Welcome to Hospitality Forward, a podcast for hospitality & travel professionals, where we invite members of the media to share their insights and tips.
My name is Hanna Lee. I’m President of Hanna Lee Communications, an award-winning public relations agency in New York City.
And I’m Michael Anstendig, a food and beverage writer and my work has appeared in publications like the New York Times, Time Out New York, New York magazine online and others. I'm also the Editor in Chief at Hanna Lee Communications.
The hospitality & travel industry is now facing incredible challenges, and we know our community is looking for support and solutions. So we want to provide ways of attracting the media spotlight that can help your business rebuild and prosper.
That is why we created this podcast, where we will interview the smartest, most accomplished journalists who cover hospitality & travel for some of the world’s leading outlets.
Our upcoming episodes featuring media members from the New York Times, Esquire, Fortune, Time Out New York, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and many others.
And because we understand the power of media coverage, we’ll ask our guests to reveal their insider tips.
They’ll explain how to get the word out about yourself and your business, how to handle media interviews, how to be a great media resource, and how to tell your newsworthy story in a compelling and authentic way.
We are so excited to bring you these insightful interviews to help our industry reset, redirect and rebound.
So subscribe today and join us as we move Hospitality Forward together.
Episode #90: Hamish Smith, Editor, CLASS & Bars Editor, Drinks International
Season 6 · Episode 90
Thursday, May 9, 2024 • Duration 33:25
In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Hamish Smith back to our show. Hamish is an award-winning drinks journalist specializing in the bar industry. Based in London, Hamish edits the UK bartender magazine CLASS and works across sister title Drinks International as Bars Editor. He is also The World’s 50 Best Bars' Chair for the UK and Ireland.
Within his role with CLASS, Hamish hosts and organizes the CLASS Bar Awards, one of the world's longest-running bar awards that started in 2003.
Connect with Hamish Smith:
IG: @hamishssmith
X: @HamishSSmith
LinkedIn: hamish-smith-07907a1b3
That’s a wrap for Season 6. Stay tuned for Season 7!
For all 85+ media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and TikTok.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Lucy Simon. Lucy is an Assistant Editor at Food & Wine. She leads the cocktail coverage in the magazine and collaborates with Ray Isle on wine. Having joined the team in 2021, Lucy has worked for print, video and digital. Her written work can be seen in a variety of sections across the magazine.
Lucy has always been infatuated with the world of food and beverage and has worked in restaurants, bars, food nonprofits and food policy. She even spent a summer as a fishmonger. Lucy has completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award in wine.
Connect with Lucy Simon:
IG: @lucynashsimon
For all 85+ media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and TikTok.
Episode #80: Betsy Andrews, Freelancer for Food & Wine, SevenFifty Daily, Imbibe & More
Season 6 · Episode 80
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 • Duration 34:21
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Betsy Andrews. Betsy is a James Beard, IACP and SATW award-winning food, drink and travel writer. She is a Contributing Editor at Food & Wine and SevenFifty Daily.
Besty also writes for numerous publications, including Imbibe, the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Wine Enthusiast, Serious Eats and Plate.
Her first cookbook, “Coastal: A Road-Trippy California Cookbook,” a collaboration with Chef Scott Clark, comes out from Chronicle in Spring 2025.
Connect with Betsy Andrews:
IG: @betsyandrews
Facebook: betsy.andrews1
X: @betsyandrews
LinkedIn: betsy-andrews
For all 80 media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Chloe Frechette. Chloe is the Deputy Editor of PUNCH, where she has worked since 2016, and primarily covers cocktails and spirits.
Chloe is also the author of “Easy Tiki: A Modern Revival With 60 Recipes.” She has a master’s degree in History of Design from the Royal College of Art where she earned distinction for her research on the material culture of cocktail consumption.
Connect with Chloe Frechette:
IG: @chloefrechette
For all 75+ media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Episode #78: Aly Walansky, Freelancer for Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Food Network and more
Season 6 · Episode 78
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • Duration 25:56
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Aly Walansky. Aly is a freelance writer for Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Food Network and many other prestigious media outlets. Aly covers lifestyle topics, with a focus on food, cocktails and travel. She has spent the last two decades traveling the world in pursuit of the hottest spices and most delicious cocktails. Her daily substack email newsletter goes out to thousands of media professionals each day.
Connect with Aly Walansky:
IG: @alywalansky
Facebook: @alywalansky
X: @alywalansky
For all 75+ media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Episode #77: Andy Wang, Contributing Writer for Observer, Robb Report and Forbes
Season 6 · Episode 77
Thursday, January 25, 2024 • Duration 34:24
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Andy Wang. Andy is a contributing writer for Observer, where he published the 2023 Nightlife + Dining Power List. He has written regularly about restaurants and nightlife for publications including Food & Wine, Los Angeles Magazine and Robb Report.
Andy’s work has also appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, New York Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and many others. He was previously the real estate and travel editor at the New York Post.
Connect with Andy Wang:
IG: @andywangnyla
Facebook: @andyswang
X: @andywangnyla
For all 70+ media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes on our agency’s website, www.hannaleecommunications.com.
Connect with hosts Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig along with our agency on IG, as well as on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Episode #76: Larry Olmsted, Freelancer for Forbes, Whisky Advocate, Cigar Aficionado Magazine and more
Season 6 · Episode 76
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 • Duration 27:53
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Larry Olmsted. Larry is an award-winning travel, food and drinks writer who contributes to Forbes, Whisky Advocate, Cigar Aficionado Magazine, MasterCard Luxury Magazine and many other leading media outlets.
Larry specializes in travel-related topics including industry trends, culinary, luxury and sports travel, especially golf, skiing and active and spectator sports travel.
The author of “Real Food, Fake Food,” “FANS” and “Getting Into Guinness,” Larry has personally set three Guinness World Records, including travel.
Episode #75: Yolanda Evans, Freelancer for PUNCH, Imbibe, Thrillist and more
Season 6 · Episode 75
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 • Duration 28:03
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Yolanda Evans. Yolanda is an award-winning freelance writer based in Berlin, Germany, who contributes to PUNCH, Imbibe, Thrillist and countless other top media outlets.
Specializing in covering travel and booze, Yolanda earned a prestigious IACP Award for Narrative Beverage Writing with Recipes.
Episode #74: John Kell, Freelancer for Fortune, Fast Company and Business Insider
Season 6 · Episode 74
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Duration 26:47
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with John Kell. John is a freelance writer who contributes to Fortune, Fast Company and Business Insider. He covers a wide range of topics from beverages to technology to DEI and sustainability.
Previously, John worked as an on-staff reporter for Fortune, the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, where he covered food and beverage, retailers, restaurants and apparel makers.
Episode #73: Claire Stern, Digital Director, ELLE.com
Season 6 · Episode 73
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 • Duration 28:37
In this episode, we are delighted to chat with Claire Stern. Claire is the Digital Director of ELLE.com.
Previously, Claire worked in the editorial departments of InStyle, J.Crew, Bergdorf Goodman and POPSUGAR. She earned her master’s degree from the Columbia Journalism School.
Claire’s penchant for interviewing started with the “Harriet the Spy” notebook she had as a kid.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
For a chance to win our agency’s award-winning book, “The Japanese Art of the Cocktail,” please email hello@hannaleecommunications.com and share your favorite pitching tip that you learned from the show.
In addition, if you were featured in the media thanks to following advice from our journalist guests heard on our podcast, please send us a link to the article or segment. We will be happy to send you a copy of our book as a congratulatory gift.
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