Why Your Competitors Get Found and You Don’t
Podcast Summary
How do you make your hospitality business the one customers find, understand and trust? In this episode of STR Global Unlocked, I sit down with Jessica Gillingham, founder of Abode Worldwide, to explore how strategic PR, clear positioning and a consistent brand story help short-term rental operators and travel tech companies stand out.
Jessica explains why public relations goes far beyond press releases, how earned media and owned channels work together, and why third-party credibility matters as AI search becomes part of the customer journey. We discuss what makes a company ready for a PR agency, the positioning mistakes that hold founders back, and how to start building authority with a smaller budget.
Which questions are answered in this episode?
- What does PR actually do beyond press releases?
- How can your business stand out in a crowded market?
- What helps customers find and trust your company through AI search?
- How should earned media and your own content work together?
- When is hiring a PR agency too early?
- How can founders build authority without being comfortable on stage?
- Where should you start with a small marketing budget?
- What can property managers do to build a stronger local reputation?
We Say What Others Won’t
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Guest Appearing in this Episode
Jessica Gillingham
Jessica Gillingham is the founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a specialist public relations and communications agency working with technology companies across hospitality, short-term rentals and modern living. With more than two decades of experience in PR, marketing and travel, she helps businesses sharpen their positioning, build credibility and communicate their role in a changing industry.
Jessica is also an industry speaker, adviser and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality: Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience and Operational Efficiencies. Her work explores the intersection of hospitality, technology and real estate, with a focus on how innovation is transforming the way people stay, live and travel.
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