The Award-Winning Boutique Hospitality PR Agency Expands its Bi-Coastal Presence with New Leadership Hire for Los Angeles Office and New Client Win, Generator and its Sister Brand Freehand
go-pr.com // @go_publicrelations
NEW YORK, NY (January 22, 2024) – Boutique travel PR firm GO PR, today names Alexis Murray-Merriman as Vice President and head of its Los Angeles office. Following continued heightened demand for public relations services on the West Coast as well as a few marquee client wins, Murray-Merriman will service high-level client needs across the agency’s global portfolio and help to develop the bi-coastal agency team out of the Hollywood, CA office.
“Continuing to expand our West Coast footprint is a natural progression for us,” said Gizem Ozcelik, Founder & CEO, GO PR. “Alexis has worked at top agencies in New York City and Los Angeles and has ideated and implemented strategies for some of the most notable hospitality brands. She will not only expand our client roster on that coast but spearhead campaigns for our clients with key West Coast feeder markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Pacific Northwest.”
With a decade of experience, Murray-Merriman joins GO PR from Hawkins International, A FINN Partners Company, where she served as Vice President and worked on a variety of brands including Soho House North America, The Ned (including the launch of The Ned NoMad and The Ned Doha), Montage International, Inspirato, The Wigwam Resort in Arizona, Living Vehicle, Turtle Island Fiji and more.
Murray-Merriman begins her role simultaneously with GO PR’s newest client win, Generator and its sister brand Freehand. Murray-Merriman will not only lead brand communications strategies for the entire Generator and Freehand portfolio but will be integral with the launch of Paramount by Generator, Generator’s debut into third-party management that will serve as the next chapter for the legendary hotel.
Paramount Hotel, originally built in 1927 and a theater district fixture, set a new industry standard in 1990 when Hotelier Ian Schrager and entrepreneur Steve Rubell took over. Designed by Philippe Starck and the birthplace of “Lobby Life,” the Paramount Hotel quickly became one of the go-to hot spots in New York, and now, under Generator’s management, will continue this legacy with an extensive renovation that will preserve its historic character and enhance its guestrooms and public spaces, including the iconic lobby bar. In addition to Generator and Freehand, Murray-Merriman joins luxury Sonoma County resort Dawn Ranch, Detroit’s Shinola Hotel, St. Lucia’s Sunswept Resorts, Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, Visit Faroe Islands, among others.
Previously, Murray-Merriman worked closely with Ozcelik at MMGY NJF, where her experience includes launching Proper Hospitality and two of its properties on the West Coast and introducing Generator Hotels to the U.S. market, securing immense brand awareness among U.S. consumers and business developers and investors, which ultimately resulted to Queensgate Investments’ acquisition of the Company. During her tenure at MMGY NJF, Murray-Merriman also worked on Los Cabos Tourism Board, Visit San Antonio, London & Partners, and lead strategy for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa as well as several properties in New York City ranging from Refinery Hotel to The New York Palace.
Murray-Merriman also worked at KWT GLobal x HL Group, where she promoted the Eataly USA brand, individual locations, and its openings in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, oversaw initiatives for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and represented additional hospitality and lifestyle clients like Gloveworx, a bi-coastal boxing studio, W Hollywood, Rudd Oakville Estate, BURST Oral Care, and more.
GO PR serves as the go-to for indie hospitality and internationally recognized brands ranging from VisitDenmark and Tourisme Montréal to Walker Hotels and Gansevoort Meatpacking. Since its inception only three years ago, GO PR has established itself as the boutique agency to watch in the hospitality scene, having already earned numerous accolades including Observer’s PR Power List Honor Roll 2023 and INSIDER Top 15 Boutique Public Relations Firms to Hire Now 2023. Separately Ozcelik, as well as other team members within the Agency, have also won individual awards from Crain’s and Observer.
“I am excited to reunite with Gizem and join a best-in-class team who has redefined the modern PR agency with top tier results and client satisfaction at its core,” said Murray-Merriman, Vice President, GO PR. “In just three years, GO PR has become one of the most recognizable agency names and this next evolution for the company and myself will be one to watch.”
For more information on GO PR, please visit GO-PR.com.
About GO PR
Founded by Gizem Ozcelik in 2021, GO PR is a multifaceted travel and lifestyle media relations agency that has produced award-winning campaigns for clients including Tourisme Montréal, Dutch East Design, Bridgeton [Walker Hotels, Marram Montauk, Dawn Ranch], Shinola Hotel and more. Rooted in the idea that good PR isn’t just about placing stories, but about distilling the client’s superpowers into the right set of messages, marketing moments and story points – and then building them the stage to live on, GO PR has created wide-reaching and trend leading headlines and high level events across the globe. GO PR has been recognized for their excellence in PR with honors from the 2023 PR Net Net Gen Awards, 2023 HSMAI Adrian Awards, Observer’s PR Honor Roll 2023, INSIDER’S Top 15 Boutique Public Relations Firms to Hire Right Now 2023, Crain’s 2023 Notable Leaders in Advertising, Marketing and PR, Observer PR Rising Stars 2022, and Observer PR Rising Stars 2023.
