Consumer and B2B PR and communications including strategic communications consulting, media relations, event planning, and writing services with a focus on travel and lifestyle clients. Current client list: House of Augustine Destination StratfordTasting MarrakechLe Kiosque a Fleurs Marrakech Travel consultant for bespoke travel agencies and private member clubs operating in Morocco and Canada. Lead communications-related workshops for economic development offices in Southwestern OntarioProject highlights: Marrakech Biennale 6Leading the international press relations for the Marrakech Biennale 6 and organizing the press preview day for 45 international journalists, press conferences, writing and editing press releases, and garnering top-tier press coverage including New York Times, BBC, CNN and moreBoutique SoukPlanning and excuting exclusive VIP events as part of the Boutique Souk team in Marrakech including providing concierge services, logistics during corporate events, writing city guides for inclusion in welcome packs; managing transport plans and overseeing up to 80 vehicles moving between various venues in Marrakech and surrounding regions; budget management and invoicing; managing day-of event personnel; guest relations including all concierge requests and point of contact on site for up to 220 guests; artist relations including transport, accommodations and stage management.Cafe ClockDeveloped social media/digital strategies and scheduling that resulted in increased awareness directly related to the bottom line, including higher search engine optimization, increased reputation, greater sense of belonging amongst staff, and handled journalist requests resulting in top-tier press hits in international press

Portfolio highlights: - Freelance writer with bylines in Monocle, Lonely Planet, Toronto Star, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, The Independent, The Evening Standard, Fodor's, Brownbook, Preferred Hotels- Author of the Toronto, Niagara, and southwestern Ontario chapter for forthcoming Lonely Planet Canada guidebook- Author of the North Atlantic Coast chapter for Lonely Planet Morocco guide- Editor and author of the food and drink chapter in The Monocle Travel Guide to Marrakech, Tangier + Casablanca- Travel editor at Essentialist - Specialist topics include: travel, lifestyle, hotels, design, art and food. - Location specialist: Canada and Morocco- Lonely Planet Local from July to October 2018, providing local updates for web purposes, reviewing content to ensure it's correct, writing web content as required- Cover story for Brownbook issue 64 featuring Ismail Khaouiri- Covered the opening the musée Yves Saint Laurent museum for Brownbook including interviews with Studio KO and museum management- Inspiring travel content for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, The Independent, The Evening Standard, Lonely Planet, Fodor's, Brownbook about the need to save Casablanca's downtown architecture including interview with an architect working with a local association to save the art-deco core - The Culture Trip's Marrakech editor from August to November 2016, including pitching and writing content, uploaded all content (text and images) and wrote the SEO tags and metatags in the site's content management system (Wordpress)- Podcast scriptwriting and interview writing for: Why Morocco and Postcards from Huron County- 'Preparing your press kit' for Huron County Economic Development office

Podcaster and host behind Why Morocco, a bi-weekly podcast featuring conversation with inspiring and creative personalities who share my love of the North African kingdom of Morocco. As the first dedicated podcast from Morocco, we aim to leave listeners inspired and motivated and perhaps left with a desire to visit the place we call home. Prior to launching, I developed the episode guidelines, tone and voice, audience and messaging plan along with the creative content required. I carefully researched launch plan to ensure maximum exposure based on best practices. The content calendar was created to coincide with current events, but also general interest to listeners.Postcards from Huron County explores an aspect of the region's heritage and often lesser-known history through conversation with historians and community members who have a close connection to each subject.

Freelance PR account manager on travel and tourism client files including:- Destination Toronto- Friendship Travel- New Scientist Discovery Tours- Finest RetreatsPress office management including hosting press trips (Destination Toronto), press release writing and distribution, proactive and reactive pitching.

Responding to the need for a bespoke food and cultural tour of Jemaa el Fna, I founded Tasting Marrakech food and cultural tour with each experience created to our guests' interests. We've expanding our tour offerings to include Hidden Marrakech tasting-trail-meets-historical tour through the Marrakech medina and Tasting Marrakech Gueliz to take in the contemporary art and design, architecture and street food of the neighbourhood developed during the French Protectorate years. Developed and manage the brand positioning and messaging, website (tasting-marrakech.com), relationships with key stakeholders and partners, and business growth and development.Sustained significant yearly growth since Tasting Marrakech’s inception through the use of solid marketing plans including establishing relationships with travel agencies and hotels, word of mouth marketing, and media relations. Developed and executed communication strategies to manage external issues for Tasting Marrakech during the global pandemic. Working alongside our legal advisor, I created policies to successfully reopen the business in February 2021.Featured in Condé Nast Traveller, The Telegraph, Vogue, GQ, Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, MSN.com, and more

Curated food experiences. Delivered.- product development, branding and communications, creative direction- press and trade launch- photo shoots- press hits: Globe and Mail, CTV, CTV London, Blyth Citizen, Stops Along the Way, and more- successfully secured small-business grant through application

As the manager of pureriads, I was responsible for the day-to-day operations of four boutique guesthouses comprising 24 rooms, including the marketing, reservations, concierge services, month-end accounting and operating budgets, a team of 20+ personnel, maintenance, on-site restaurants and spa, and guest relations;Developed and implemented a strategic communications and marketing plan to launch new services and properties;Developed strong business relationships and strategic partnerships with agents, tourism professionals, restaurants, attractions, resulting in increased occupancy and improved concierge services;As the lead event manager, I organized weekend getaways for groups up to 45 people including managing personnel, dining services, preparing itineraries, location scouts, cocktail parties, dinner parties, themed parties;Expanded the existing spa services menu and selected the finest spa products for use in and to sell in the spa, resulting in enhanced guest experience;Assisted with the opening of the fifth riad by providing interior decorating consultations, purchasing, personnel recruitment, event management input, and developed timelines to ensure the riad was open for a 50th birthday party celebration as part of an exclusive hire; Identified event marketing opportunities, resulting in increased exposure to key audiences.

I oversaw communications for the Office of the Associate Vice-President, including web sites, publications, and issues management;Developed communications materials to increase awareness of academic integrity, the Co-curricular Record initiative and Alternative Spring Break, resulting in increased participation in programs;In collaboration with various on-campus units, develop and execute communication strategies to manage issues internally and externally;Participate in benchmarking projects to review the Carleton.ca homepage as well as student communications to provide recommendations to senior management.

Led the Faculty of Science promotional video including script-writing, in-studio interviews, on-site video shoots while considering strategic goals;Planned and executed public lectures and events targeting key audiences resulting in increased exposure of our programs and research;Prepared an annual recruitment plan for the Faculty of Science in collaboration with the various department, schools and institutes comprising the Faculty;Reviewed social media strategies and implement new initiatives including Twitter.

Reporting to the Dean of Science, I oversaw communications for the Faculty of Science;Managed the Science Café speaker series from conception to evaluation, while staying within budget. As the event grew, I initiated a Science Café podcast to expand our reach;Garnered prominent media and audience attention for the Science Café speaker series through media advisories and promotional material, resulting in coverage in top tier media and overwhelming attendance by key internal and external communities;Coordinated communication products including promotional and marketing postcards, posters, and advertisements while ensuring brand standards; Provided input and content for various corporate publications including prospective student viewbooks and brochures;Advised internal stakeholders on communications-related initiatives, including event planning and promotion, media strategies, and promotion of new or existing programs and initiatives;Prepared media lines, speeches and presentations for internal stakeholders and liaised with spokespersons prior to interviews and events;Developed and managed a weekly e-newsletter to showcase Faculty success stories and events and to create a sense of community for internal and external audiences while increasing web traffic;Initiated recruitment events including the Evening with the Dean for local high school science teachers, resulting in the development of a relationship with this important audience while increasing the awareness of the Faculty of Science which resulted in increased student applications;Assisted with various high-profile events including Darwin Week, Chancellor installation ceremony, Nobel Prize plaque unveiling, ministerial announcements in accordance with the strategic goals;Wrote scientific stories in lay terms for Carleton print and online publications in accordance with strategic goals;Identified opportunities to engage alumni and assisted with events to enhance the alumni community.

Wrote and distributed news releases, media advisories, and public service announcements which resulted in positive coverage of Carleton University's key messages;Developed proactive media pitches to respond to rising issues, resulting in mentions in key publications;Contributed to internal relations by writing feature stories for Carleton Now and Research Work;Worked with on-campus groups to provide media strategies for special events at Carleton University;Led the university's promotional efforts for Shad Valley resulting in coverage in top tier media;Garnered prominent coverage for Carleton's Industrial Design program resulting in more than 17 top tier media hits;Assisted with media relations efforts for Spring Convocation 2007, resulting in 14 top tier media hits;Responded reactively to media requests for experts, resulting in coverage in top-tier broadcast and print outlets;Provided media relations support for ministerial announcements, resulting in promotion of Carleton University researchers and research initiatives.