Established in 2006, The Fiske Group is an award-winning national public relations firm specializing in results-driven campaigns for a variety of industries including luxury hotels, resorts and spas, fashion, art and general travel and lifestyle brands. As the traditional and digital media landscape shifts and bends, The Fiske Group brings fresh insights to landing media coverage that not only elevates a company’s reputation, but also impacts the bottom line.
The Fiske Group assures senior-level attention by keeping our client list manageable and exclusive. Quality over quantity is our mantra. With solid relationships in the media marketplace, The Fiske Group ensures a national reach, delivering big agency results with highly personalized programs, which support the client’s existing brand objectives.
A self-proclaimed spa junkie, this dynamic, results-orientated marketing and communications professional with 20+ years of experience in marketing, branding, media relations and publicity has helped propel her clients to the forefront of the luxury travel space. Long-time client, Lake Austin Spa Resort has been consistently ranked a top ten destination spa for the past ten years in both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines and additional hotels and resorts have enjoyed similar exposure in national awards. Before starting her award-winning, boutique public relations firm, she worked on-site as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas, where she was responsible for sales and marketing efforts targeting the top 1% of affluent consumers in the United States.
She has served on the marketing task force for the International Spa Association, is currently on the Women in Leadership committee for the Global Wellness Institute, has spoken at industry conferences such as SXSW, IECSC, The Resort Hotel Association (RHA), SPATEC, and ISPA and has written for a variety of publications including FathomAway, Organic Spa, Spa Opportunities and Forbes.
Respected by the country’s top media professionals, Fiske’s clients have enjoyed enormous exposure in every media outlet imaginable and she has been referred to as the “Unicorn PR Gal” by the press. She graduated from The University of Texas in Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism in public relations.
A few kind words from a few of our friends. We happen to think they are pretty terrific too.
Darlene is one of the best publicists I've ever worked with — not only is she extremely organized and professional, she's also extremely conscientious, thoughtful, and charming. If only everyone was as easy to work with!
Christina Perez, Vogue, Contributing Editor
On average, I receive upwards of 8,500 emails a month. Needless to say, I can't open every single one, or reply back to any great majority, yet I open and reply to all of Darlene's. She's the unicorn PR gal that you love to hear from and you love to work with. I only took one "press trip" this year and it was with Darlene. She is a consummate connector and works to forge real relationships. She knows what a meaningful trip is, she's respectful of editors' time (see above 8,500 emails!) and she knows how to make a city or destination shine.
Mary Kate McGrath, Editor in Chief, PureWow
As a journalist, I’ve worked with Darlene Fiske a number of times and she is a true professional in every way! She provides expertise in all aspects of public relations and works closely with her clients to assist with their media outreach as well as other related projects. Although she's based in Austin, she works with national and international clients -- she seems to know everyone! I always enjoy working (and traveling) with her, as she is always responsive, helpful — and provides the most optimal information for my articles. And most importantly, she always treats everyone with utmost respect!
Marla Cimini, Contributor to USA Today, Robb Report.
I'm a lifestyle and travel editor/reporter who has worked with Darlene for more than 10 years, across three types of media outlets: a daily newspaper in Fort Worth; a monthly luxury magazine covering international travel; and now, a statewide network of lifestyle news sites in five major Texas cities. Darlene is one of the only PR professionals who has "moved" with me, learned each of my audiences, and tailored high-quality pitches and experiences accordingly - from traveling with toddlers to romantic adults-only getaways. As a small firm, she prioritizes personal attention and timely communication. Plus, she's great fun to work with, and friendly and personable to boot - the Texas way!
Stephanie Allmon Merry, Managing Editor of CultureMap, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
I’ve worked with Darlene for as long as I’ve been in Texas — more than 16 years now. She’s been a trusted pro I feel comfortable calling on for information not only about her clients but also about the state generally and broadly. She knows every corner. I love that she’s a small “mom and pop” operation and always eager to work with me and the readers of Houston CityBook. She’s top-tier and has added value to my work again and again.
Jeff Gremillion, Editor in Chief, Houston CityBook
Darlene’s press trip itinerary was terrific. From the welcome champagne and oysters to sundowners on the schooner, you offered a perfect balance of planned adventures and time on our own.
Victoria Riccardi, Freelance Travel, Food & Dining Writer
Darlene is one in a million -- a true pro and a true joy to work with and be around. She's an absolute professional, but working with her never feels anything like work. She's optimistic, enthusiastic, and her incredibly deep knowledge of the wellness space is really impressive (and inspiring!). In two words, she "gets it," and every journalist I know loves working with her.
Anne Bauso, Editor at Oyster.com, A TripAdvisor Company
As a journalist for TIME magazine, I’ve worked with Darlene several times. She’s one of the few publicists who not only totally gets what you’re after, but actually has good ideas of her own. That’s because she takes the time to read the articles written by the person she’s working with, and knows their publication. And she’s smart. And cool.
Joel Stein, TIME Magazine
Darlene Fiske not only knows how to fulfill her clients' needs, she knows what editors are looking for and what works best in their publications to get the most coverage and deliver the right stories for everyone involved.
Deborah Frank, Editor in Chief of Luxury Magazine
She’s well-connected and on top of things. She responds quickly to a journalist’s requests – no matter what format they come in! She is a pleasure to work with.
Melissa Aguilar, Senior Editor, Features, Houston Chronicle
Mohonk Mountain House has worked with The Fiske Group for more than 10 years. Darlene is the type of person to keep her contacts quiet, not bragging about who she knows, but her rolodex is A-list and then some. She is Austin based but her network of top tier influencers is national in scope. She has guided the social media efforts for Mohonk Mountain House with the skill of a masterful storyteller and with insights that have helped propel our brand into the age of digital and social communications. To top it off, our Spa has been rated the #1 Spa in North America in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards, and the property has achieved numerous awards under her direction. She delivers big agency results with highly customized and results-driven programs. Hiring The Fiske Group was one of the best decisions I made as the Director of Marketing at Mohonk Mountain House. Along with her energy, focus, and talent, Darlene is a pleasure to work with - we are some of her biggest fans!
Nina Smiley, Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York
As a widely published freelance and travel writer, I depend every day on the assistance of pubic relations experts like Darlene. In any given day, I have conversations with up to two hundred pr people--not to mention receive beau coup press releases and announcements. My personal list of PR associates tops 500. Without a doubt, Darlene is in the top tier. She is creative, smart, and efficient. Always friendly and upbeat, she is a social wunderkind and a strategy genius. If I were hiring PR, she would be my woman.
Becca Hensley, Freelance Travel and Lifestyle Writer
Darlene is THE PR consultant who delivers, which is probably one of the biggest complaints people have with PR reps - how do you measure their effectiveness. You'll never have that question with Darlene. With her sweet Southern persistence, Darlene not only has all the major media connects, she has good relationships with them. They respond to her and love her (as do I)! If you are lucky enough to have Darlene accept you as a client (that will be your biggest challenge), you need only sit back and watch your brand explode.
Kassie Rempel, Owner/Founder: Lillybee.com & KassiesCloset.com
Darlene is a total editor's publicist. She understands the different needs of different publications and tailors her pitches to fit. She's whip smart, hugely creative and the type of person who seems to know about all of the coolest things before anyone else. Aside from her professional strengths (of which there are many), Darlene's an absolute joy to deal with. She reps some pretty amazing clients, but I get the sense that she could sell anyone on just about anything.
Sarah Stiefvater, Editor | Purewow
Darlene Fiske is the consummate hospitality marketing professional. She maintains a level-headed but fun attitude and makes it her business to not only promote her clients, which have included some of the nation's top resorts, but to immerse herself in them.
Helen Anders, Freelance Travel Journalist