Priority Status

We’ve seen enormous disruption to typical work culture over the last two years - office life was fundamentally altered by the pandemic, but the change has not stopped there. The hospitality industry - an industry that already was operating at max speed with small margins - has seen a seismic shift, from navigating capacity challenges, to evolving with changing consumer behaviors all while dealing with rising food costs and labor challenges. Restaurants and hotels have been trying to deliver the same or better levels of service to their guests but the already grinding nature of the service industry has greatly impacted employees and how they perform. To remain sustainable, restaurants and hotels are needing to revamp their employee programs and HR approaches to be a more welcoming, collaborative environment. The culinary landscape in Toronto has been growing steadily over the last 10 years, gradually bringing the city’s rising chefs and notable neighborhoods into the International spotlight and on the best p

Aside from being one of the oldest fruits on the planet, olives provide us with so many great, essential nutrients. It makes sense when you consider the Mediterranean Diet (where olive oil acts as the primary source of healthy fat). In this episode, Account Director, Monica Powers sits down with California Olive Ranch Vice President of Quality and R&D, Mary Mori to discuss the complexities behind high-quality extra virgin olive oil. You'll learn the tips and tricks for how to shop for, store, and cook with your EVOO while also understanding what makes this "fruit of the gods” so healthy for our bodies.

In this episode of Priority Status, Account Supervisor Mary Burkhardt sits down with Vasso Petridou, Owner and COO of LuxurIOS, a tourism project on the unspoilt island of Ios in the Greek Cyclades, to discuss her deep love for the island and her passion for hospitality, environmental sustainability and animal preservation. Vasso, her husband Angelos and their 5 children own and manage the brand, which includes the five-star resort CALILO, plus beach clubs and restaurants on the island. This passion project is a vision realized by a family of artists, design aficionados and hoteliers dedicated to delivering a luxury experience that respects traditional ways of cycladic architecture, while also catering to the needs of the modern traveler.

In this episode of Priority Status, Vice President, Marrissa Mallory uncovers the surprising secrets of the hotel that put Southern California on the map—Hotel del Coronado. She delves into the history of the grand Damme with "The Del’s" Heritage Manager Gina Petrone, and learns what it’s like to play host to celebrities and icons from Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin to Frank Sinatra and Al Pacino; Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, and America’s founding families including decades of Vanderbilts to Carnegies. The National Historic Landmark hotel—credited as the genesis the American beach vacation—has been serving up nostalgia to travelers far and wide for more than 130 years, and has completed big plans to ensure it preserves its prized nostalgia for generations of travelers to come.

In this episode of Priority Status, Vice President, Marrissa Mallory sits down with Henley Vazquez, seasoned travel advisor and co-founder of tech-forward travel agency, Fora, to hear about how she’s taking the travel agency—an industry built around cruises and fax machines—into the modern era of digitally-native collaboration and Instagram-worthy experiences. Vazquez talks about bringing the travel agency into the future via the creator economy, why every dollar we spend on travel and tourism matters, and why you should never forget to tip your bartender.

In this episode of Priority Status, Account Director Audrey Neidenbach, chats with Matt Gaghen, CEO and May Lilley CMO of Under Canvas, an upscale outdoor hospitality company with locations near America’s most iconic national parks and monuments. With sustainability continuing to be at the forefront of the travel industry, the conversation is centered around a company that is a leader in the outdoor hospitality space committed to inspiring connections with extraordinary places, people, and the planet by enhancing access to the outdoors. In addition to sharing details on the brand’s sustainable initiatives, efforts, partnerships and more, listeners will also get an overview of the Under Canvas experience, accommodations, unique amenities, locations and what to expect for the 2022 season.

In this episode of Priority Status, Account Director of Consumer, Monica Powers, chats with Bridget Connelly, the co-founder, and CEO of the country's only female-founded, owned and operated hard kombucha brand. Based in Chicago, Luna Bay Booch is taking a heavily dominated male industry by storm. The brand was born out of a desire to change the status quo and brew something better for ourselves, our minds, and our planet. All Luna Bay products are gluten-free, low in sugar, vegan, and naturally fermented to 6% for a boozy bite. With a mission of always giving back to the community, Luna Bay Booch also supports numerous non-profit organizations and is a proud partner of 1% For The Planet. Also, this episode celebrates International Women's Month and spotlights the unique initiative the brand is announcing to celebrate the occasion.

In the latest episode of Priority Status, Senior Vice President Tanya Scalisi sits down with Gordy Megroz, Author of National Geographic's forthcoming travel book, 100 Slopes of a Lifetime. During their conversation, Tanya and Gordy dive deep into how his love of skiing and journalism led him to becoming a member of the Outside magazine editorial team, and later approached by National Geographic to pen what will become one of the most beautiful and extensive mountain guides to date. Gordy shed light on some of his personal network's favorite destinations, from international destinations such as Japan, Switzerland (Zermatt) and France (Chamonix) to domestic mountains such as Aspen, Colorado, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Stowe, Vermont. Gordy also lets our listeners in on a few "secret" destinations on his radar that are not to be missed. Currently, Gordy is a Colorado-based contributing editor for Outside magazine and is also a regular contributor to Men’s Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wired, and SKI, where he

In this episode of Priority Status, Nicole Hernandez, known as The Traveling Hypnotist, joins Abby Waters to discuss her vision for the future of hypnosis practice within the larger space of wellness and travel. Nicole is a clinical hypnotist, anxiety educator, speaker, and Resident Healer for the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. She specializes in helping anxious high achievers become impactful, conscious leaders that can navigate life transitions such as career, relationships, money beliefs, and lifestyle changes with a sense of clarity and ease. Her signature approach, the Hypnotic Journey, combines modern hypnotherapy and mindful, executive coaching. On the heels of National Wellness Month, Abby sat down with Nicole to discuss how she embraced this practice of wellbeing and mindfulness after many years as a marketing professional struggling with stress. She offers insight into her unexpected journey to becoming The Traveling Hypnotist and one of the many resident healers at an iconic New York City ho

In this episode of Priority Status, Heidi Doak sits down with Tomiko Harvey, vice president of the Black Travel Alliance and founder of Passports & Grub, a luxury lifestyle publication for Black women. Following last summer’s racial justice movement, The Black Travel Alliance was formed to empower and give voice to Black travel writers, broadcasters and content creators from around the world. And, earlier this year, the Black Travel Alliance hosted its first networking event, Wavelength, which connected Black travel professionals with travel brands to bridge the gap that previously prevented them from receiving the same opportunities as their colleagues. J/PR was honored to participate in Wavelength and from that, has been working with content creators such as Tomiko to ensure diversity and inclusion in the travel industry. We hope this conversation will encourage our listeners to join the movement. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Insta

In this episode of Priority Status, Abby Waters sits down with Tim Chatfield, Co-Founder & CEO of Jitjatjo. It’s hard to have missed the sensational headlines about workers leaving the hospitality industry en mass, the staffing shortages everywhere and the labor wars, as Tim calls it. So, JPR turned to Tim, an expert in connecting talent with jobs through a workforce management technology to see if the headlines are true, how hotels and restaurants can reimagine their talent management, and gain some insights on a nationwide survey Jitjatjo distributed to its 10,000 plus data base of talent. Plus, the conversation will help set some expectations for when our listeners do take the plunge into dining out and traveling again. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations.

In the latest episode of Priority Status, JPR UK Vice President Emma Hartland-Mahon sits down with Cornelius O’Shaughnessy, founder of Bodhimaya, an award-winning bespoke retreats concept combining the best in highly personalized nutrition, effective movement, authentic meditation and exploratory spiritual teachings. Backed by the likes of Condé Nast Traveller and Tatler, this dedicated 360-degree approach to health has pioneered the latest in genetic testing, emotional awareness and mindfulness, and has positioned Bodhimaya as a world leader in the wellness space. Bodhimaya has a notable global fan base from Goop to A-listers like Kate Moss, with Cornelius' transformative knowledge at the forefront. Emma and Cornelius discuss insights on the human condition during the COVID-19 era and speak about ways to find peace through coping mechanisms such as meditation. They touch on wellness and mental health coming out of lockdown, and some of the issues facing humans in the "new normal". Cornelius also shares tips

In today’s episode, JPR UK’s Account Manager, Alexandra Colquhoun sits down with Jenny Southan, Editor, Founder and CEO of Globetrender, the UK’s leading travel trend forecasting agency and online magazine dedicated to the future of travel. An authority in the travel industry, Jenny is also an award-winning freelance travel journalist who contributes to publications including The Telegraph and Condé Nast Traveller on some of the most cutting-edge topics in travel today. In this episode, we discuss travel trends and what lies ahead for the industry as restrictions begin to lift. We also touch upon various themes within travel, including wellness, food & beverage, sustainability and technology, along with their respective trend forecasts. Visit globetrender.com for more information. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations.

In today’s episode, JPR’s SVP Kristin Moller sits down with Dr. Nika White, an award-winning management and leadership consultant and executive practitioner for DEI efforts. The conversation is an inside look at Dr White’s practice and how she got to where she is today. We discuss her approach to “intentional inclusion” in leadership, what that means as we navigate a new era of awareness in workplace culture and what belongingness - giving a voice to those may not have had a voice before - means for an organization. We also discuss how George Floyd's murder, the BLM movement and recent attacks against Asian-American people in Atlanta have brought awareness and change to society through awful circumstances and what it means for cultural and socioeconomic growth in the US moving forward.

In today’s episode JPR social media account director Molly Folsom tackles the ever-shifting space of social media trends. She’s joined by Sarah Funk, the on-camera host and entrepreneur behind GoDaddy's School of Hustle, Travel & Leisure's Instagram Story takeovers and her own channels, which attain 9+ million impressions monthly. Funk also owns a tour company in NYC and is the author of several e-books about various travel destinations.This duo dives into 2020's tremendous impact on the social media space and what it means to be a brand telling their story well in 2021. Expect lots of laughs, meme mentions, and insider tips on what tactics will pave the way to success on social for the year ahead. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations.

In today’s episode, JPR UK Senior Account Executive Georgia Richardson sits down with Noel Mack, Chief Brand Officer of Gymshark to talk about how the company approaches community and communications. It’s a deep-dive into the brand's approach to diversity, inclusion and mental health, including how these pillars hold up the company’s culture. We also talk about the evolution of Gymshark from a small, garage-founded start-up, to a $1.3 billion dollar company and why Noel decided to jump on-board the 'Gymshark Rocketship'.

In today’s episode, JPR senior director Erin Melendez sits down with two founding members of Women in Travel Thrive - a grassroots movement born out of the Covid-19 pandemic designed to combat career regression and increase women's representation as leaders in the travel industry. Silvia Camarota, Sr. Director North America Market Management, Lodging at Expedia Group and Claudia Infante, VP of Revenue Strategy at Margaritaville Enterprises, along with more than a dozen volunteers, have built an incredible network of allies across the globe to help women lift each other up and take their seat at the table. Learn more about Women in Travel Thrive and their inaugural "Day of Impact" at womenintravelthrive.com. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations.

In today’s episode JPR social media account director Molly Folsom holds a round table discussion on the definition of a “social media community,” how these communities extend beyond digital and into the physical world, and how any brand can get better at using social media to do good in their community and beyond. She’s joined by Tatiana Swedek, a hospitality marketing consultant, brand experience thought leader, and podcaster who served as the VP of Brand Experience at the Indie Lodging Congress for the last four years, and Corey Hackett-Greene, a content connoisseur and community organizer, who creates content for the best travel brands in the world. The three discuss everything from online and offline community-building best practices, brands that are doing it well, and places where you can find community networking where you might not expect, like Tinder. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations.

Today we talk to sustainable luxury travel expert, and the Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller, Juliet Kinsman on how COVID is affecting the hospitality world as we know it and what lies ahead for ethical and responsible travel. Juliet has been an authority in the travel world for over two decades, as a renowned hotel expert. She’s the former Editor-in-Chief of the boutique hotel guide, Mr & Mrs Smith, and went on to found Bouteco, a platform that helps design lovers find the best eco-conscious design-led hotels. Juliet also just released a fantastic book called The Green Edit: Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller, a simple guide to demystifying sustainable travel to help us all make better choices. We discuss sustainability in all its glory, and travel in the time of COVID, carbon offsetting, the difference between US and UK markets in sustainable outlook & approach, how urban hotels can best tackle sustainability, her favourite suitable brands and apps, and more!

In today’s episode, JPR UK Vice President Emma Hartland-Mahon sits down with Jeremy Goring, from the iconic London hotel, The Goring to discuss the current state of the travel industry, navigating COVID and everyone’s favorite word of the moment PIVOTING! We discuss how The Goring (which has been open for over 110 years and famously welcomed the Duchess of Cambridge the night before the Royal Wedding), has weathered the storm during this extremely challenging time, in addition to the London hotel scene, and what green shoots lie ahead for the travel industry as a whole. Share your feedback at podcast@jpublicrelations.com, learn more at jpublicrelations.com and follow us on Instagram @jpublicrelations