Account Director, Travel PR

Who are we?

Named Travel Agency of the Year by The PR Net, 20Two Studio is a PR and social agency passionate about bold storytelling for lifestyle brands in the travel, hospitality, and wellness industries. We are spirited and strategic, and on our team, you’ll accelerate your career by working on creative, meaningful, ROI-driven campaigns, telling compelling stories, and leading with passion to connect our clients with brand-building awareness and success. Being a part of this team, you’ll aid in the Studio’s commitment to its clients and staff through an honest approach, creative integrity, and a real passion for awesomeness. The Studio’s full client roster can be found here.

At 20Two Studio, we care about our company culture and believe in a work-life blend, encouraging our employees to learn and grow through travel experiences outside of the workplace. We work with established, emerging, and rising brands whose qualities are equally mirrored in the teams that represent them.
 

Who are you?

You are an established communicator and connector, with Travel PR and/or Lifestyle PR experience. You have a deep rolodex of top media and influencers and your portfolio is lined with A-list media placements. You're well-versed in the latest trends and are personally interested in travel. You have extensive experience successfully managing accounts, clients, and teams - and you pride yourself on your strong relationships with your team, clients and the media. You're a mentor and leader, and excited about growing the next-gen of industry talent. You thrive presenting and have experience pitching and closing new business. If this sounds like you, please read on! 

The Role

As an Account Director, Public Relations you are running accounts autonomously, driving the overarching account strategy while making sure the team is set up for success and understands their roles and responsibilities. You’re the main client contact for more nuanced conversations related to the team and the work, and you drive the strategy and deliverables making sure there are results and movement each quarter. At this stage in your career, you are guiding your team to get hits by helping to identify the right media and outlets for a story to live and offering feedback and coaching along the way. You also use your close media contacts to get big A-list placements when warranted by the client.  

Duties and Responsibilities 

Account + Client Management 

• Travel for client needs
• Lead banner hospitality moments and campaigns, e.g. a crisis, renovation, and/or hotel opening
• Create, execute, delegate, & course correct overarching account strategies 
• Implement strategies and oversee the performance of KPIs
• Review Harvest reports and course correct as needed
• Act as a trusted and valuable partner to Clients, leading challenging conversations as needed
• Oversee scopes of work and direct your teams to conduct meaningful work based on the clients’ revenue and business goals
• Actively monitor your team’s activity to ensure they stay within budgets and client satisfaction
• Lead your team by providing clear, focused guidance and resources for day-to-day account success  
• Design “game-changing” PR campaigns, activations, partnerships, and programming that clients talk about for years to come; award winners 
• Help out with any task, big or small, to showcase your leadership skills and dedication to the team
• Manage conversations with clients relating to contract renewal and ensure conversations are had to address changes in scope
• Demonstrate leadership with your clients and your teams by providing knowledge and advice
• Understand your client’s business goals and lead account strategy to produce measurable ROI
• Craft a goal-setting process with your clients and lead your team on all aspects of account management to achieve these goals
• Nurture client accounts with proven tactics that result in continued renewal year-over-year
• Identify add-on projects for clients and seek opportunities to expand retainer fees and provide value 

Media Relations

• Success is your team members getting those hits and hitting campaign marks
• Create big-thinking pitches that land in bigger and bigger features, multi-page spreads in magazines, and in meaningful unexpected sections
• Guide your teams to proper media who will execute KPI story ideas 
• Nurture your A-list media relationships and network, and draw on those as needed for key placements 
• Remain relevant, and always navigating the changing turns of the media industry

New Business

• Provide thought leadership and ideation for new business proposals 
• Attend new business meetings and presentations as the voice and face of account leadership 
• Build and foster personal network of contacts in our industry, leading to new business leads and commissionable opportunities 
• Develop a specialty area at the agency (i.e. regional specialty, meetings/groups, wellness, uber luxury, culinary, family) – be the agency go-to and tastemaker in the space, positioning our brand in the space 
• Attend conferences and events on behalf of 20Two Studio and build your personal network 

Team Leadership

• Leading team / giving expert counsel for team and client, making sure everyone's set up for success
• Trusted leader in office with visibility across agency 
• Mentor and guide your team members as they progress in their careers 
• Motivate your team and keep them happy, engaged and positive
• Manage your team retention by creating opportunities for them to expand and grow
• Manage direct report(s), providing leadership, guidance, feedback and coaching to direct report(s) and account teams both in person and remotely 

20Two Studio / Industry

• Agency Impact: staffing conversations
• Plan and implement efficient processes, training, and systems within the teams
• Spearhead agency activities, workshops, trainings and bring in media 
• Champion and promote the 20Two Studio culture 
• Remain on top of industry trends
• Expand your knowledge of hotels, the industry and your client’s business
• Understand and be able to discuss social media, our capabilities and how social weaves into all of your accounts/campaigns
• Responsible for developing two educational based workshops each year

Other

• And other tasks, projects, or duties as required 

Experience

• College Degree or comparable experience required 
• At least 10 years of public relations experience in the hospitality, culinary, travel, tourism, restaurant and/or consumer lifestyle arenas
• Agency or in-house experience is a plus
• Must have stellar client and media references
• Must have strong and proven relationships with local, regional and national media contacts
• Must have strong, effective, and proven management skills

Requirements

• Ability to travel for client needs
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint & Adobe Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must be able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner
• High-energy, positive self-starter who is willing to go above and beyond to make a difference in a dynamic organization
• Creative problem solver and decision-maker with a proven track record of delivering results
• Proven ability to handle time-sensitive projects and prioritize multiple objectives simultaneously, to work independently, and to drive projects to completion with minimum guidance and acute attention to detail
• Ability to think strategically but act tactically
• Solid leadership and coaching skills
• Must have a valid passport for international travel

Benefits
20Two Studio offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Competitive base salary: $98,000 - 110,000, commensurate with experience and location
• Company contributions to medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
• Year-end discretionary bonus
• Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
• 401K with employer match
• Commission opportunities
• Accrued PTO
• Birthday PTO
• Flexible Release Fridays
• Hotel trade with our world-class clients (complimentary stays across our entire portfolio)
• Hybrid office schedule (2-3 days in office)
• Corporate ClassPass discounts
• Pet insurance discounts
• Milestone gifts at 1, 5, and 10 years
• Annual holiday and summer parties, plus regular socials 
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
J Public Relations (J/PR) and 20Two Studio (Studio) strongly support equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

HIRING PRACTICES
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

J/PR and Studio recruitment policies are designed to place the most highly qualified persons available in a timely and efficient manner. J/PR and Studio may pursue all avenues available, including promotion from within, employee referrals, outside advertising, employment agencies, Internet recruiting, job fairs, college recruiting, and search firms.