PR Training for Travel and Tourism

Sama Abdi is Intrepid Travel’s first-ever Global Community Manager, helping lead engaging and interactive community strategies and influencer partnerships across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for one of the world’s largest adventure travel companies. In almost five years at Intrepid, she has helped execute exciting social and community campaigns that connect and inspire, including the influencer-led initiative she’ll be sharing today.
Based in Toronto, Canada, and originally from Kenya by way of Somalia, Sama brings a distinctly human lens to digital communications, one rooted in storytelling, cultural fluency, and the belief that the best communities are built on genuine connection, not just content.
When she’s not helping execute global campaigns alongside her global team, you’ll find her mid-debate about Star Wars, seeking out the world’s best slice of vodka pizza, or reminding everyone that yes, being an Aquarius does explain a lot.

Chiara has more than twelve years’ experience in communications and digital marketing.
A member of the 8020 team since 2018, Chiara leads the digital and PR strategy for a range of 8020’s aviation and transport technology clients.
With a degree in Consumer Behaviour & Marketing from the University of Reading, Chiara specialises in audience insights and was recognised as runner-up in the Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year category at the CIPR Awards, and finalist in the Young Professional of the Year category at the PRmoment Awards.
 

Trudi is a member of 8020’s senior management team and leads the company marketing and diversity development programme.

She has more than 20 years’ aviation and travel PR experience and is a regular conference speaker and panelist on PR in travel.

Trudi specializes in commercial aviation and consumer travel, and has advised a wide range of clients at CEO level, including major airlines, business jet operators, travel management companies and luxury hospitality brands. Trudi has also worked with some of the industry’s most prominent tour operators, sustainable travel companies and tourist boards.

She is an experienced crisis communications expert and was the leader of one of only two PR agencies chosen to guide Etihad Airways through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trudi has also worked in Ghana as the PR manager for sustainable development charity Raleigh International, and at national youth charity The Prince’s Trust, with particular responsibility for major events such as Party in the Park and the Urban Music Festival, as well as The Trust’s Premier League football partnership and celebrity Ambassador programmes.
 

Kate oversees 8020’s client service activities, coordinating the work of our account teams and ensuring the consistent application of our quality standards and processes. She is a member of 8020’s senior management team.
Prior to joining us, Kate was an account director at generalist London agency Publicasity, where she specialised in B2B PR for household consumer brands.
Previously, she worked for specialist wine PR agency Westbury Communications, promoting wine bodies, brands and retailers, and leading a campaign highlighting the diverse and sustainable winemaking methods for one well-known region.
Kate began her career in the retail sector, winning a place on the sought-after graduate training programme at Majestic and holding various branch and head office positions.
She is a passionate linguist and as well as being fluent in French, Kate speaks good Italian and passable German and Spanish.

Greg Dickinson is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in travel writing. He has presented dozens of short-form documentaries and hosted two Telegraph podcast series (Edgelands and Postcards). Before joining the Telegraph, he edited and researched guidebooks for Rough Guides, DK Eyewitness and Bradt Travel Guides.

Robin Murray is news editor of Travel Weekly, the UK’s leading travel trade publication. He has over a decade of experience in regional and trade news, serving as senior reporter and content editor for the Bristol Post and Bristol Live after cutting his teeth in local news at the Wiltshire Times. For the past three years, he has also volunteered in the press office at Glastonbury Festival

Olivia leads client accounts to deliver successful strategic communications programmes.
Her clients include airports, pilot and cabin crew training academies, business aviation tech platforms and transport solutions businesses. Olivia’s role is to develop the strategies and activities to build a positive brand reputation for her clients.
Prior to joining 8020, Olivia worked at London-based PR agencies across a range of industries including financial services, logistics and tech. Having been brought up in Spain and studying French at university, she is trilingual. 

Ben brings over two decades of expertise to the travel industry, having held senior marketing positions across the complete marketing spectrum. His impressive career journey has taken him through some of the sector's most prestigious companies, including Austravel, Wendy Wu Tours, Abercrombie & Kent, and CV Villas, where he has consistently demonstrated his comprehensive understanding of marketing strategy and execution.

With deep knowledge spanning all marketing disciplines, Ben is particularly passionate about brand strength and the critical importance of long-term brand investment. His strategic approach has helped shape the marketing landscape at each organisation he has joined.

Ben's professional travels have taken him across the globe, experiences that complement his personal wanderlust and reinforce his genuine passion for the industry he serves. When not crafting marketing strategies or exploring new destinations, he can be found pursuing his other passions: running and baking, both of which reflect his commitment to balance and creativity in all aspects of life.