The new Marriott hotel in Burr Ridge, IL, had just opened and was suffering from an identity crisis, a difficult location and needed to fill rooms starting by creating a “buzz” in the local community.

P.S. Communications coordinated many events, including a celebrity cook-off with professional athletes and TV personalities to benefit Hinsdale Community Service and also coordinated a 5K run to benefit Hanson Center for people with disabilities.

P.S. Communications secured articles in local and Chicago newspapers, TV coverage and free, full-page ads in local newspaper for the event. Three hundred people attended the “Celebrity Cook-off” and one hundred runners ran the 5K. Thousands of dollars were raised for each organization. Hundreds of first-time patrons visited the hotel.

This 50-year-old not-for-profit in Hinsdale needed to increase awareness and raise donations from new sources.

P.S. Communications created a fee-based membership program with special privileges for members. Tactics included an aggressive marketing campaign, including ads, direct mail, new brochures and “backpack” marketing.

Within six months, there were 1,000 new members and new revenue that totaled more than $50,000.