Testimonials
What do people say about us?
Emma Sturgiss
Global Manager - PR, Broadcast and Advocacy at Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia has worked with Barking Owl Communications for many years and consider them to be one of Australia’s leading tourism agencies. They are highly knowledgeable in their field and understand how to work with industry organisations like Tourism Australia for mutual benefit. We have worked with Jill and her team across a range of clients and whether it’s hosting Oprah Winfrey on Hamilton Island to a large media contingent, organising interviews at major industry shows like ATE or getting their assistance with hosting international journalists on walks in Tasmania we know we are always in good hands.
John Fitzgerald
CEO, Tourism Tasmania
Tourism Tasmania has worked with Barking Owl for several years in their role as the PR representatives for the Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC). Over this time, Tourism Tasmania has provided flight and accommodation support for the interstate journalists that Barking Owl has invited on the Walks. We have found this relationship to be very successful as they have a deep understanding of the Australian media and how to work with journalists across traditional and social outlets. Barking Owl has consistently attracted media that we consider to be of a high value, delivering mutually beneficial results for Tasmania and the TWC.
Bruce Piper
Managing Editor, Travel Daily, Cruise Weekly, Travel & Cruise Weekly
We have been dealing with Barking Owl Communications for many years across a variety of our publications including Travel Daily, Cruise Weekly, travelBulletin, Business Events News and Travel & Cruise Weekly. Pitches from Jill and her team have always shown a clear understanding of what our readers want to know, whether it's a corporate update from an ASX-listed company, an overseas destination wanting to showcase its attractions to the Australian market, an industry association seeking to build the profile of its stakeholders or a local resort or experience keen to build its trade and consumer profile. We've found Barking Owl to be very responsive to requests for information or commentary, and I would recommend the agency to any travel or tourism business wanting to elevate its presence to both the travel trade and consumers.
Jill Abel
CEO, Australian Cruise Association
Barking Owl has worked closely with ACA for the last few years to shine a light on the work we do in the cruise industry. They have developed a successful B2B program for our Association including strategic counsel, content development to reach our key stakeholder groups, social media programming and event support for our annual membership conference all of which has elevated our presence in the cruise sector. They have a keen understanding of our industry and the key players, are responsive to our needs and provide proactive on-target recommendations.
Billie Moser
Vice President International Tourism, Travel Portland
Travel Portland has been proud to work with Barking Owl for the past three years on a multi-layered program of media, trade and direct to consumer activity to tell the stories of Portland to the Australia and New Zealand markets. During this time, we have received personal, professional and forward-thinking advice and direction every day. Jill and her wonderful staff took time to understand the uniqueness of Portland and brought the most creative projects to us meeting our strategic goals. From an exciting digital media program with the Bondi Hipsters to the delivery of a high quality six-part podcast series on the city, they have constantly driven us to think differently. These initiatives have been underscored with hardworking media programs which have seen numerous on-target media visits result in a high level of coverage and solid industry programs which have delivered outstanding trade partner and airline relationships and most importantly visitor numbers. The results are impressive -- outperforming Portland’s competitive set of five U.S. cities by 17% from 2014 to 2019. Travel Portland looks forward to working with Jill and Barking Owl again in the near future.
Brooke Grundy
Head of Marketing, Experience Co
Working with the Barking Owl team is a dream! Jill and Katie are extremely passionate about getting the best results for our business and work tirelessly to achieve targets month after month. Barking Owl has helped Experience Co. achieve great results across our entire portfolio of brands across a variety of mediums including print, digital, TV and social media.
Barking Owl assisted in the brand and product launch of the new Skydive Australia helicopter skydiving location in Surfers Paradise in 2021. The team helped us achieve a full spectrum of media coverage to assist in gaining brand awareness for our new product. In addition to simply gaining coverage for opening the site, the Barking Owl team worked to create a strategic charity partnership which resulted in additional TV news coverage and a wide variety of social coverage via influencers and brand pages.
Ana Sofia Ayala
Chief Marketing Officer
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia
The Barking Owl Communications team has been a driving force behind our strong media presence since commencing with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia in 2020.
Throughout what has been one of the most challenging periods for the travel industry, the Owls have combined experienced and solid advice with creativity, resilience, and a positive presence.
Barking Owl has driven a strong communications effort ranging from writing press releases and other content, media pitches, staff media training, event management, hosting VIP guests at Ayers Rock Resort and participating in countless brainstorming sessions with the wider Voyages marketing and communications team.
They have driven support for key projects such as our re-opening post COVID lockdown 2020, our partnership with the Qantas “Flight to Somewhere”, the opening of the Gallery of Central Australia and most recently the MasterChef finals program shot at Uluru.
Barking Owl has been a pleasure to collaborate with and we’d like to thank them for their continued work with Voyages.
Gaynor Reid
Vice President Communications,
Accor Asia Pacific
Barking Owl is one of the hardest-working and most creative PR agencies we have had the pleasure to work with. They drove an exceptional communications program for us create maximum exposure for the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour’s positioning as the newest internationally-branded, five-star hotel in Sydney. This included pre-opening activities to help get us wins with the media before we even opened our doors. They then created a series of outstanding events to keep the momentum going, with excellent media outreach and great partners. Our “Claris the Mouse High Tea” with renowned illustrator Megan Hess was a huge success, generating exceptional coverage and sell-out bookings for months. Jill and her team have outstanding media relationships, excellent partnerships in the luxury space and are brilliant at creating content, delivering strategic communications plans and pitching angles for their clients. I would not hesitate to recommend Barking Owl to anyone looking for an agency to help them stand out from the crowd – they can be counted on to deliver beyond your expectations
Kate Sharpe
Marketing Manager
Bunnik Tours
Bunnik Tours worked with Jill and Katie from Barking Owl to improve our media presence. During this time their connections in the media industry, both in mainstream and travel publications, proved invaluable and allowed us to amplify the Bunnik Tours brand to a variety of different audiences across Australia.
From empowering our team with media training, to drafting press releases and pitches, their professionalism and ability to emulate the voice and values of our company was exceptional. We highly value the relationship we have created with Barking Owl and look forward to working with them again in the future.
