On this episode of Priority Status, Kristin Moller is joined by Britney Eschelman, Assistant Editor at Hotels Above Par. Conceptualized by Brandon Berkson and launched in April 2020, Hotels Above Par is an expert-curated guide highlighting the world’s coolest boutique hotels and travel experiences. Hotels Above Par has garnered a strong community of travelers who, when vacationing, prefer to stay at properties that connect them to the heart and soul of a destination. Britney’s work encompasses reviews and guides on the site as well as managing and curating Hotels Above Par’s presence on social media. Listen in as Britney shares how she started in travel writing, what it’s like to be an editor at a new and quickly growing travel brand, and what are some of her most favorite hotels and travel experiences to date. Find Britney on Instagram @briteschelman Find Hotels Above Par on Instagram @hotelsabovepar https://hotelsabovepar.com/

On this special episode of Priority Status Kristin Moller is joined by Jaime Black, a podcast pioneer and the producer/host of A Hotel Podcast. Jaime has over two decades of podcasting and digital media work and launched A Hotel Podcast last year after combining his passions for travel and storytelling. Listen in to our conversation as Jaime shares how he got his start in podcasting, what he has learned since launching his new podcast, and how hotels and hospitality professionals can utilize and benefit from digital storytelling. This episode is extra special because it's one part of a crossover event. If you head over to A Hotel Podcast today you can listen in on my episode with Jaime talking about my role at J/PR, and how we are helping our clients evolve and stay ahead of trends in lifestyle and travel. https://ahotelpodcast.substack.com/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OlNRT74He7wbs183ZC1xl?si=P2O1k1yPTY2k6g4SwmTJVw

On this episode of Priority Status, we're diving into the world of weddings with none other than the dynamic duo, Lisa and Stephanie, sisters and co-owners of Cedar Lakes Estate, the Hudson Valley hotel and epic event venue. Join us as we explore the history of Cedar Lakes and its past lives - and why a wedding venue tour here should be on the short list - whether you’ve secured that diamond or you will soon. We'll dive into the latest trends, tips, and behind the scenes of the wedding industry with Lisa and Stephanie as they offer up can’t miss insights and tell us about one of their most unique weddings on property to date. Whether you’re a hotelier hosting weddings on property or you’re planning your own special day - this episode is a must-listen. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesistersofcedarlakes/ Website - https://www.cedarlakesestate.com/

On this episode of “5 Questions With” Kristin Moller is joined by Vinciane Ngomsi, a talented journalist based in Washington DC who writes about sports, travel, entertainment and food. She began her career in sports journalism with bylines at SB Nation, USA Today, and Yahoo and today she is a Staff Writer at Boardroom, covering the intersection of sports and entertainment across football, soccer, tennis, basketball and more. Vinciane was born in Cameroon and moved to the US as a young child. She grew up in Kansas City and is a lifelong Chiefs fan. Listen in as Vinciane shares how a family tradition helped manifest her career in journalism, what it’s like to travel and write about her favorite sports teams and athletes and what inspires her on a daily basis. Vinciane on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ngomsi Vinciane on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/ngomsi

In this episode of “5 Questions With," Eleanore Longley is joined by Beth, Bobbie and Adele who are part of the Garbutt family who own and run Calabash, a boutique hotel on the Caribbean island of Grenada. The Calabash story starts with a delayed flight. In 1985, Beth, Bobbie and Adele’s father, Leo Garbutt, was asked to visit Grenada by a friend with a view to purchasing a rum distillery on the island. During this trip, he met Lilian Ramdhanny, who in 1986 became his wife. Due to a delayed flight back to the UK, Leo found himself at The Calabash Hotel where he felt an ‘aura of infectious happiness’, which led him to purchase the property with Lilian in 1987. They set to work immediately, despite never having worked in the hospitality sector and have since grown Calabash to become one of the leading luxury hotels in the Caribbean and a proud member of Relais & Châteaux. In 2012, daughters Adele and Beth emigrated back from the UK, with Adele leaving behind her marketing job in London and Beth, fresh out of culinary school at Ballymaloe in Ireland. Both sisters are now involved with running Calabash, with Beth focused on developing the Food & Beverage, and Adele heading up Sales & Marketing, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations. Last year, youngest sister Bobbie joined the family business to support on marketing for the hotel, whilst also becoming closely involved with the family’s organic estate, L’Esterre. She recently launched her own tree-to-bar chocolate company in the UK, using cocoa from the estate. Listen in as Beth, Adele and Bobbie chat about the story behind Calabash and how it came into the family, life growing up in a hotel, and how Calabash’s warm and genuine service makes it so special resulting in guests returning year after year. For more information, please visit: https://www.calabashhotel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/calabashhotel/

In this last episode of 2023, Kristin Moller chats with four J/PR team members about their best travel experiences of the past year, what they are seeing emerge as travel trends to watch in 2024, and which destinations they are most excited to visit in the new year. Our guests on this episode are: Hannah Partin, vice president, New York Emma Silverman, senior director, New York Mary Burkhardt, senior account supervisor, San Diego Gemma Kane, account supervisor, San Diego

This episode is part of J/PR's 2024 Trend Report series. Listen in as Heidi Doak chats with freelance writer, Emma Reynolds, on the most exciting trends that we can look forward to in luxury real estate. https://emmareynolds.com/ @emmarey

This episode is part of J/PR's 2024 Trend Report series. Listen in as Monica Powers chats with freelance writer, Beau Hayhoe, on the most exciting trends that we can look forward to in craft beer and spirits. @beauhayhoe

In this episode Kristin Moller is joined by Tommy Southworth, President & COO of Southworth, a privately held lifestyle company specializing in the development and management of private clubs and programmed residential communities. Founded to challenge the industry status quo in 1991, Southworth recognized an opportunity to think beyond the restrictive private clubs of the day. While Tommy grew up surrounded by the business, it wasn’t until 2014 when he officially joined the company after working for many years in finance and private equity. Since then he has been focused on innovating the company. Today, many national and international club communities later; the Southworth legacy continues to evolve. With a newfound commitment to forward-looking culture and values, and with the next generation of family leadership firmly in place, Southworth has reintroduced itself as the trusted curator of an elevated lifestyle whose inclusive clubs offer one-of-a-kind community and connections for a life well-lived. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Southworth currently owns and operates private clubs and residential communities across North America, the Caribbean and Europe. These award-winning properties include: Willowbend on Cape Cod, Mass.; Renaissance on Boston's North Shore; Meredith Bay on New Hampshire's famed Lake Winnipesaukee; Creighton Farms in Aldie, Va. 35 minutes west of Washington, DC; The Village at Machrihanish Dunes in Argyll, Scotland; and The Abaco Club, located on Great Abaco Island in The Bahamas. Listen in as Tommy shares more about running a family business and building the Southworth legacy, how his focus on the art of connection is central to the rebrand for current and future Southworth communities and what trends he is seeing emerge quickly in luxury estate. Let's dive in! https://southworthclubs.com @southworthclubs

In this episode of “5 Questions With," Emma Hartland-Mahon is joined by Andrew Coney, General manager of The Hari hotel in London. Andrew joined The Hari as General Manager in 2014. In this position, Andrew oversaw the transition from a Thompson-managed hotel named Belgraves, to an independent boutique in August 2016 and The Hari has grown from strength to strength under his guidance. This success has been reflected in The Hari London’s TripAdvisor position, rocketing from 30th to 6th in just four years. In 2017, Andrew oversaw the opening of il Pampero, the hotel’s modern Italian restaurant, which has quickly become a destination in its own right loved by the area and overseas. Prior to joining the team at The Hari, Andrew has held the position as Opening General Manager at InterContinental London Westminster (now Conrad London St James), and Slaley Hall in Northumberland and at the Grand Hotel and Spa in York, where he lead the opening of Yorkshire’s only five-star hotel in 2010. Prevalent within the Belgravia community; Andrew holds positions with the Motcomb Street Traders Association, Belgravia and Knightsbridge Police Ward Panel and The Knightsbridge Business Group. Andrew is also currently growing the hotels CSR focus after a successful campaign supporting the Evelina for the last two years. Listen in as Andrew shares his answers in our “5 Questions With” Series including why The Hari is so passionate about art, its people and why embracing the neighborhood is so important to the hotel. For more information, please visit: https://www.thehari.com/london/

In this episode of Priority Status, Kristin Moller is joined by Ralph Vick, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee to talk about the unique experience that is “Lake Life.” Listen in as Ralph shares the evolution of the iconic Georgia resort and how the property approaches “barefoot luxury,” something that only The Ritz-Carlton could deliver. Ralph talks about the resort’s traditions and how they have come to be woven into the fabric of the many families who return year after year for their dose of “Lake Life.” Instagram: @ritzcarltonreynoldslakeoconee https://www.ritzcarlton.com/reynolds

On this episode of 5 Questions With, Kristin Moller is joined by Stephane Vogel, general manager of Hotel Washington in Washington DC. While Stephane’s hospitality career began in Swiss hotel school he came to DC many years ago and now calls the US capital home. Listen in as he shares how he got his start in hotels, what it’s like working in DC, and how hockey has shaped his management and leadership style.

In this episode of “5 Questions with” Kristin Moller is joined Mariella Avino, managing director of Palazzo Avino on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Known as the Pink Palace in the heart of Ravello, Palazzo Avino was originally built in the 12th century. Mariella’s family took over the property in 1997 and began the transformation of the historic buildings into a five star luxury hotel. Today, the hotel features several restaurants and bars, a spa, and a stunning beach club which just launched a partnership with the iconic Italian fashion house - Valentino. Listen in as Mariella shares secrets of Ravello, how she and her family have poured their passion into the hotel, what she thinks about White Lotus, and how her love for fashion inspired her to create a curated boutique on property.

In this episode of “5 Questions with…” Kristin Moller interviews Barry Choi, an award winning journalist specializing in travel and personal finance. Barry’s site, Money We Have, launched in 2014 as one of the first of its kind and has grown to encompass all the things you need to know about credit cards, loyalty programs, travel rewards, and status. He is regularly cited as an expert on US and Canadian loyalty programs, covering airlines, hotels and financial institutions. Listen in as Barry shares what to look for when choosing a loyalty program credit card and how to use points, acquire status and make the programs work for you. https://www.moneywehave.com/

In this episode of “5 Questions With," Kristin Moller is joined by Terence Tubridy, managing partner of IGC Hospitality and managing partner of The Rockaway Hotel. Terence grew up working in his family's restaurant and then he launched IGC Hospitality with his brother Dee and best friend Jeff in NYC in 2002. Since then, he has grown the company to employ over 1200 people at many hotels, bars and restaurants across New York City. As managing partner of The Rockaway Hotel, which opened in 2020, Terence and IGC have brought a world-class, resort style hotel to a part of New York City that has long been undiscovered. The 60 room boutique hotel has become a hub for arts, culture and community both for guests and locals alike and is constantly offering a variety of programming and events to entertain and inspire and encourage people to discover Rockaway. Listen in as Terence shares how The Rockaway Hotel came to be, his best advice for working with family, how he stays motivated and a peek into one of his early entrepreneurial moments from childhood. For more information, please visit: https://www.therockawayhotel.com/ https://www.greetingsfromrockaway.com/ https://igchospitality.com/

In this episode of “5 Questions With…”, Kristin Moller, senior vice president of our Toronto office connects with Mary Bemis, founder of Insiders Guide to Spas and one of the most recognized names in spa and wellness journalism. She was one of the first reporters to focus on spas and wellness in the 1990s and forged a vocabulary for spa reportage that is widely used by those who cover the issues today. Recently honored as a Top 30 Influential Voice Transforming Wellness in 2023 by Medika Life, Mary is an inaugural honoree of Folio’s Top Women in Media Award. In 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, in 2007, she co-founded Organic Spa magazine, and in between serving on the ISPA and NYSPA Board of Directors, she was on the launch teams of Luxury SpaFinder and New Beauty magazines. She is a Founding Board Member and Symposium Chair Emeritus of the Washington Spa Alliance (WSPA). Mary has visited and written about thousands of spas in her career and she has worked to build awareness for the industry that she loves through her leadership and mentoring. Listen in as Mary shares how she got her start in spa journalism, what she sees as the best and in some cases most underrated spa treatments to book, how AI technology may be coming soon to a spa near you, which retro spa experiences are reemerging in today’s spa landscape and what are some of her most favorite spas to visit. https://www.insidersguidetospas.com/ https://www.instagram.com/insidersguidetospas/

In this episode of “5 Questions With…”, Kristin Moller, senior vice president of our Toronto office connects with Alicia Pintwala, co-founder of Slowlii, a wellness company rooted in helping busy people pause. Alica is born and raised in Toronto, is wellness-obsessed, and is focused on taking in every moment - as chaotic as they may be - alongside her husband and three young kids. Slowlii's first product, Restore, is a minty ashwagandha tablet that melts in your mouth in ~ 3 minutes. It's the first supplement to really incorporate that mindfulness aspect to it. While it's formulated with clinically proven ingredients to reduce stress and anxiety, the melt-away feature prompts you to pause (put those phones down), check in with yourself and find calm and clarity in the moment. Listen in as Alicia shares more about what drove her to create Slowlii, how she navigates owning and running a business with her husband while creating spaces for herself and her family, how she travels and advice she has for anyone looking to start their own business or simply work through a career change. For more info visit www.slowlii.com and @slowlii.co

In this episode of “5 Questions With…”, Kristin Moller, senior vice president of our Toronto office connects with Jen Peros, director of Talent at Famous Last Words PR. Jen is a two time Emmy award winning journalist, a former on-air correspondent and reporter for national TV shows and Editor in Chief of US Weekly during the magazine’s heyday as the top celebrity newsstand magazine. Listen in as Jen shares how she made the leap from journalism to the “dark side” of PR, where is her favorite place to travel and what advice she has to share with people just starting out in their careers. Follow Jen on Instagram @jenperos And Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenperos/

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 places to eat lists of global publications. The famed Michelin Guide recently announced their first ever Canadian guide and focused on Toronto, awarding stars and recognition to 74 restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area. Listen in as Val shares her expertise and how typically old school organizations are catching up and implementing change to improve workplace culture in restaurants and hotels.

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.