Paradise Advertising & Marketing, Inc., a certified woman-owned, nationally recognized full-service marketing agency specializing in tourism and destination marketing, has announced the acquisition of Laurie Rowe Communications, Inc. (LRC), a well-respected public relations firm known for its expertise in destination media relations and storytelling. This acquisition marks the launch of a dedicated, stand-alone public relations division within Paradise, dramatically expanding its capabilities and establishing the agency as a national leader in travel and tourism public relations.
The integration brings Laurie Rowe Communications’ client roster into Paradise’s fold, which includes over 27 destination organizations across states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Along with these clients, eight seasoned PR professionals and the well-known Travel Media Pressroom website platform become part of Paradise. Laurie Rowe, founder of LRC, will take on the role of Senior Vice President of Public Relations at Paradise. She will work closely with Chief Communications Officer Cris Duschek and Vice President Tara Tufo, spearheading the expanded division and ensuring a smooth transition for both clients and staff.
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This strategic move significantly bolsters Paradise’s existing public relations portfolio, which already encompasses notable clients including Columbia County CVB, Little Rock CVB, Santa Rosa County TDO, Visit Savannah, the St. Petersburg Pier, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, and Inn on Fifth. Barbara Karasek, CMO and Co-owner of Paradise, highlighted that Laurie Rowe and her team bring decades of regional expertise, deep media relationships, and a proven record of measurable success, especially in serving emerging destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Karasek emphasized that this acquisition accelerates Paradise’s growth as a results-driven leader in destination marketing and PR, expanding reach and impact with every partnership.
Paradise CEO Mark Jaronski noted LRC’s longstanding reputation in Southeast PR and expressed excitement about combining that with Paradise’s powerhouse PR division, further enhanced by his decade of communications experience at Disney and Visit Orlando. Laurie Rowe expressed enthusiasm about joining Paradise, calling it a dream come true and underscoring that current clients will experience no service disruption but will benefit from a stronger, more versatile team.
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Founded in 2006 in Panama City, Florida, LRC has spent nearly two decades helping emerging destinations secure media visibility across local, regional, and national platforms. Paradise itself, with over two decades of experience, delivers integrated marketing strategies to a wide range of clients including destinations, hotels, cultural institutions, and culinary brands. Its public relations division features award-winning writers, publicists, digital content creators, and crisis communication specialists, many of whom have led in-house communications at destination marketing organizations.
Tony Karasek, Chief Growth Officer and Co-Owner of Paradise, described the acquisition as a major milestone in the agency’s broader vision since its 2018 acquisition, strengthening the Paradise brand, growing the team, extending its national footprint, and elevating the exceptional results delivered to clients. This bold step positions Paradise to continue shaping the future of tourism storytelling, one influential partnership at a time.
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