Portfolio: Public Relations

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public relations and communications professional specializing in hospitality, tourism, lifestyle, and destination marketing. Experienced in media relations, influencer partnerships, earned media strategy, press trip execution, and storytelling-driven brand positioning across regional and national markets.

Selected Results

Secured earned media placements in Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Thrillist, and Midwest Living
Led media FAM tours generating an estimated $3.2M in advertising value equivalency (AVE)
Coordinated influencer and media partnerships reaching millions of viewers across TikTok and Instagram
Planned and executed press events, media itineraries, and influencer experiences for hospitality and tourism brands
Built relationships with national travel writers, editors, influencers, and lifestyle media professionals
Developed PR processes and media outreach strategies for boutique hospitality brands

Core Competencies

Media Relations
Earned Media Strategy
Influencer Partnerships
Press Trip & FAM Tour Coordination
Hospitality & Tourism PR
Press Release Development
Event-Based Public Relations
Brand Storytelling
Media Pitching
Strategic Communications
Partnership Development
Crisis-Aware Communications
Travel & Lifestyle Media Outreach

Destination PR & Media Relations

Explore Branson (Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Objective: Increase national visibility and earned media coverage for Branson as a premier Midwest travel destination through strategic media relations, influencer partnerships, and curated press experiences.

Strategy: Developed and executed targeted PR outreach campaigns focused on seasonal travel, experiential tourism, entertainment, family travel, and regional storytelling to position Branson competitively within the travel and hospitality space.

Execution

Planned and led national media FAM tours and press trips
Built relationships with travel writers, editors, influencers, and content creators
Coordinated itineraries with tourism partners and attractions
Developed media kits, talking points, and destination resources
Managed media guest logistics, travel coordination, and hosting
Supported storytelling strategy surrounding seasonal campaigns and destination branding

Results

Generated an estimated $3.2M AVE from the 2022 Christmas media FAM
Secured national coverage and influencer content reaching millions of viewers
Strengthened relationships with travel and lifestyle media professionals
Increased destination visibility through experiential storytelling and influencer-driven content

National Media Placements

Objective: Secure earned media coverage across travel, lifestyle, hospitality, and entertainment publications to increase destination and brand visibility.

Scope of Work

Media placements resulted from a combination of

strategic pitching
media relationship development
hosted press trips
editorial coordination
influencer partnerships
destination storytelling initiatives

Travel + Leisure

18 Best Water Parks in the U.S.

By Carly Caramanna

From California to Florida, these are the best water parks in the United States…

Midwest Living

20 Best Romantic Getaways in Missouri

By Ginger Crichton

A giant iron “V” out front signals that you’ve found Hotel Vandivort, built in 1906 as a Masonic Temple and reimagined in the 2020s as a boutique hotel…

Thrillist

The Ultimate ‘Midwest Princess’ Pilgrimage to Chappell Roan’s Hometown

By Miranda Mullings

The boutique, 97-room Hotel Vandivort has a seriously luxurious vibe that makes you forget you’re not in a big city…

Matador Network

This Beautiful Road Trip Through the Ozarks Will Take You to Places Netflix Never Showed You

By Johnny Motley

From Springfield to Branson then Eureka Springs to Bentonville, this road trip will uncover all the Ozarks has to offer…

Forbes

The Haygoods – Celebrating 30 Years Of Family Entertainment In Branson, Missouri

By Pam Windsor

Their show is billed as the most popular show in Branson – for good reason. From the minute this family band of five brothers and one sister hits the stage, it’s non-stop, fast-paced, high-quality music and family entertainment…

Midwest Living

15 Great Midwest Holiday Destinations

By Midwest Living Editors

Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson features 6.5 million twinkling lights, more than 30 live holiday shows on outdoor stages, shopping, dining and more…

Yahoo! Lifestyle

Nearly 10 million lights and 700 Christmas trees adorn this Ozark destination. Here are the best parts of my visit to this holiday-loving small town.

By Carly Caramanna

Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson features 6.5 million twinkling lights, more than 30 live holiday shows on outdoor stages, shopping, dining and more…

Hospitality PR & Press Events

Hotel Vandivort | The Order Food & Drink | Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory

Objective: Expand local and regional media visibility for boutique hospitality and dining brands through proactive media outreach and storytelling-driven press engagement.

Strategy: Developed PR initiatives focused on culinary storytelling, experiential hospitality, and relationship-building with local media, creators, and influencers.

Execution

Introduced consistent media outreach and press communication initiatives
Distributed press releases and media alerts
Organized media tasting events and influencer experiences
Coordinated sponsorship and partnership opportunities
Hosted press-focused experiential events centered around seasonal launches

Featured Campaign: Spring Menu Media Preview Event (April 2025)

Created and executed an intimate media tasting experience highlighting the storytelling and creative inspiration behind the restaurant’s seasonal menu launch.

Results:

Generated influencer and media coverage across regional lifestyle and food audiences
Earned social media engagement including:
- 19K+ views on creator coverage
- Extensive Instagram story coverage from regional media outlets
Expanded media visibility and community engagement for the property

Instagram Reel | @lovespringfield
19k views | 375 likes | 92 shares
View Video Here

Instagram Reel | @417foodist
5k views | 115 likes | 18 shares
View Video Here

Influencer Partnerships

Objective: Increase destination awareness and audience engagement through strategic influencer collaborations aligned with travel, lifestyle, and experiential tourism audiences.

Strategy: Identified and sourced creators whose audiences aligned with Branson’s tourism demographics, prioritizing high-engagement travel, food, and lifestyle influencers across TikTok and Instagram.

Execution