TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
Edelman’s Travel & Hospitality practice comprises a global team of experts dedicated to serving clients in the travel, tourism, hospitality and luxury arena, providing boutique-like service with the resources of a worldwide agency. The practice encompasses clients all over the world, with Edelman travel and hospitality specialists in most of its global offices. Edelman has been ranked by O’Dwyers PR Daily as the #1 independent public relations agency specializing in tourism since 1999.
OUR CLIENTS
Edelman's travel & hospitality client roster represents every facet of the travel industry, including destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruising, technology, retail, attractions, associations, transportation and destination real estate. Currently, we promote Brazil and the states of Texas and Illinois to the North American market; we are the agency of record in the U.S. for United Airlines, in the U.S. and Europe for Lan airlines and in the U.S. and Italy for Turkish Airlines; we proudly represent Jumeirah Hotels and are the global agency of record for Iberostar Hotels & Resorts. We also represent the industry’s premier online travel agency, Travelocity; Amtrak, and a wide variety of attractions throughout the world, including the iconic Empire State Building. We represent key travel associations such as HSMAI and IAAPA, and as industry professionals, we are deeply involved in others, including ATME, NTA, USTOA, U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Cares.
THE TRAVELING CONSUMER
At Edelman, we believe that a traveler, whether for leisure or for business is essentially a consumer who is exposed to travel messages in all aspects of life, whether at work, at play, online or off. Therefore we work to communicate our client’s story in an atmosphere of 360 degrees of public engagement, placing the message not just in the customary travel pages or broadcast travelogs, but in all channels of communication. We begin by understanding the behaviors and motivations of the traveling consumer and then develop programs that will move them to action – whether that is to visit a particular place, book a hotel or mode of transportation, or schedule a meeting. Today, the world of social media and digital communications is particularly key, as most people who travel begin their search for adventure online. Edelman is at the forefront of digital communications, and we bring all that learning into our strategic view of the world of travel.
A WIDE NETWORK OF RESOURCES
Edelman brings its vast resources in consumer marketing, digital, traditional and online media services, crisis communications and entertainment integration to bear for its travel clients. With the advantage of our many years in the travel sector, we bring a deep and wide network of local, regional and global media relationships that have developed and grown over the years. Our extensive knowledge of, and contacts in the travel and hospitality industries enable us to anticipate trends so that we can capitalize on them for our clients. It also allows us to act fast in a crisis, and mobilize the media and the industry to come to the aid of our clients when needed. We have assisted our clients and the industry in some of the most severe crises in the past decade, including the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Air France crash off the coast of Brazil, the landing of US Air in the Hudson River and the SARS epidemic. Leveraging other Edelman clients, we also have been able to forge powerful partnerships for our travel clients, resulting in increased visibility and maximum media attention.
OUR POINT OF VIEW ON TRAVEL
Travel is no longer just about the destination -- it’s a journey to fulfill quality-of-life goals, dreams and aspirations.
We communicate the emotional reasons why we travel: discovery, connections and social responsibility. Where travel was once considered a privilege, it’s now seen as a birthright, and not even today’s global economic and political woes can stop our yearning to see the world.
Beyond the traditional view of travel as vacation or business meetings, tourism is a driving force for economic development, global peace and cultural understanding worldwide. We strive to convey the power that travel can have on all of our lives and communities around the world.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrowmindedness.” Mark Twain
