Senior Account Executive, Travel Public Relations

The travel team at FINN Partners continues to expand! 

We’re looking for an outstanding and driven Senior Account Executive (SAE) to join our global award-winning agency.  Hawkins International, a FINN Partners Company, is a recognized leader and global player in public relations, communications and digital strategy for luxury travel, hospitality, wellness, and lifestyle brands. Boutique in size, boundless in experience, we have grown a global portfolio of clients ranging from iconic independent properties to major hospitality groups, one-of-a-kind wellness retreats and products, while developing enviable connections and maintaining rewarding relationships across print, broadcast and digital, as well as within the industries we service. 

The ideal candidate thrives in tackling new challenges every day, juggling multiple clients, has experience managing 1-2 other people, and has over 4 years of public relations experience working with clients in the luxury travel, tourism, food, and/or hospitality industry. Our West Coast client roster boasts some of the most respected and luxurious hospitality brands in the industry – from well-known members’ clubs and five-star resorts both in the US and internationally to a private island tucked away in the Pacific – and we are looking for a hard-working individual who is passionate about a growing their career as a luxury travel publicist to join our close-knit team.  

Work Location: Century City, Los Angeles or New York City. We are seeking candidates who wish to work a hybrid schedule of WFH and two days per week in the Los Angeles or New York City offices/in-person.  

Anticipated Salary: $67,000 to $72,000; salary commensurate with experience and depending upon workplace. 

The SAE:

• Has exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Is highly organized, with a proactive take-initiative attitude. 
• Is confident, has a rolodex of media friendlies in the industry, and can manage public relations workloads. effectively across a variety of client accounts.
• Is Solution driven.
• Is a Creative thinker - experienced working in creative partnerships and programming. 

The new SAE will be a key member of our highly skilled, collaborative, savvy, and highly motivated PR team engaged in a range of assignments spanning launches, media relations, client relations, thought leadership, social media, and stakeholder engagement.  

Responsibilities will include: 

• Overseeing Assistant Account Executives and Account Executives by delegating responsibilities, encouraging development and providing mentorship to junior team members. 

• Serving as a point of contact for clients and handling day-to-day activities of the account team, client projects and account management. 

• Providing strategic counsel to clients regarding PR matters.  

• Executing and managing PR initiatives including: PR plans and strategy documents, press trips, media events, and media appointments. Drafting press releases/pitches, building distribution lists, reviewing PR reports and client communication, and tracking relevant industry awards & rankings.  

• Proactively pitching media and formulating compelling pitch angles, securing stories for clients in meaningful publications. 

• Identifying trends within hospitality and travel.  

• Seamlessly executing PR campaigns, ensuring annual PR objectives are reached/surpassed, working in tandem with the team.  

• Supporting (and occasionally leading) daily account activities including developing and managing weekly timelines and action plans, ensuring all deadlines are met.  

• Participating in new business proposals, team brainstorm sessions, and staff meetings.  

• Cultivating relationships with senior level national, regional, and online media, freelancers and influencers; identifying industry trends and building pitches to support them.  

• Maintaining current knowledge of news and events regarding clients, their industries, and competition, continuously exploring and assessing value-added solutions and new ideas for implementation.  

Requirements 

• 4+ years prior experience working at a PR agency with travel and luxury hospitality clients 

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Journalism or related field  

• Experience working with traditional and new media; social media and digital campaigns are a plus  

• A proven track record of delivering high-quality stories in print, online, and broadcast, including travel and lifestyle consumer titles; thought leadership publications are a plus  

• Comfort leading client calls. Ideally, having served as the primary day-to-day client contact.