KWT Global made another strategic acquisition this year (further bolstering its prowess after bringing on HL Group in mid-2020) integrating Stagwell partner agency Wye Communications. Wye’s deep corporate expertise strengthened the agency’s rapidly expanding corporate storytelling, brand strategy and corporate transformation offerings, and added internal communications and employer branding services. The move added over a dozen team members to the agency, plus a Chicago office. Speaking of employee expansion, KWT Global’s digital team has doubled since the beginning of 2021, with the addition of several new clients and organic growth within its legacy portfolio. Also new in 2022: KWT Global launched its Corporate Transformation and Future of Communications offering to help companies transform their in-house and agency marketing communications teams into high-functioning, best-in-class communications organizations that are structured to address business goals and needs, internal and external communications, social media, executive visibility and thought leadership, among other marketing functions. Following the success of the agency’s own podcast, Brand on Purpose, they launched podcast production as a service, providing the ideation, strategy, setup, content and episode planning, recording, post-production and promotion of custom internal and external podcasts.
Leadership team:
Aaron Kwittken, Founder & Chairman
Gabrielle Zucker, CEO
Notable long-term clients:
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Purple, Roku, NetJets, IRONMAN, Tanger Outlets, Canada Goose, Laurel Road, Experian
New client wins:
Lovesac, Celebrity Cruises, Francesca’s, Smoothie King, Orchard, Illumina Liquid I.V., Macy’s
How are you innovating and moving the industry forward?
“KWT has grown from a small shop to a portfolio company of one of the world’s most innovative marketing holding companies; from $1 million in revenue and six employees in 2006 to more than $17 million and 90 staff members in 2022 – and our success is tied directly to our commitment to innovation. We created the market for purpose-led agencies, launching our purpose mission in 2017, which has led to KWT Global serving more than 100 charities and donating more than $1 million worth of time on our clients’ behalf. We are not afraid to be bold and stand up for our collective humanity. Most recently, our CEO was one of only a few PR agency CEOs to join more than 220 U.S. companies in signing a letter with the organization Everytown for Gun Safety calling on the Senate to take immediate action to reduce gun violence. She also organized a donation program for KWT to match employee donations made to organizations working to stop gun violence. Outside of our purpose-led activities, the agency continues to challenge the status quo and is dedicated to developing new service offerings and capabilities. From our in-house digital and design studios to podcast production to employer branding to corporate transformation and creative services, KWT Global will continue to show up in unexpected ways and create new opportunities for the definition of PR to expand and evolve.”
J/PR has been a hospitality PR heavyweight since the days when they had just one office. Today, J/PR operates five core global offices (New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, Nashville, London), with four remote teams (Toronto, Denver, Scottsdale, Boston). In a recent move to boost their physical reach, J/PR acquired Sadler&Co, a renowned UK boutique media relations agency focused on luxury travel and lifestyle. The acquisition effectively doubled their footprint in the UK, and further expanded the agency’s international reach throughout Europe and beyond. In another business move, the agency launched affiliate PR and social media agency 20Two Studio, run by 15-year J/PR veteran Lauren Knudsen. The year saw a slew of new clients across hotels, resorts, tourism, real estate and more join the firm, including its first airline, Hawaiian Airlines.
Leadership team:
Jamie Sigler O’Grady, Partner
Sarah Evans, Partner
Notable long-term clients:
Relais & Châteaux, Vail Hospitality, Pendry Hotels & Resorts, Iconic Luxury Hotels, The Palms Turks and Caicos, Twin Farms, Four Seasons Lanai, Hotel del Coronado, Adare Manor, The Chanler, Grand Hotel Tremezzo
New client wins:
Shangri-La, Hilton Luxury Brands, Virgin Limited Edition, The Dorchester, Cali Mykonos, Hawaiian Airlines, Troubadour Golf & Field Club (a Discovery Land Company), Enchantment Group, Four Seasons Nashville
Are there any new practice areas that you've started offering?
“An innovator in all things travel, public relations and social media, J/PR has focused not only on creating brands for their clients, but also creating a brand for J/PR. As experts and innovators in the industry, J/PR was the first travel PR agency to launch a podcast in 2018. Priority Status was created as a platform to uplift, amplify and and celebrate the incredible people, places and stories that fuel the wanderlust that lives within each of us. Since its launch, Priority Status has hosted 65+ guests across a variety of realms including food, travel, hospitality, design, fitness, wellness, social media, sustainability and entertainment. Marquee guests and conversations have included editors of the world’s most prestigious publications including Jacqui Gifford, Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure; heads of iconic industry brands eg. Provenance Hotels, Marriott, Disney, Montage International; Vice President of Black Travel Alliance, Tomiko Harvey, plus start-up wunderkind; and many more vibrant and powerful voices shaping the way we think about travel. J/PR created the podcast not only to provide a platform for other innovative perspectives but also to give its team members the opportunity to lead conversations with dozens of team members at all levels hosting podcasts on an ongoing basis. As part of our evolving brand, we’ve created an engaging digital monthly newsletter Priority Status Window Seat, that continues to be a resource for top media, tastemakers and industry leaders who are following along where we’re traveling, what we’re reading, the voices we’re following and the stories we are telling.”
