TMR Maestro Series Profile: Learn PR from the Pros with Cathy Decker
by Daine Taylor
Cathy Decker will share her insight and knowledge about media communications and public relations as one of the featured experts in Travel Market Report’s Maestro series.
Decker is the principal at The Decker Royal Agency, an integrated communications workshop that specializes in travel, hospitality, and culinary arts.
“I began my career in the travel industry fresh out of school in 1986 at a boutique PR company that specialized in the Caribbean. My very first client was Couples Hotel – part of the SuperClubs chain… I also cut my teeth on Air Jamaica, at the time, the national carrier of the destination,” said Decker.
“It was an incredible place to learn and as a young person, I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of travel’s most original thinkers and innovators. My beginning helped me discover a passion for the industry that continues and a personal love of travel that I am itching to return to.”
With decades of experience in the industry, Cathleen Decker helps travel and tourism clients reach their communications goals.
“Thirty plus years is a long time of lesson-learning, but one of the most important lessons I learned early on and that’s work expands to the time on hand. It is important to distinguish what is keeping you busy and what is keeping you productive.”
During her upcoming Maestro sessions, she will be offering tips and advice on how to handle communications with media, the basics of public relations, and what advisors need to know about crafting their marketing messages. She also said she hopes to instill a sense of confidence and reassure advisors that they are not alone.
“Advisors have the power to protect and enhance their reputation, [and] it’s important and they can do it,” said Decker. “As a small business owner, we identify with the challenges and anxiety of bringing your services, thoughts, products, energy and all the rest to market.”
“Travel advisors are in the business of recommending what to do with two of the public’s most important assets: time and money; trust is paramount and public relations is above all, about developing trust through accuracy of communication.”
