About Rachel Harrison Communications PR Agency

Rachel Harrison

Founder

Rachel Harrison has over 25 years of marketing and communications experience creating unique partnerships and campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the industry. Together with her talented team, Rachel has helped clients achieve global awareness, transformative growth, and coveted awards from The World’s 50 Best to the Hot List.

Before founding Rachel Harrison Communications, Rachel was the co-founder of the award-winning Lion and Lamb Communications. She helmed the agency for six exciting years, achieving Inc Magazine’s “Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America” award.

Rachel’s broad and well-heeled background includes previous roles as Chief Marketing Officer for Chris Blackwell’s Island Outpost Resorts, Director of Marketing and Communications for Andaz by Hyatt (where she led the communications strategy to bring Hyatt public), and Senior Vice President at Dan Klores Communications.

A Salem, Massachusetts, native with 20 years in New York and four years in London and Northern Ireland, Rachel travels the world, exploring and uncovering what people are looking for next.

Lauren
Webster

MANAGING PARTNER & GLOBAL DIGITAL MD

Lauren Webster has proudly spent her career in the hospitality industry: one decade behind the bar, one in front of it. During this time, she has developed a reputation for producing innovative communication strategies and creative campaigns for a diverse range of drinks and hospitality brands worldwide including Portobello Road Gin, Four Pillars Gin, Living Ventures & Soho House.

Amanda
Watenberg

MANAGING DIRECTOR, Spirits

Amanda brings over a decade of experience within the spirits and hospitality industries. She has extensive experience leading PR campaigns and creative programming for Jose Cuervo Tequila, PUBLIC Hotel, Herschel Supply Co, KITH, Coca-Cola, and more.

Amber
Appelbaum

MANAGING DIRECTOR,
Operations & Business Development

Amber oversees our agency operations, business development and recruitment. She brings almost fifteen years of experience across spirits, CPG, retail, outdoor and hospitality brands as well as large scale events with brands within the following portfolios: Bacardi, Campari, LVMH, Richemont, along with retail brands like Arc’teryx and Bombas, and managed event activations at the Golden Globe awards, TIFF, US Open, Art Basel, NYFW and more.

Lauren
Ryback Hurth

MANAGING DIRECTOR, Travel

Lauren oversees the agency’s Travel and Hospitality division. She has an extensive background in travel and tourism with a focus on the luxury space, having overseen successful campaigns for notable brands including Black Tomato, Ritz-Carlton, Viceroy, Park Hyatt, Bermuda Tourism Authority, and more.

Lucy
Ballantyne

MANAGING DIRECTOR, Lifestyle

Lucy is an expert in the luxury and lifestyle sectors. She has launched dozens of hotel properties and created new ideas to keep hospitality clients top of mind. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, she completed her communications and film degrees in Australia and Italy.

Sarah
Hermalyn

MANAGING DIRECTOR, Culinary

Sarah has vast experience leading campaigns for high-profile chefs and New York Times bestselling authors. She’s worked with Ample Hills Creamery, Chef Amanda Cohen, Chef Wylie Dufresne, the Marcus Samuelsson Group, and more.

Sacha
Bell

Senior Vice President

Sacha Bell is a media specialist with expertise in international markets, particularly in the US and Europe. Born and raised in the UK’s Lake District, she has been involved in the hospitality industry for her entire working life. Sacha attended university in London at Goldsmiths College, where she studied media & communications and specialized in creative writing.

Robyn
Percy

UK PR Director

Robyn Percy has been publicising and communicating within the hospitality industry for over 15 years, both in the UK and the Middle East. Robyn’s hospitality, retail and FMCG experience includes The Blend by Beam Suntory, London Cocktail Week, Brooklyn Brewery, Warner’s Distillery, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Aldi UK, Heinz and SCHOFIELD’S BAR.

Kaitlin
Egan

SENIOR DIRECTOR (LA)

Kaitlin brings more than a decade of lifestyle and hospitality experience as a Senior Director at RHC. Based in Los Angeles and has worked with an expansive list of notable chefs, restaurants, hotels, bars and hospitality groups including a variety of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Manuela, SBE concepts such as Umami Burger and Katsuya, Valor Hospitality Group, Casa Del Mar and many more.

Andrew
Matthews

SENIOR DIRECTOR

With a driven passion to create exposure for his clients, Andrew has a wide range of media contacts across the Wine/Spirits & Food/Beverage space. With over 10 years of public relations, media relations, talent relations, event management, editorial, branding and marketing experience, he has managed to work with some big names in these arenas including D’USSE, Finlandia Vodka, Proper No. Twelve, Hillrock Estate Distillery, JAJA Tequila, Daniel Boulud restaurants, and The Standard Hotel Brands, to name a few.

Mikayla
Vielot

SENIOR DIRECTOR

Mikayla is a compelling storyteller who combines her background in journalism and love for the hospitality industry as a Senior Director at RHC. Originally from South Florida, Mikayla moved to NY to receive her Master’s from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Throughout her career, Mikayla has worked with restaurants such as Aldama, Aquavit and Sushi Noz, spirit brands like Amaro Montenegro and iichiko Shochu, and hotels including Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Fairmont Pacific Rim, NoMad London, Park Lane New York and more.