Enriching First Hospitality’s conference participation through targeted PR support

Every brand at a conference wants press coverage, meetings, and attention. But the windows of visibility at these events are brief, and showing up without a plan is like wandering the exhibit hall blindfolded. You’re moving around, but you might miss the right connections. So, how do we use PR to maximize the impact of conference participation for a national hotel operating, management, and development company? Timing is key.

To put our client First Hospitality in the spotlight, we leverage all windows of opportunity – pre-conference, during, and after – strategically and proactively pitching them to the media. By consistently maintaining visibility in the media’s eyes, we set the stage for a more effective (and lasting) payoff.

Each year, we collaborate with First Hospitality on goals for key conferences such as The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), The Lodging Conference, and NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum, and craft a strategy to support them. There isn’t a one-size fits all recipe. Our process involves some combination of the following:

• • Engaging media attention with newsworthy announcements and releases strategically timed before each conference to maximize visibility and engagement with industry stakeholders. Pre-event messaging is critical to build pre-attendance buzz and strengthen media opportunities.
  • Identifying the right press opportunities and coming up with creative story angles…insights on emerging markets, expert commentary, spotlighting innovations…that offer the media a well-rounded perspective on the company’s strategy, credibility, and strengths. Then, determining the best format for each opportunity…a one-on-one appointment? Dual interviews? Press room presence?
  • Leveraging sponsorship opportunities. These often come with guaranteed speaking opportunities, content distribution, advertising, and other visibility perks. The key here isn’t getting those perks…it’s what we do with them to make them memorable.

Results have included diverse and recurring coverage in top hospitality trade and business publications aligned with key industry conferences year after year, including:

• • Hotel News Now Podcast – The Factors at Play in Chicago’s Recovering Hotel Market
  • Skift – First Hospitality’s Big Buy 
  • Hotel Investment Today – First Hospitality, Hostmark seem to fit like a glove
  • CoStar – Hotel Leaders Share Industry Insights
  • Hotel Management – Workforce Focus: Nationwide shortage challenging for operators
  • Hotel Dive – First Hospitality brings 3 Hilton lifestyle hotels under management
  • Lodging Magazine – First Hospitality Goes the Extra Mile for Employee Engagement
  • CoStar – First Hospitality CEO Sees Path to Growth Through Churn of Hotels
  • Hotel Management – ALISUpdate: First Hospitality, Outrigger
  • Hotel Investment Today – DEI, third-party buyers’ remorse, net buyers
  • Daily Lodging Report – First Hospitality Expands onto New Markets
  • CoStar – Hotel execs remain hopeful as 2025 market conditions come into view

First Hospitality is enjoying the media spotlight…and us? Well, we’re THRILLED to help them keep the momentum rolling long past closing remarks.

For more examples of how we drive awareness for brands using PR, see how we reach the travel advisor trades for tour operator CIE Tours and the consumer market for luxury property Woodstock Inn & Resort.