What Do Public Relations and Hospitality Professionals Have in Common?

In my side hustle as a freelance travel writer, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting some pretty swell spots across North America over the past decade. In my travels, I’ve noticed again and again how much we PR folks have in common with hospitality professionals. For example:

• 9 to 5 is not “a thing” in either profession, at least not all the time. While work/life balance is key no matter what industry you choose, if in PR you must be amenable to the occasional late-night request by a reporter or early weekend morning client event. In hospitality, you take turns working guest peak times, even those late at night and on weekends.
• Anticipating needs is a must in both professions. A good PR person is proactive in his/her/their outreach to the media, and a great PR person anticipates what said media might need (hi-res images, link to press kit, quotes, spokesperson availability) before they ask. A great hospitality leader not only knows a guest’s general needs when they book, but goes the extra mile to plan for things (transportation, COVID-19 test, list of excursions or nearby restaurants) that guest will want once they arrive.
• Active listening is crucial. Neither a PR person nor a hospitality professional will be successful if he/she/they do not listen to the client/staff/guest wants and needs.
• Ask for the referral. This one seems a bit easier for hospitality professionals, many of whom routinely ask guests to post a comment on a review site or social media about the excellent service I received when visiting their property. In PR, we need to ask our clients to be our references as well as ask them for referrals to new business leads as part of our standard practices.

For more information on how HMA can combine its PR acumen with an “at your service” hospitality mentality, click here. Let’s work together.