers.
Established in 1993 by Janine Gordon, formerly CEO Of Saatchi & Saatchi Public Relations, JGA is a cutting-edge New York City PR boutique with the sophistication and energy required to pierce the clutter of communications in the travel industry. Chairman Alvin Schechter, a former CEO of Interbrand, brings world-class branding skills to JGA clients.
As long-term publicists for the annual American Express-Harrison Group Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, we are privy to the most up-to-date findings on what drives the behavior of the rich and the super-rich. Our work is characterized by ingenuity in thinking and transparency in style. We are experts in the full range of communications tools. Our goal is to deliver shrewd brand strategy, high profile media coverage, A-list events, compelling celebrity endorsements, social media content with viral appeal and high-impact strategic alliances —always within the context of a fully integrated strategy.
Result: Positive brand awareness, increased sales and long-term brand value for JGA clients. If you want to expand your brand’s connections, start by visiting our website.
K. SUTHERLAND PUBLIC
RELATIONS
California • Nevada
KSutherlandPR.com
949/328-4895
Kerry Sutherland, Founder
K. Sutherland PR is a boutique public relations, social media and branding agency providing insight-driven, cross-platform, and grassroots solutions to communications challenges.
From international luxury resorts, boutique hotels, adventure destinations, spas, lifestyle travel brands and more, the team at K. Sutherland PR executes innovative, personalized and targeted campaigns comprising of both traditional and new media avenues that help clients achieve their business goals. In addition, everyone within the agency has a deep appreciation for and love of travel and culture. The agency is multilingual and works with travel clients from around the world. Learn more at KSutherlandPR.com.
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LDPR with its clients from Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island celebrate the “Best of Show” win at the HSMAI gala in New York City. From Left: Ashley Day and Sara Geen Hill from LDPR, Caitlin Austin, Jennifer Ferguson and Megan Marchesini of Kerzner International |
LAURA DAVIDSON PUBLIC
RELATIONS
72 Madison Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
212/696-0660
www.ldpr.com
Laura Davidson, President
Leslie Cohen, Executive Vice President
In February 2012, Laura Davidson Public Relations (LDPR) received the public relations industry’s biggest honor, winning the “Best of Show” Adrian Award from The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). HSMAI presented its Adrian Awards to the top companies in hospitality, travel and tourism for achievements in advertising, public relations and digital marketing.
LDPR won 17 awards including the Best of Show, One Platinum, 5 Gold, 5 Silver and 5 Bronze for PR excellence. The coveted Platinum was for a consumer marketing campaign for the opening of “CRUSH” Teen Club at Atlantis, Paradise Island, which also won BEST OF SHOW in the PR category among six other Platinum winners.
LDPR represents many of the most prestigious destinations and resorts in the world. Our client roster includes VisitScotland; Tourisme Montréal; Melbourne / Tourism Victoria, Australia; Bal Harbour, Florida; the island of Mustique; Eden Rock, St Barths; Curtain Bluff, Antigua; The Resort at Paws Up, Montana; Preferred Hotel Group; Loews Hotels; Trump SoHo New York; Abercrombie & Kent; Mayflower Renaissance, Washington DC; Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York; The Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island; SELMAN Marrakech and The Somerset on Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos, among others.
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Lou Hammond & Associates at the “adopted” bench in New York
City’s Central Park that celebrates Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s
25 year association with the team. Pictured are members from the luxury group’s New York office and the Lou Hammond & Associates client account staff. |
LOU HAMMOND & ASSOCIATES
39 East 51st Street
New York, NY 10022
212/308-8880
Fax: 212/891-0200
lha@lhammond.com
www.louhammond.com
www.twitter.com/louhammondpr
www.facebook.com/louhammondpr
www.pinterest.com/louhammondpr
Lou Hammond, Founder and Chairman
Stephen Hammond, President
Terence Gallagher, Executive Vice President
Founded in 1984, Lou Hammond & Associates (LH&A) is the recognized leader in travel and hospitality public relations. LH&A’s experience in all facets of tourism from destination, where LH&A represents a diverse clientele that includes cities and states, counties and countries, some 16 worldwide, to hotel, spa, cruise and culinary, is among the most highly honored and recognized in the industry, winning more Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards over the past dozen years more than any other entrant.
The company’s passion as well as an unswerving commitment to quality is a legacy driven by its legendary founder and chairman, Lou Hammond, regarded as one of the most well-known and enthusiastic advocates for LH&A clients and the industry as a whole.
The Lou Hammond approach is no nonsense and straightforward. The company creates innovative, value-driven campaigns for traditional and social mediums marked by strategic thinking and swift action that lead to measurable, bottom-line results. This method, along with an ability to respond to market changes quickly, has earned the company the trust of its clients and most proudly for the agency, long-term relationships — including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, an LH&A client for more than 25 years.
This year, Lou Hammond & Associates has added to their list of distinguished tourism clients including: American Express; Paradise Coast (Naples, Marco Island, Everglades), FL; The Great American Steamboat Co.; OHEKA CASTLE Hotel & Estate; Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and the State of New Hampshire.
M BOOTH
300 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
212/481-7000
Fax: 212/481-9440
margib@mbooth.com
katieb@mbooth.com
www.mbooth.com
Margaret Booth, CEO
Katie Barr Cornish, Vice President/Director, Travel
M Booth, Creative Agency of the Year, excels in creating public relations programs that inspire today’s traveler and drive bottom-line results for our clients. Our creative science approach — the intersection of research, insight and imagination — shapes opinion, enhances reputation and drives business results for some of the world’s most influential travel brands. We reach today’s traveler in new and creative ways by using traditional media relations as a platform for larger, more comprehensive campaigns that leverage social media, strategic partnerships, co-branded promotions and TV/film integration. Over the last 15 years, our travel practice has collaborated with high-profile destinations, both domestic and international, as well as leading travel and hospitality brands in the following categories: hotels and resorts, cruise, online travel sites, travel content and guidebooks and travel service providers. Current clients include Allianz Global Assistance USA, Montage Hotels & Resorts, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, Waze and Wyndham Rewards.
MISSY FARREN & ASSOCIATES
33 E. 33rd Street, Suite 905
New York, NY 10016
212/528-1691
www.mfaltd.com
Missy Farren & Associates is a mid-sized agency offering the personal attention of a boutique firm while delivering meaningful results that impact bottom line. Our passion for travel drives professional success and relationships in various niches, including: culinary, adventure, family, romance, Caribbean, wellness/spa, culture, wine/spirits and sports. The agency specializes in strategic media relations; social media strategy and management; partnership development; event facilitation; spokesperson positioning; and crisis communications.
Our team of agile, professional marketers pairs innovative thinking and never-say-never attitudes to deliver significant results and exceed expectations.
Industry experience includes: Aspen Ski Co.; Cayman Airways; Cayman Cookout; The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism; The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; Colorado Ski Country; Disneyland 50th Anniversary; Disneyland Food & Beverage; Golden Horseshoe Golf Club; Limelight Hotel; The Little Nell; The Lodge at Woodloch; Michelin Food & Travel; Mission Hill Family Estate; Montagna Restaurant; National Trust for Historic Preservation; Proximity Hotel; The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New York; Roadtrips Inc.; Royal Plantation Collection; Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort; The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg; Squaw Valley; Steamboat; Trapp Family Lodge; Twin Farms; Whistler Blackcomb; and more.
MMGY GLOBAL PR
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 902
New York, NY 10016
www.mmgyglobal.com
Charles Mardiks, Managing Director
Elisa Fershtadt, Senior Vice President
Roland Alonzi, Vice President
MMGY Global PR (formerly MMG Mardiks) is a division of MMGY Global, a full-service marketing communications company working exclusively in the travel and tourism industry. MMGY Global was formed earlier this year as a result of the merger of MMG Worldwide and Y Partnership.
Providing expert strategic counsel in media relations, branding, event marketing and crisis communications, our team has a track record of developing and implementing award-winning, creative public relations programs and brand-building campaigns for clients from around the world. We’ve recently added expert research capabilities to include development of primary client insights, brand and strategy creation, analysis of traveler trends and an unmatched understanding of consumer and intermediary audiences. Through our Digital Media Practice, MMGY has integrated new media, social networking and LiveWeb strategies into an overall strategic direction for our clients.
While we offer large agency resources, our PR team is small enough to provide each client with senior-level, hands-on involvement and service. Our dynamic PR team has solid industry experience and maintains close contacts with both traditional print and broadcast media in addition to emerging social/digital media and new buzz-building channels.
Current clients include: American Association for Nude Recreation; Barceló Hotels and Resorts; Choice Hotels; Colorado Tourism Office; Fiesta Americana Grand, by Grupo Posadas; German National Tourist Office; Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa, Saratoga, NY; Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, MI; Hotel Missoni; Lebua Hotels & Resorts; The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, FL; Live Aqua Cancun, by Grupo Posadas; The May Fair Hotel, London; The Napa Valley Destination Council; Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Edwardian Hotels; Regent Hotels & Resorts; Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino; Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino; Rocky Mountaineer; Visit Sarasota County; Select Registry: Distinguished Inns of North America; Sterling Resorts; Telluride, CO; Terranea Resort, CA; Travel Guard and the Vacation Rental Managers Association.
M. SILVER
ASSOCIATES, INC.
747 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
www.msilver-pr.com
Morris Silver, Chairman & CEO
Virginia M. Sheridan, President
Rosalie Hagel, Executive VP
Linda Ayares, Senior VP
In business for 35 years and with offices in New York and South Florida, M. Silver Associates is one of the country’s leading mid-sized public relations and marketing communications agencies specializing in travel, tourism and the hospitality industry. MSA has received more than 350 awards for excellence and agency principals Morris Silver and Virginia M. Sheridan have been honored with Lifetime Achievement awards by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) and other organizations.
Clients have included leading international and domestic destinations, multinational hospitality companies, individual hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, rail companies, travel industry associations, and gaming operations. MSA also has worked in luxury branding, consumer products, resort real estate, spas, food & beverage, cause-related, CRS, digital applications and crisis management.
Recent achievements include the “Defrost your Swimsuit” and “Vacation like a VIP” marketing programs for Greater Fort Lauderdale, and for the Singapore Tourist Board, two episodes of Top Chef, as well as an Anthony Bourdain media luncheon for 50 and segments on the Martha Stewart Show on Turkey. MSA also supported the 26 member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in responding to the global economic crisis and tragic Costa Concordia sinking.
The agency is represented globally by its partnership in the Worldcom Public Relations Group — a worldwide alliance of more than 100 independent agencies in 96 cities on 6 continents.
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At the 25th Anniversary celebration the Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations Team gathered with friends, colleagues, clients and media
at the Bowery Hotel in NYC. |
NANCY J.
FRIEDMAN
PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.
35 East 21st Street, 8th Flr.
New York, NY 10010
212/228-1500
Fax: 212/228-1517
mail@njfpr.com
www.njfpr.com
Nancy J. Friedman, President Emily Wilson, Managing Director
NJFPR’s “Leave No Stone Unturned” philosophy has catapulted the firm to the top of the category in travel and hospitality. For clients seeking senior level counsel, advocacy of their product and unrivalled media savvy, Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations is a first-stop. A self-described “media junkie with wanderlust”, Nancy and her team pride themselves on long-term partnerships with clients and the ability to wring every ounce of marketing potential out of a property or destination utilizing social media, traditional media, events and creative promotions. The Agency pioneered NY’s first Hotel Week in January 2012 to great success and will be increasing participation for January 2013.
Clients: Inn at Little Washington, VA; The Nantucket, MA; Refinery Hotel, NY; Sea Island, GA; The Cloister, Sea Island, GA
; The Lodge, Sea Island, GA; The OUT NYC, New York; Fodor’s Travel Guidebooks; The Charles Hotel, Boston; Le Sport/Body Holiday, St. Lucia; Rendezvous, St. Lucia; Waldorf Astoria Chicago, IL; Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City; The Water Club — A Signature Hotel by Borgata; Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; Westin Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino; Gansevoort, Turks and Caicos; Gansevoort Park, New York; Hotel Gansevoort, New York; The Maritime Hotel, New York; The Bowery Hotel, New York; The Jane, New York; The Pod Hotel, New York; Grand Hyatt New York; Broadway @ Times Square, New York; The Hotel @ Times Square, New York; nyma, the new york manhattan hotel, New York; The Quin Hotel, New York; JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Scottsdale; JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert; Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole, WY; The Condado Vanderbilt, Puerto Rico; Doubletree Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico; The Courtyard Isla Verde, Puerto Rico; La Concha Resort: A Renaissance Hotel, Puerto Rico; El Convento, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa, Guanica, Puerto Rico; St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida; Cooperstown, New York; The Otesaga Hotel, Cooperstown, NY; Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY; Farmer’s Museum, Cooperstown, NY; Ria at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, IL; and Hotel Week.
OGILVY PUBLIC RELATIONS WORLDWIDE
636 11th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
212/880-5345
mitch.markson@ogilvy.com
www.ogilvypr.com
Mitch Markson, President, Global Consumer Marketing
Ogilvy Public Relations knows tourism. Our team consists of travel and tourism experts with specific strengths in the areas of consumer and brand PR, corporate communications, crisis communications and reputation management, events management, trade marketing, partnership and alliances, sponsorship creation and leverage, content creation and development, digital and traditional media relations. Ogilvy PR has successfully elevated brands across a variety of travel industry categories including, hospitality, tour, cruise, airline, transportation, technology and destinations.
Our combination of research-based strategy, break through creativity, and flawless execution deliver strong media talkability and business building impact. Our work has helped clients to reach potential travelers where they work, live and play. Relevant travel and tourism clients include the Mexico Tourism Board and the Government of Mexico, Virgin Airlines, Tourism New South Wales, Hilton Hotels, Tourism Australia, Ireland Golf, Singapore Airlines, Brazil, Scotland, France, Chile, Malta and Puerto Rico.
PADILLA SPEER BEARDSLEY
101 W. River Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612/455-1716
www.padillaspeer.com
Tom Jollie, Senior VP
John Anderson, Director
Padilla Speer Beardsley is an integrated communications firm with offices in Minneapolis and New York City. We create and reenergize brands, develop integrated marketing campaigns, stage high-profile events and promotions, and handle crises. Our approach utilizes a proprietary methodology that provides insight, guides strategy and generates measurable outcomes. Our award-winning programs have driven business results for clients for more than 50 years.
Padilla’s travel and tourism experience includes work for Jefferson Lines, Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, the Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, and Meet Minneapolis.
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Quinn & Co. VP Katie Coleman experiences Abu Dhabi from atop a camel while leading a press trip for client Etihad Airways. |
QUINN & CO.
520 8th Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10018
212/868-1900
www.quinnandco.com
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter: @Quinnandco
Florence Quinn, President,
@florenceq
John Frazier, Executive Vice President, @giraffe1
Lara Berdine, Senior Vice President, @laraberdine
Greg McGunagle, Senior Vice President, @gregmcgunagle
Michelle Abril, Vice President, @mi_chellea
Katie Coleman, Vice President and Digital Media Contact, @Kate212
Morgan Painvin, Vice President, @morganbreadwine
Q&C combines strong strategic thinking and passionate media relations with our signature creative to develop highly effective integrated PR programs that help our clients in Consumer; Digital Media; Food, Wine + Spirits; Lifestyle; Real Estate and Travel achieve their goals and, ultimately, drive business.
In digital media, we conduct audits, identify opportunities and challenges then generate recommendations and campaigns to meet goals, manage reputation and engage.
Our unique, creative approach, recognized globally, has produced significant results for clients, a number of industry firsts and many accolades.
Here are a few examples of our work in Travel:
- U.S. PR firm behind the blockbuster The Best Job in the World (Tourism Queensland), a viral phenomenon that generated more than $100 million worth of ad value and 6.7 million website visitors.
- Created AKA’s outdoor bedroom, an industry-first that generated coverage in many outlets, including WSJ, NYT, Travel + Leisure and internationally.
- Helped develop Affinia Hotel’s TLC (Tender Living Comforts) Movement that has produced over 1 billion in media impressions to date.
- Created Luxury Manifesto, a series of video chats between the Waldorf-Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand leader and luxury pundits such as Tommy Hilfiger, Danny Meyer and Richard David Story to position the collection at the forefront of the luxury conversation.
- We developed Occidental Hotels & Resorts’ social media and reputation management strategy and plan, trained 40 executives and staff from 13 properties and are now leading the implementation.
- Produced a “red-carpet” media swarm for the arrival of rooftop beehives at The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel with feature stories in AP, WSJ, NYT and on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, Good Morning America, FOX and CBS.
- Developed the first-ever National Hamentaschen Eating Championship for EL AL Israel Airlines. The WSJ covered it in a feature.
- Invented Martini on the Rock, the $10,000 martini at The Algonquin Hotel that was covered by more than 400 TV segments and made it into Trivial Pursuit.
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rbb Public Relations worked with the Los Cabos Convention and
Visitors Bureau to host a group of key travel and lifestyle journalists — ranging from bloggers and freelance writers to trade and consumer
publication editors — for a multi-brand experiential trip that showcased the Los Cabos experience, combined with the benefits of
the luxury all-inclusive stay. |
RBB PUBLIC
RELATIONS
355 Alhambra Circle, Suite 800
Miami, FL 33134
305/448-7450
www.rbbpr.com
Christine Barney, CEO
Lisa Ross, President
Tina Elmowitz, Executive Vice President
Three-time winner of the “PR Agency of the Year”, rbb Public Relations is a national marketing PR firm that helps hospitality brands break out from the competition, and motivate and influence customers.
Working with Homewood Suites by Hilton, the agency received five 2011 HSMAI Adrian Awards and won Adrian and The Holmes Report SABRE awards two years in a row for the best travel crisis communication campaign for AMResorts. The firm’s hospitality client roster also includes Home2 Suites by Hilton, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets, Dreams, Now and Sunscape Resorts & Spas by AMResorts and PriceTravel.
rbb offers best practices in media relations, corporate and crisis communications, product introductions and digital/social media, and gives its clients strategic counsel and results with the individual attention only a boutique agency can provide. Find out how rbb can help your brand break out by visiting www.rbbpr.com or call 305/448-7457.
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Redpoint Marketing PR stages an unbelievable” event in celebration
of World Sword swallower’s Day for client Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square. |
REDPOINT
MARKETING PR, INC.
161 Avenue of the Americas Suite 1305
New York, NY 10013
212/229-0119
miranda@redpointpr.com
www.redpointpr.com
Victoria Feldman de Falco, Principal
Christina Miranda Diaz, Principal
Specializing in travel, hospitality, interior design, and home furnishings, Redpoint is a full service marketing PR firm with an entrepreneurial style, brand building expertise, and a passion for results. We orchestrate compelling campaigns that integrate traditional PR with sophisticated digital and social media marketing initiatives.
Select travel/hospitality clients include the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Oceania Cruises; Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Woodstock Inn & Resort, VT; Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square; US Tour Operations Association; Hidden Pond Resort, ME; The Tides Beach Club, ME; The Kennebunkport Inn, ME; The Cottages at Cabot Cove, ME; The Old Fort Inn, ME; The Dylan Hotel, Amsterdam; Simon Pearce.
Redpoint executives bring a “nose for news” to every client challenge, ensuring that marketing ideas have just the right dash of risk to make them significantly newsworthy without being operationally challenging to implement.
ROGERS & COWAN
8687 Melrose Avenue, 7th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310/854-8117
Fax: 310/854-8106
inquiries@rogersandcowan.com
www.rogersandcowan.com
Tom Tardio, CEO
Tara Walls, EVP
Rogers & Cowan offers significant experience in creating and executing integrated marketing, PR and social media campaigns for clients in the travel and tourism industries, including resorts and resort developers, hotel associations, government tourism offices, visitors bureaus, museum and cultural exhibits, live shows, airlines, cruise lines, sporting events and travel media.
We create marketing communications and social media strategies that elevate a client’s core messages beyond travel outlets and into lifestyle media through the influence of entertainment. Our distinctive approach goes beyond core media relations to include destination integration into entertainment content, Facebook promotions, influencer seeding / outreach, special events, social media strategies and green / sustainability initiatives. The agency’s work has included building awareness for hotels and resorts through celebrity seeding programs, positioning countries as perfect travel destinations through destination integrations in films and television shows, creating online content tied to entertainment properties, activating sponsorship of sports and entertainment events, managing PR for consumer-focused travel shows, and driving ticket sales for shows / exhibits, among others.
Current / past clients include American Airlines, Canadian Tourism Commission, Travel Alberta, Royal Caribbean, InterContinental Hotels Group, Miami Boutique Hotels, Los Angeles Times Travel Show, Bodies the Exhibition, Titanic the Artifact Exhibition, How to Train Your Dragon, Fuerza Bruta, Cirque Dreams, Yo Gabba Gabba Live!, The Seaport, USA Pro Cycling Challenge and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
RUDER FINN
New York
Louise Harris, Chief Global Strategist
212/593-6387
harrisl@ruderfinn.com
Asia
Jean-Michel Dumont, Chairman, Ruder Finn Asia
65/6336-4932
dumontj@RuderFinnAsia.com
Ruder Finn is a global agency, headquartered in New York with a major presence in China, the world’s second largest market for communications. The agency has a strategic focus on four areas of expertise: health & wellness, corporate and public trust, technology and innovation and consumer lifestyle, all underpinned with digital strategy and social media, offered through its in-house digital agency, RFI Studios. Specialized services include brand and corporate positioning, reputation management, public affairs, corporate social responsibility, senior executive communication and employee engagement with a particular focus on building confidence and credibility in times of change.
Ruder Finn has four offices in China, where our dedicated Travel & Tourism team has helped clients such as the Canadian Tourism Commission, Four Seasons, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and Emirates Airline tap into the country’s enormous T&T market potential. China’s travelers are increasingly discerning and many are shifting from traditional group travel to FIT.
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Model and tsunami survivor Petra Nemcova poses with Chris Spring, President of Spring O’Brien, and Cristobol Luna, Global Market Director of Turismo Chile, in front of an exact replica of the pod that
rescued the 33 Chilean miners in October 2010 at the first annual Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar Night Market on September 17, 2011. |
SPRING O’BRIEN
30 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10010
212/620-7100
Fax: 212/620-7166
chris@spring-obrien.com
www.spring-obrien.com
Chris Spring, President
Lauren Kaufman, Senior Vice President
Spring O’Brien is a full-service marketing communications agency specializing in travel and hospitality PR for over two decades. We have successfully represented new and established companies across every segment of the travel industry including tourism boards, cruise lines, airlines, railways, hotels, resorts, tour operators, web sites, associations, and credit card companies.
We uniquely achieve a competitive edge for clients with integrated solutions, developing public relations, social media and branding campaigns, as well as online marketing and advertising.
We consistently achieve high-visibility TV, print and online coverage to catapult client brands beyond the fray. We pride ourselves on our inventive approach to partnerships, promotions, package and product development, rebranding, special events and strategic counsel.
PR highlights this year included garnering over one billion media impressions for Insight Cuba’s launch of legal tours to Cuba with features in the top 20 newspapers plus CNN and network TV, and developing the Digital Detox campaign for St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, which created massive coverage in North America and Europe, positioning the islands as the ultimate getaway destination.
TJM
COMMUNICATIONS INC.
2441 West SR 426, #1061
Oviedo, FL 32765
407/977-5004
Fax: 407/977-5009
treva@tjmcommunications.com
www.tjmcommunications.com
Treva J. Marshall, President
TJM Communications is a boutique lifestyle public relations firm specializing in travel and related industries: food, wine and the arts.
Since 2001, the agency has serviced a range of international and domestic clients from its Orlando, Florida location and maintains a strong reputation for quality service, professionalism and returning value and results to our clients. Our personalized, hands-on approach ensures our work is strategically aligned with the client’s needs.
Comprised of a team of passionate professionals, we are especially proud of the diverse nature of our company, with staff members representing origins from around the globe, possessing vast professional travel experience.
TJM Communications has been called upon to service clients in Spain, South Africa, Canada, and throughout the United States. Our travel and tourism practice currently includes clients such as: Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism; Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort; Valesa Cultural Services and Hotel Majestic in Spain.
WEBER SHANDWICK
919 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
212/445-8000
www.webershandwick.com
Rene Mack, President, Travel & Lifestyle
Alice Diaz, Executive Vice President, Travel & Lifestyle
Fusing the mind of a travel-industry insider with the muscle of a consumer powerhouse, Weber Shandwick’s Travel & Lifestyle Marketing practice is committed to providing its clients with award-winning capabilities and counsel in a broad range of disciplines.
Our client work ranges from small assignments to global campaigns in our dedicated Travel practice. We represent countries, states, CVB’s and provinces. We work for airlines, cruise lines, motorcycle companies, hotels, resorts, casinos, travel suppliers and attractions. We’ve launched theme parks, travel websites and even a Papal museum.
Our client roster includes: Singapore Airlines, Harley-Davidson, New Orleans, Pure Michigan, The Bahamas, Royal Caribbean International, Canada, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Fontainebleau (Miami Beach), Revel (Atlantic City), Time Warner Center (New York), Hilton Head Island, Wyndham Vacation & Rentals, Rand-McNally, InterContinental Hotels Group, and American Airlines.
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Martha Stewart tours Israel with Weill President Geoffrey Weill. |
WEILL 27 West 24 Street
New York, NY 10010
212/288-1144
Toll free: 866/PR-WEILL
Fax: 212/288-5855
www.geoffreyweill.com
Geoffrey Weill, President
Ann-Rebecca Laschever, Exec. VP
Tania Philip, Sr. VP
Now in its 17th year of business, Geoffrey Weill Associates is a boutique PR company specializing in high-end travel, tourism, cultural clients. Throughout the years, the company has been known for its fierce dedication to integrity and creativity, and in finding new ways to highlight and promote its clients.
As the media world constantly changes, WEILL has found different ways of reaching the public faster and more efficiently — through social media, blogs, and other digital portals. In the past year, WEILL has made a special effort to bring celebrities to its various destinations as a way of getting attention and also spoken, and unspoken, endorsements. Highlights of these initiatives include a visit by Martha Stewart to Israel; a visit by the cast of Fox TV’s series “House” to Israel; Neil Patrick Harris on the Orient-Express and at Fouquet’s Barriere in Paris; an episode of “The Bachelorette” at The Greenbrier in West Virginia; a visit by Chris O’Donnell to Ashford Castle, Ireland; shooting of episodes of “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” in Israel; and a visit by David Arquette to Israel. These trips have resulted in media coverage reaching tens of millions on the web, in print and via social media such as Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook.
In addition to traditional account executives, WEILL now has staff members wholly dedicated to social media initiatives. www.geoffreyweill.com. |
