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01.06.23

Efendi Hotel in Akko, Israel Launches All-New “Galilean Wine, Spirits and Cuisine” Package

www.eagertourist.com/featured-itineraries/wine-spirits-and-cuisine-of-northern-israel-efendi-hotel

Acre, Israel – June 1, 2023: Efendi Hotel, a luxurious 12 room-and-suite boutique hotel that is the living testament to the Old City of Akko’s ancient history, today announces an all-new “Galilean Wine, Spirits and Cuisine” experience bringing guests to explore Israel’s majestic Mediterranean coastal region for a first-hand tasting led by local producers of wine, spirits, local cuisine and produce.

Israel is home to more than 250 boutique wineries across the country, with the Galilee and Western Galilee regions home to many of the top-rated brands. The Israeli innovation of agricultural and zero-drip irrigation has led to award-winning wines that are distributed around the world. Local winemakers and distilleries have garnered global recognition, receiving accolades from renowned critics and winning prestigious awards. From Julius Distillery to the Abaya Winery, local Israeli producers’ achievements validate the country’s position as a top wine producer known for consistent quality and excellence.

Championing the best of regional cuisine and produce, Efendi Hotel is also connected to the legendary Uri Buri restaurant in the Akko port, which has served guests its unique brand of local and elevated Israeli coastal cuisine since 1998. Going beyond the normal FB offering, the hotel has created an exclusive package that brings travelers to the distilleries and wineries of some of the most acclaimed producers in the country, offering a tour and extensive tasting experience led by the producers themselves. The program is paired with local cheeses, produce and authentic cuisine to satiate the most discerning gourmets and travelers simply looking for a taste of the region’s unique terroir.

The Galilean Wine and Spirits package includes:

  • Two-night stay in a room or suite at the luxurious Efendi Hotel in the Old City of Akko
  • Dinner for two at the Uri Buri restaurant, based around a degustation tasting menu
  • Expert-guided tour to visit three wineries or distilleries in the Western Galilee region, including tastings at each location and interactions with the owners and producers themselves, including transportation
  • Tastings of Israeli wines in the Efendi Hotels’ Crusader-era wine cellar
  • Massage of Hammam treatment for two persons in the hotel’s original Turkish Hammam

The package comes in partnership with Eager Tourist, a hyperlocal travel operator in Israel that specializes in unique experiences unknown to most tourists. Pricing for the “Galilean Wine, Spirits and Cuisine” starts at approximately $2,500USD based on a two-night stay at Efendi Hotel for double occupancy including breakfast, two spa treatments and a full-day tour and tasting as well as round-trip transportation. Each package includes the option of more than a dozen wineries and distilleries that can be customized according to the taste and preference of each guest. The package can be reserved upon demand by contacting hello@eagertourist.com. For more information about Efendi Hotel, visit www.efendi-hotel.com.

01.06.23

GRACE HITCHEN HILSLEY PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT, LEADING XHIBITION’S LONDON OFFICE

London, May 24, 2023: Xhibition PR, the award-winning boutique travel and design-focused agency founded by Nestor Lara Baeza and Ross Belfer in 2014, today announced the official appointment of Grace Hitchen Hilsley as Vice President in its London office. The promotion comes as the firm establishes itself as a significant player in the London market, growing its practice with global clients like Belgian-based Serax, Brown Hotels Europe, SZ Studio, and various Europe-based hospitality brands.

Following three years as the director of Xhibition’s London office, Hilsley will help catapult the agency further into the global spotlight and as a leading representative of some of the world’s top brands in hospitality, design, and travel. With over ten years as a PR professional, Hilsley hails from the UK and currently directs the Xhibition London office, where she leads global communications.
Hilsley specifically spearheaded the launch of new major collections and collaborations by Belgian design brand Serax – including Marni and Ottolenghi – and has been a stalwart in retaining top-tier press for hospitality clients across the Xhibition portfolio.

“Grace Hitchen Hilsley brings the highest level of expertise, creativity, and professionalism to Xhibition and the PR industry at large,” says company co-founder and partner Ross Belfer. “In addition to directing the Xhibition London office, Grace’s role as Vice President will certainly continue to catapult the agency into the next chapter of success and expansion for the years to come.”

Xhibition is an award-winning public relations firm that delivers exposure and engagement across various media platforms for brands in the travel, lifestyle, architecture, and hospitality industries. Xhibition has been the PR architect for some of the world’s leading travel, architecture, and luxury lifestyle brands. Our team members have decades of experience garnering top media placements while communicating a brand’s core values.

Headquartered in New York City, with offices in London and Tel Aviv, Xhibition offers a global outlook on PR while maintaining the local sensibility and hands-on approach of a boutique firm.

For more information about Xhibition, visit www.xhibition.com.

About Us

XHIBITION IS AN INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUE PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM THAT DELIVERS EXPOSURE AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS A VARIETY OF MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR BRANDS IN THE TRAVEL, LIFESTYLE, ARCHITECTURE, AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES. WE CREATE MEDIA EXPOSURE IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, UK, ASIA AND BEYOND.

ONE CONTRACT. GLOBAL REACH.

Xhibition has been the PR architect for some of the leading travel, architecture, and luxury lifestyle brands around the world. Our team members have decades of experience garnering top media placements while still communicating a brand's core values. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in London and Tel Aviv, Xhibition offers a global outlook on PR while maintaining the local sensibility and hands-on approach of a boutique firm. With diverse clients ranging from historic independent hotels to leading experiential travel companies, Xhibition tailors its PR approach to provide each client with the specific support and guidance needed to deliver impactful results.

Public relations

Whether engaging in local or international PR, making the right noise in the right places is what we do. By mapping a spectrum of story ideas for our clients, presenting them to our network of journalists, editors, and influencers across digital, print, and broadcast channels, we produce meaningful and impactful results.

Branding + Design

Keeping visual communication aligned with brand voice and core values is crucial. From branding updates to identity overhauls, Xhibition provides a holistic approach to visual communications.

Content Production

Through our trendsetting network of venues, artists, designers, chefs, producers, directors, photographers, wordsmiths, and tastemakers we are deftly primed to conceive and create events, multimedia and copywriting content that reinforces a brand’s core values and visibility.

Social Media

Xhibition manages and consults on social media platforms on behalf of clients in hospitality, fashion, and design. From content production and copywriting to boosted campaigns, we offer a hands-on, boutique approach to social media management with impactful results.

Curated Events and Editorials

From high-end editorial shoots to production for top-tier fashion and lifestyle brands, Xhibition has experience incorporating clients as locales and backdrops for commercial content.

Crisis Management

Our team consists of members with training and experience in crisis management, conflict resolution and strategic messaging during the direst times.

Thought Leadership

Seeking the most productive and high- profile speaking opportunities in events, conferences and symposiums relevant for our clients.

Our Team

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Nestor E. Lara Baeza

Partner, President Xhibition NYC

Nestor Lara Baeza is a partner at Xhibition. Nestor oversees the New York City office, leading the public relations efforts for top tourism, architecture, and hospitality clients.

Ross Belfer

Partner & President, Xhibition

A self-motivated travel and design enthusiast, Ross has worked in the PR industry for more than 15 years in the fields of hospitality, design and lifestyle. Born in New Jersey and currently residing in New York City, Ross lived in Tel Aviv for 10 years from where he traveled around the world to garner experiences, meet new clients and expand his cultural repertoire. Since founding Xhibition in 2014, Ross has represented elite brands in hospitality, design and fashion, as well as overseeing creative strategy, brand direction and new business for Xhibition. Over the past several years, Ross has ushered Xhibition in as one of the leading agencies in North America, earning several HSMAI awards, as well as PRNet 100 and PR Daily agency recognition.

Grace Hitchen-Hilsley

Director, Xhibition LDN

Hailing from the U.K., Grace graduated with a degree in International Fashion Marketing before beginning a career in Fashion PR. After garnering her public relations skills in the luxury market working for a number of London’s top fashion houses and designers, Grace set up as a freelance consultant specializing in fashion, interiors and design. Now living in London, Grace originally joined the Xhibition TLV team in 2018 and manages the travel, fashion, arts and lifestyle accounts.

Alexandra Mathiot

Account Executive

A Frenchie from Paris who fell in love with Tel Aviv after her first visit, Alex Mathiot holds a M.A. in press relations and communication and has years of experience working in the lifestyle and food P.R. space. Alex has worked on the Nespresso account in New York City while working at Zannier Group. Alex then worked at Jessica Aufiero hospitality PR agency and focused on restaurants and hotels, where she developed her curiosity and passion for food and the culinary world. Then, for the sake of love, she relocated to Tel Aviv to never leave again.

Charlotte Pokoik

Account Supervisor

Charlotte joined XHIBITION as a Senior Account Executive after serving as the lead PR architect for some of the world’s most outstanding luxury operators and destinations. For the past two years, Charlotte played a significant role in leading PR initiatives for South African Tourism, North America in addition to boutique hotels and lodges in Rwanda and Uganda, Portugal, and South Africa’s Winelands.

Charlotte graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Strategic Communication in addition to receiving a certificate in Hospitality Management from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

Elle Joseph

Account Manager

Israeli-Brit Elle graduated with a degree in Philosophy before embarking on a career in travel PR. Following an introduction to the lifestyle field with an internship at Xhibition TLV in 2019, she returned to London where she furthered cultivated her public relations skills, managing boutique and major FB and hospitality accounts including Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas and Raffles Hotels Resorts. With a passion for all things travel, design and food, she officially re-joined the Xhibition team in 2022.

David Braha

Account Executive

Prior to joining Xhibition, David gained experience in public relations focusing on architecture, interior design and hospitality clients, as well as worked in marketing and business development for a NY-based architecture firm. David holds a degree in urban design from Parsons School of Design in NY, and thereafter wrote for leading online design publication Dezeen. He currently lives in Brooklyn and leads architecture tours in Manhattan on weekends.

Jordan Kessel Meilichson

Account Executive

Israel-born, Hong Kong-raised Jordan joined Xhibition as an Account Executive after several years working in marketing with a focus on lifestyle, culture and real-estate. After earning her BA in Fashion Communications from Conde Nast College London, she developed her extensive industry experience from her time with Conde Nast International, Limitee PR, and Vonder Europe. A true globe trotter, Jordan is always planning her next adventure, ensuring to find the most unique local gems on the way.

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