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| About LDPR |
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The travel industry is changing. Fast.
Increased competition and rewards, technological
advances, and shifting socio- and demographic
trends have transformed it into a business
with new rules and accountability.
LDPR is an innovative travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City. We work with prestigious clients from around the globe including destinations, tour companies, private islands, hotels and resorts. Our unique culture is defined by our collaborative, strategic and creative approach to working with clients and the media, leading to a strong partnership with measurable results and an outstanding reputation in the industry.
Lean, fast and smart,
we have spent the last 19 years perfecting
an approach we call "media marketing"
- a mix of marketing skills and
traditional PR practices. First we strategize
with our clients and prioritize goals.
Then we translate those goals into words
the media can understand and wants to
hear. Strategic partnerships, media
outreach, brand promotions, guerrilla
marketing and news-generating events
are all part of the agency's creative
mix.
The results speak
for themselves: extraordinary coverage
in magazines, newspapers, broadcast
and online outlets…return on investment
as high as 200:1...a wide network of
media friends…a dedicated and
talented staff…and a family of
satisfied clients who value our commitment,
expertise and enthusiasm.
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| Who We Are |
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Laura Davidson, President Laura Davidson is the founder and president of LDPR, a leading New York-based public relations agency that specializes entirely in travel. For 19 years, LDPR has been in the vanguard of its industry, constantly expanding the traditional limits of PR, embracing new tools and adding services for its roster of top international clients. Today that roster includes destinations like Scotland and Montréal; hospitality groups like Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and RockResorts; private islands like Canouan and Mustique; independent luxury resorts like Curtain Bluff and Eden Rock; and tour operators like Abercrombie & Kent.
Attracted by the promise of seeing the world, Laura fell into PR straight out of college when she was hired as a secretary by the Philadelphia agency Spiro & Associates in 1983. But something clicked and, within a year, she was handling several key accounts, including the 100th anniversary program for the Princess Hotel in Bermuda. Returning to New York, her hometown, in 1985, she joined Tromson Monroe and soon became the agency’s senior vice president, running its PR division for six successful years. When Tromson closed its doors in 1991, Laura left to open her own agency.
From humble beginnings (one client, one computer and a kitchen table) LDPR has grown steadily in both size and reputation. Today the agency fills a loft-office on Madison Avenue. It's lean, smart, creative and, with 21 clients and 17 members of staff, the optimum size to mix professionalism with personal attention, enthusiasm with efficiency.
In addition to her agency work, Laura has played an active role in her industry, participating in numerous organizations including SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), CTO (Caribbean Tourism Organization), CHA (Caribbean Hotel Association) and ATME (Association of Travel Marketing Executives). Equally adamant about "giving back" to society, she involves her agency in several philanthropic initiatives—from sponsoring teachers at a primary school in Benin, West Africa to planting a community garden for the homeless in the Bronx.
But her biggest pride and joy is reserved for her two young sons, Tobey and Jake. Not many other kids have such a knowledge of geography and the seating configurations on all the major aircraft. Their ambition is the same as Laura's: to explore the world when they grow up.
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Leslie Cohen, Executive Vice President
Leslie is a PR/consumer marketing specialist with a proven track record in generating awareness for travel and tourism clients and overseeing complex multi-faceted national media programs.
Since she joined LDPR in 2000, Leslie has worked alongside Laura Davidson to expand the agency’s client roster and develop their talented staff. Previously, Leslie was a senior vice president at Porter Novelli in New York, where she ran the firm's Travel Group with clients ranging from
Princess Cruises
and Southwest
Airlines to
the Bermuda
Department of
Tourism. Leslie
led the Princess
Cruises team
to unprecedented
back-to-back
PRSA (Public
Relations Society
of America)
Silver Anvil
awards as well
as the CIPRA
awards (Creativity
in Public Relations
from Inside
PR magazine)
and the best
of Show and
Platinum awards
from HSMAI (Hospitality
Sales and Marketing
Association
International).
“We always
try and go “above
and beyond”
in each assignment
and strive to
exceed client
expectations.
On a personal
note, I love
to explore new
places —
I've been to
six of the continents
and am on a
quest to reach
all seven.”
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Lisa
Caruso, Vice President
When
Lisa joined LDPR
in 2003 she brought
with her 10 years
of travel, lifestyle
and brand marketing
experience along
with a passion
for promoting
clients in unique
and effective
ways. Today she
oversees accounts
including Abercrombie
& Kent, Tourisme
Montréal,
Melbourne Convention
+ Visitors Bureau
and The Orlando
Convention &
Visitors Bureau
with a special
focus in lifestyle
media and broadcast
categories. While
at LDPR, she has
also led the team
for the opening
of Phase III at
Atlantis, Paradise
Island in 2006/2007,
and supervised
the Marriott International
account and special
events for VisitScotland
and Tourism Australia.
Lisa
has initiated
creative publicity
programs focused
on news and
trends, luxury
and experiential
travel, spa/wellness,
and culinary
arts. She has
led the media
strategy for
her clients,
placing stories
in top press
from consumer
travel and trade
to lifestyle
and news mediums.
Lisa has also
spearheaded
integrated marketing
campaigns for
clients, including
multi-faceted
programs for
international
hotel companies
with partners
including DreamWorks
Pictures, Lifetime
Television,
Condé
Nast Bridal
Group, Lavalife,
Bloomingdale’s
and Saks Fifth
Avenue.
Prior
to joining LDPR,
Lisa was the
director of
PR at PGA National
Resort &
Spa in Florida
and was heavily
involved with
the Palm Beach
County Convention
& Visitors
Bureau PR outreach,
as well as VisitFlorida
PR and promotions
programs.
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Paul
Rakov, Vice President
Paul
has more than
15 years of public
relations experience
in a diverse range
of industries
that includes
travel and tourism,
consumer electronics
retail, software
technology and
e-commerce. .
Paul
came to LDPR
after spending
nearly four
years as the
Public Relations
and Advertising
Director for
the Emerson
Resort &
Spa, a four-star
luxury property
located two
hours north
of New York
City. His time
on the “client
side”
gives him valuable
insight and
a keen understanding
of our clients’
business objectives.
Paul
has also led
national campaigns
to launch new
products and
divisions while
at Circuit City
Stores, provided
public and financial
relations support
for emerging
technology companies
in the high-tech
sectors of the
Silicon Valley
and Seattle,
and has worked
with convention
and visitors
bureaus to promote
destinations
such as Virginia
Beach and Amelia
Island, Florida.
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Jennifer Sparrow Wilkes, Vice PresidentJennifer joined LDPR in 2006 bringing with her eight years of experience in travel and tourism public relations. Her creativity and keen eye for travel trends is matched by her enthusiasm for the clients she represents.
Jennifer has an expertise in destination marketing and leads the teams on the VisitScotland (Scotland's tourist board), Tourism Victoria (home to the city of Melbourne, Australia), and Bal Harbour (Florida) accounts. She also leads a team to promote national Scotland Week in New York annually and has been deemed an honorary Scot. Her creative flair, nimble media relations skills, and extensive experience with broadcast projects, events and promotions contribute to the extraordinary success of these accounts and the agency.
At LDPR, Jennifer also spearheads a creative development strategy to spark innovation and award-winning programs for all LDPR clients.
Prior to joining LDPR, Jennifer launched Tourism Victoria's first PR campaign in North America and worked as an account supervisor at Spring O’Brien where she promoted other travel and tourism clients, including SuperClubs and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She also worked on PR campaigns to promote Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
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| LDPR on Location |
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| Where's Brad Pitt when we need him?! “A River Runs Through It” in Montana, as LDPR's Ashley MontBlanc led a group of journalists rafting the Blackfoot River during a press trip to Paws Up. Pictured here are Stephanie Oswald (TravelGirl), Jenny Peters (Bel Air), Michael Dickey (Jezebel) and Terecille Basa-Ong (The Record, NJ). |
Bagpipes and shortbread first thing in the morning! LDPR supports Scotland Week 2010 on the CBS Early Show plaza. |
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| On location on private Grenadine island of Mustique - LDPR’s Elizabeth Bishop with Basil Charles at his famous Caribbean bar and restaurant, Basil’s. |
LDPR’s Sara Geen experiences the royal treatment at Atlantis, Paradise Island. |
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| New York Times Columnist Harry Hurt III with Patrick Dill of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Jason Coletta of LDPR at Grande Lakes Orlando. |
Girls Rock! Before heading to the RockResorts Spa™, Katie Wohlschlaeger (RockResorts), Jenna Autuori (Shape), Paula Derrow (Self), Carrie Mosner (LDPR), Sara Geen (LDPR) and Heather Mikesell (American Spa) take in sweeping views during a spring hike on Vail Mountain. |
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| LDPR's Carla Tracy on location in Jackson Hole (Snake River Lodge & Spa, A RockResort) with Peter Greenberg, in December 2008 during the official Jackson Hole Aerial Tram launch weekend. |
LDPR's Carla Tracy at Raffles Canouan for the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover shoot and pictured with Dan Patrick, radio host and contributor to Sports Illustrated, for a special live remote show during the Swimsuit shoot. |
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| Ashley MontBlanc of LDPR flying above the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. |
Agency president Laura Davidson, actors Hugh Jackman and Olivia Newton-John, Tourism Australia’s Bob Monfrini, and Barry Brown (formerly with Travel + Leisure) at Australia Week in LA. |
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| Girls love shoes! LDPR ladies Leslie Cohen, Sara Geen and Lorianne Lacey snowshoeing in Keystone, Colorado. |
LDPR’s Leslie Cohen and Elizabeth Bishop take in the ultimate “room with a view” at Hotel Lutetia, a Concorde Hotel in Paris. |
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| LDPR’s Kelly Brewer standing in the shadow of the great Sphinx of Giza while on an Abercrombie & Kent adventure in Egypt. |
Ice queen for a day? LDPR’s Lorianne Lacey sitting pretty at Keystone’s Kidtopia Fort! |
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| Accolades |
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Laura Davidson Honored for Public Relations Excellence Agency President Laura Davidson was recognized by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) with the Winthrop Grice Lifetime Achievement Award. The award acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions and lasting impressions on the hospitality and travel industry. Davidson was honored during the 51st Annual Awards gala on Monday, January 28, 2008, presented before a crowd of 1,000 attendees.
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LDPR measures its success in a number of ways. There are our long-standing relationships with clients (we’ve worked with Mustique for 12 years; Curtain Bluff, 10 years; The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, eight years; VisitScotland, seven years). There is the willingness of key members of the media to act as our references, the loyalty of the our staff and, of course, our remarkable results — clip-books with print, broadcast and Internet placements.
Industry Honors Other industry-recognized measurements of success are those awards for excellence earned from prestigious organizations like Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
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HSMAI Platinum Awards The Resort at Paws Up, Montana VisitScotland The Cotton House & the Villas of Mustique Jake’s, Jamaica Hotel Sofitel North America
HSMAI Gold Awards
Star Island
Grande Lakes Orlando
Tourism Victoria
The Resort at Paws Up, Montana
Raffles Canouan, The Grenadines
Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda
Marriott International
The Regency, A Loews Hotel
The Mustique Company
VisitScotland
Tourism Australia
Accor Lodging North America
Tauck World Discovery
Island Outpost
The Cotton House & the Villas of Mustique
Jake’s, Jamaica
Hotel Sofitel North America
HSMAI Silver Awards
Abercrombie & Kent
The Resort at Paws Up
The Osprey at Beaver Creek
Raffles Canouan, The Grenadines
The Landings St. Lucia, A RockResort
Orlando/Orange County CVB
Tourisme Montréal
Grande Lakes Orlando
The Mustique Company
La Posada de Santa Fe, New Mexico
VisitScotland
Marriott International
Peter Island Resort & Spa
Tourism Australia
The Equinox Resort & Spa, Vermont
designhotels
Curtain Bluff, Antigua
The Australian Tourist Commission
The Cotton House & the Villas of Mustique
American Classic Voyages Company
Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia
Accor North America
American Classic Voyages
Hotel Sofitel North America
Coco Palm, St. Lucia |
HSMAI Bronze Awards
The Keystone Lodge & Spa
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort
RockResorts
Peter Island Resort & Spa
Turtle Island, Fiji
Snake River Lodge, Wyoming
Curtain Bluff, Antigua
American Classic Voyages
Sundance
Tauck World Discovery
Marriott & Renaissance Offshore Resorts
The Island of Mustique in the Caribbean
Tourism Australia
PRSA Big Apple Award VisitScotland
Cushman Awards Tourisme Montrèal The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort The Resort at Paws Up, Montana VisitScotland |
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| LDPR Gives Back |
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Ever since LDPR was
formed in 1991, the
company has had an active
philanthropic program.
It's a part of who we
are and we take it seriously.
Our staff members put
forward deserving causes;
they are vetted by an
internal committee and
supported with time,
talent and contributions.
THE KAKANITCHOÉ
PRIMARY SCHOOL IN BENIN,
WEST AFRICA
It all started back
in 2000 when Beth Walsh,
then a VP at LDPR, decided
to leave the PR world
and follow her heart.
It led her first into
the Peace Corps and
then to Benin in West
Africa. In the course
of her work, she met
Pascal Gbenou, a Beninese
farmer, who had the
dream of building a
primary school in his
remote village, Kakanitchoé-Whenusu
(if you think it's hard
to pronounce, try finding
it on the map).
There was a real need.
The nearest school was
four miles away in Adjohoun,
but there is no school
transportation in this
small West African country
and, especially for
the youngest elementary
school students, the
distance was just too
great.
So Pascal built his
primary school in Kakanitchoé
and staffed it with
help from LDPR. Now
it's in its eighth year
and more than a hundred
students have passed
through its grades and
gone on to middle school.
LDPR pays the salaries
of three of the school's
four teachers. For more
information, please
contact Beth Walsh at
walshbenin@yahoo.com.
OLD
ROAD FUND
While many resorts make
a big show of their
corporate responsibility,
Curtain Bluff in Antigua
is the exception to
the rule. Since the
resort opened in 1974,
this luxurious all-inclusive
has been quietly, determinedly
and effectively raising
the fortunes of hundreds
of people in the nearby
village of Old Road.
In
the last 10 years alone,
the fund has provided
scholarships, paid additional
college expenses for
local students, and
sent more than 50 children
to tennis camp in the
US. Others have gone
as camp counselors.
It has given medical
and emergency relief
to those in need, computers
to Old Road's primary
school, and new uniforms
and sporting equipment
to the village football
(soccer) and cricket
teams. Additionally,
Miami Dade Community
College (MDCC) and Florida
International University
(FIU) are helping the
fund to offer scholarships
for degrees in tourism
and hospitality.
LDPR
supports the efforts
of the Old Road Fund
by making yearly donations
on behalf of its employees.
For more information,
please visit http://www.curtainbluff.com/oldroad.htm.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Since October 2008, LDPR has supported Dress for Success, a non-profit
organization that
provides interview
suits, professional
business attire and
career development
to low-income women
in over 75 cities
worldwide.
The goal of Dress
for Success is for
each woman who is
pre-screened to be
job-ready to leave
with a complete outfit
and training that
will help her feel
confident in her interview
and land a job. She
can then return to
Dress for Success
for employment suiting
once she is hired.
For more information
on Dress for Success
or to donate items,
please visit dressforsuccess.org.
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