DIY PR WORKSHOPS|COACHING
This year, I’m excited to be launching a series of DIY PR workshops in collaboration with my colleague and friend, Janaya Birse. Janaya is a seasoned destination marketing expert and PR professional, with 25+ years experience working across international and national tourism boards, hotels, wellness retreats, luxury lodges and boutiques stays.
We’ve both been approached regularly by accommodation owners and tourism operators — particularly since Covid, when demand for holiday accommodation skyrocketed — seeking guidance on how to access public relations support. The challenge? Many operators simply don’t have the budget for traditional PR representation or have an understanding of the media landscape.
That’s why we’re creating these workshops: to teach you how to do it yourself. Whether you run a boutique stay (STR, hotel or motel), you’re a tour operator, a tourist attraction, regional cellar door or restaurant, our aim is to empower you with the tools, insights and strategies you need to tell your story, attract media coverage, and elevate your brand — without breaking the bank. It’s an investment in yourself and your business that will generate dividends for years to come.
We’re currently setting up face to face workshops, one-on-one coaching and an online course to help hosts and tourism operators understand how the media works and how to achieve your own earned media coverage.
With my background in media, hosting, and PR consulting, combined with Janaya's reputation as one of Australia’s most respected and successful travel PR professionals, we bring a unique perspective from both sides of the media fence.
We’ll teach you how the media works, how to identify your story, how to pitch and write a press release (find the hook), how to put together a media kit, run a familiarisation (famil) and achieve your own earned media coverage.
Stay tuned for more details— we can’t wait to help you share your story with the world.
If you’d like to register your interest in attending a DIY PR or social media workshop, one-on-one coaching in PR or hosting (see below), or just want to know more, drop me a line at sheriden@rhodeswelltravelled.com, call or text me 0421 045 435.
co-hosting |social media workshops
Drawing on my background as a journalist, travel writer and a stint in PR, I achieved widespread earned media coverage for my own luxury stay The River Haus when it first launched in December 2021. Following a small PR campaign, supported by DNSW and My Maitland, I achieved media coverage in Country Style, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Traveller, HunterHunter, Belle Magazine, Not Quite Nigella, Daily Addict and more.
The River Haus in Morpeth, NSW, is now a highly successful short term property rental with high occupancy, consistent five star reviews, return guests as well as being a popular location for photo shoots. We are now enjoying our most successful year to date.
Since launching the River Haus, I have gone on to help other properties - Finns at Old Bar and Cedars Mount View to name but two - achieve media coverage for their properties through consulting and running targeted PR campaigns. I have also recently taken on the management (co-host role) of a second high-end property in Newcastle, Mister Brooks on Brown. In addition to managing the day-to-day operation, I will assist the owners in driving bookings, getting media coverage and running their socials. I have coached several hosts in setting up and running their social media accounts and manage three accounts @rhodeswelltravelled @the.riverhaus and @misterbrooks_onbrown
I love using images and video to tell a story - it’s an extension of what I’ve been doing with my writing for decades now. And I love helping other hosts achieve their goals.
If you would like help in setting up your property, co-hosting, advice on marketing your property, elevating your social media and/or achieving media coverage for your brand or business (see above), I’m here to help.
Sheriden x