I joined Hawkins International Public Relations as a digital intern back in May in the hopes of learning how social media strategy and public relations operate within a robust travel industry. Today, I am so happy to be a part of a forward-thinking and innovative agency that has helped me grow immensely.
At Hawkins International Public Relations, I am involved in every level of digital strategy for a wide range of luxury travel clients. Every day is different and each week brings a whole host of challenges and learning opportunities to the fold.
If we’re pitching a new client, I’m meeting internally helping to conceive ideas on how to effectively harness both emerging and established social platforms to meet brand goals. I might even be putting together PowerPoint slides for the final pitch meeting. As new business proposals come aboard, I embark on detailed competitive analyses reports that keep the client’s social presence on the cutting edge, research platforms that best match the brand’s unique voice and collect data on the company’s community engagement. Otherwise, you might find me crafting editorial calendars, searching for effective imagery for future posts, writing blog content, responding to social media customer queries, or monitoring social channels.
My favorite part of my time at Hawkins was working to promote Seabourn’s launch of its new ship as well as its partnerships with three-Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller and renowned designer Adam Tihany. The incredible launch party at New York’s Per Se gave me the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names in the travel industry, feast on Chef Keller’s genius culinary creations and see firsthand how social media can be used to promote an event with the rest of the world via live-tweeting and live-Instagraming.
As an intern, I’ve gotten to learn from my incredibly talented colleagues, sit in on public relations training sessions and grasp the tools of two fascinating trades – public relations and digital media. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and am grateful for it all.
-Chase Guttman
Chase Guttman is an award-winning travel photographer and intrepid adventurer who has travelled to 50+ countries and all 50 U.S. states. He was named a 3 Best Travel Photography Blogger by USA Today, has twice won Young Travel Photographer of the Year, as well as the Young Photographers Alliance’s Emerging Talent Award and a Grand Prize in National Geographic’s International Photography Competition for Kids. He’s lectured at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, was thrice exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society in London and has been published in National Geographic, ESPN and Photo District News among others.