Director of Public Relations

Position Summary:

The Loews Chicago Hotel is currently seeking a Director of Public Relations to join the team. Loews Chicago Hotel features 400 guest rooms, including 36 suites, a Jose Garces concept restaurant, more than 25,000 square feet of innovative meeting space, multiple outdoor terraces for guest and function uses, spa/fitness center and an outdoor rooftop including a pool overlooking the city.

Boasting city and lake views from the guest rooms, the property is located just one block north of the Chicago River and two blocks east of North Michigan Avenue, in the heart of Chicago. The hotel will be part of a highly visible 52-story tower comprised of the Loews Chicago Hotel and 390 luxury residential apartments.

The Director of Public Relations manages the overall direction and administrationof internal and external public relations activities for the Loews Chicago Hotel downtown and Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel. The Director of Public Relations develops and implements strategic public relations for the hotel. Generates and maximizes media exposure for the properties on a local, regional and national level. Effectively implements and facilities related Loews Hotels brand programs and acts as liaison between hotel and the community.

More specifically, responsibilities include:

Public Relations Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategic public relations programs for both properties
• Create newsworthy promotions and story ideas for both hotels to include F&B, Spa, recreation, family, leisure, weddings, group and other topics that relate to the Chicago market
• Promote Good Neighbor promotions or events.
• Develop and maintain individual hotel media materials and press areas of the Loews Hotel web site 
• Distribute media releases to hotels key markets or both national and local level
• Keep abreast of consumer and trade media interests in order to better capitalize on publicity opportunities
• Responsible for media relations in the event of a crisis at the hotel. Prepare and keep crisis plan current.
• Maintain strong media relations with local, regional and national journalists in each city and pitch hotel efforts
• Create media personalities within hotel staff - i.e. chefs, concierge, etc to generate positive exposure for the hotel. Train staff as needed to appear on camera or be interviewed.
• Oversee photo and video shoots related to external audiences for both hotels
• Participate with local CVBs to stay current on destination promotional efforts, and host journalist requests when appropriate
• Develop relationships with organizations and businesses within key markets that support and enhance PR efforts.
• Liaise with onsite contacts about media visits and requests
• Manage all media inquiries, press visits and onsite productions
• Monitor all forms of media (TV, radio, print and social media) for each hotel, report on value of media mentions an share best media coverage

Required Skills & Experience:

• Excellent written and oral communications skills 
• Minimum of three years in public relations and social media with a lifestyle or hospitality brand or a PR agency 
• Self-starter with strong organizational and leadership skills 
• Creativity! 
• College Degree 
• Thorough knowledge of Hotel and Food & Beverage operations 
• General Knowledge of all Hotel departments 
• Must be able to meet the demands of client events to include presence at numerous food and beverage functions taking place throughout the day 
• Excels in fast paced work environment 
• Able to work flexible schedule including weekends and holidays