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We provide a full benefits package, including exciting travel perks, generous time-off, parental leave, a global hybrid work setup (with some pretty cool offices), and career development resources, all to fuel our employees' passion for travel and ensure a rewarding career journey. We’re building a more open world. Join us.
Public Relations Specialist, Canada
Introduction to team
We create and deliver an aligned, dedicated marketing strategy to fuel each Expedia Group brand's success. Since our travelers interact with us through our brands, we have a brand focus in our marketing, while leveraging the scale and efficiency we’ve built in functional expertise.
Looking to join a dynamic team of communications professionals? If you are hungry to drive best-in-class storytelling for some of the most loved consumer travel brands in the world, this is the job for you.
As a Public Relations Specialist for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo in Canada, you will be tasked with contributing to the development and execution of creative, highly engaging PR activities that resonate strongly with travelers and top tier consumer media. You will work closely with stakeholders within the company to protect and promote the Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo brands in Canada, build brand love among target audiences, and act as a key contributor to high-profile marketing campaigns and storytelling opportunities.
In this role, you will develop a strong understanding of the consumer and travel media landscape and must possess local expertise on the Canadian media landscape and news and stories that will resonate with Canadian travelers. You will have a keen eye for developing stories and initiatives which will break through the noise and cement Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo as three of the world’s most-loved travel brands.
You’ll be based in Toronto, reporting to the Senior Manager of Vrbo PR (based in Austin, Texas) and work closely with the Global Communications and Marketing teams.
In this role, you will:
Working with global PR colleagues, develop strategic story angles and PR initiatives that will result in standout coverage for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo in Canada, including campaign ideation, project management and development of press materials.
Media Relations with press in Canada, including responding to incoming press inquiries, planning and execution of press trips and media events, and maintaining PR editorial/activity calendars for the Canada PR team.
Proactively identify opportunities to drive brand love for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo through earned media and storytelling, using and analyzing data and insights to inform storytelling and support business initiatives.
Develop talking points for press interviews for brand spokespeople.
Responsible for monitoring industry and competitor media coverage, staying up to date with travel trends and making recommendations to keep Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo top-of-mind.
Opportunity to significantly contribute to global tentpole PR campaigns, including liaising with PR colleagues in different countries, managing deadlines, creating global templates and processes and coordinating regular team communications.
Use data and insights to inform storytelling to support business initiatives.
Manage coverage reports, drafting status updates and providing business event progress and reports as they occur.
Manage project/campaign timelines, developing workbacks and monitoring budgets.
With the global crisis communications team, manage reactive PR issues that influence perceptions of our travel brands in Canada.
Experience and qualifications:
Proven 2+ years' experience in PR, media relations or a communications role in a consumer agency and/or in-house environment.
Proven record of working across different stakeholders and cross-functional teams such as marketing, social media and creative teams.
You are action-driven and like to get things done, can analyze and use insights to inform decisions, provide clarity back to the business and take ownership of outcomes.
Ability to manage changing requirements as well as having outstanding project management and organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to synthesize data into logical conclusions and recommendations to uncover unique storytelling opportunities for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Strong experience in media relations possessing excellent understanding of media landscape, and key consumer media contacts across print, online and broadcast media outlets.
Exceptional teambuilding and interpersonal skills – including the ability to represent Expedia Group at the highest levels internally and externally.
Ability to think creatively and adapt quickly to match the travel landscape.
Able to handle fast-paced environments, with quick-turn timelines.
Demonstrated experience in highly matrixed and/or global organizations a plus.
Consumer product and/or travel industry experience preferred.
Issues/crisis management experience is a plus.
Fluent English and French speaker a plus.
Please note that this role is only available in the following locations: Toronto, Canada, in alignment with our flexible work model which requires employees to be in-office at least three days a week. We are unable to offer relocation assistance for this role.
The total cash range for this position in Toronto is $65,500.00 to $92,000.00. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $105,000.00, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role.
Starting pay for this role will vary based on multiple factors, including location, available budget, and an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Pay ranges may be modified in the future.
Accommodation requests
If you need assistance with any part of the application or recruiting process due to a disability, or other physical or mental health conditions, please reach out to our Recruiting Accommodations Team through the Accommodation Request.
We are proud to be named as a Best Place to Work on Glassdoor in 2024 and be recognized for award-winning culture by organizations like Forbes, TIME, Disability:IN, and others.
Expedia Group's family of brands includes: Brand Expedia, Hotels.com, Expedia Partner Solutions, Vrbo, trivago, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Wotif, ebookers, CheapTickets, Expedia Group Media Solutions, Expedia Local Expert, CarRentals.com, and Expedia Cruises. 2024 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners.
Employment opportunities and job offers at Expedia Group will always come from Expedia Group’s Talent Acquisition and hiring teams. Never provide sensitive, personal information to someone unless you’re confident who the recipient is. Expedia Group does not extend job offers via email or any other messaging tools to individuals with whom we have not made prior contact. Our email domain is @expediagroup.com. The official website to find and apply for job openings at Expedia Group is careers.expediagroup.com/jobs.
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* The salary benchmark is based on the target salaries of market leaders in their relevant sectors. It is intended to serve as a guide to help Premium Members assess open positions and to help in salary negotiations. The salary benchmark is not provided directly by the company, which could be significantly higher or lower.