Sheraton Bridge Burning Ribbon Cutting Today
Here’s a question for all the public relations pros in the audience: Let’s say it’s opening day at a project you’ve been charged with promoting and a reporter from a publication that’s given your project more press than any other to date shows up wanting to take a few photos of the new lobby and…
Here’s a question for all the public relations pros in the audience: Let’s say it’s opening day at a project you’ve been charged with promoting and a reporter from a publication that’s given your project more press than any other to date shows up wanting to take a few photos of the new lobby and restaurant for a puffy slide-show feature. You:
a) Thank them and usher them inside;
b) Tell them to buzz off.
If you’re the clueless woman doing PR for the new Sheraton on Duffield Street, you amazingly pick Option B. Perhaps instead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony the brass at the hotel chain should engage in a different kind of severance and hire someone who has a clue about the Brooklyn media landscape and how businesses should engage with the Internet in 2010.
Update: A tipster just sent in these two shots from the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first is of a Starwood EVP making remarks and the second is of FUREE demonstrators who evidently think that Starwood should have built them some affordable housing instead.
“As far as Sheraton is concerned, brownstoner doesn’t matter.”
When someone is giving you free press, that’s a dangerous/stupid position to take. See ENY’s last sentence at 10:39
Maybe more relevant to the life of daveinbedstuy and a few other regulars here, but don’t kid yourself. As far as Sheraton is concerned, brownstoner doesn’t matter.
And maybe if you called up in advance instead of just showing up you’d get a more hospitable reception.
Let’s say you report on certain projects, but actual reporting becomes not enough. Let’s say that in return for your reporting, you come to expect certain access and certain courtesies. Something a few nights in the Presidential suite and a few meals on the house will settle?
I’m going to boycott that place by staying at my apt in gowanus instead.
“Sorry Mr. B. No matter how much it hurts your feelings, you’re not the wsj or the nyt.”
In many aspects of Brooklyn life Mr. B is more relevant than either of those publications.
“the clueless woman doing PR for the new Sheraton on Duffield Street”
You said it all right there. She’s clueless. I agree 100% – not the way to get it done. How could you possibly SEND AWAY someone – ANYONE – who wants to cover your property??
That said, besides the blog post, you really ought to contact the Sheraton folks directly (that is, if you have enough time and are pissed enough to follow through). Or, contact the PR firm directly and CALMLY ask to speak with a principal about this situation. Often, the lowest-level flunkie would get “door duty” so there may just be a big misunderstanding at the bottom of the whole thing.
But you’re right – PR people are there to GENERATE press, not discourage it. I’ll be interested to hear how this turns out.
Sorry Mr. B. No matter how much it hurts your feelings, you’re not the wsj or the nyt.
Get dibs to do some snark & maybe it’ll be picked up on the wires.
un-fing believeable i asked to be invited too
manhattan folks, with a few exceptions, have no idea
tho to be fair they are playing to national media as guests come from around world