The Abbi Agency Expands Montana Expertise with New Talent
RENO, Nev. (April 24, 2023) — The Abbi Agency, an integrated marketing communications agency specializing in creative, digital, paid media and public relations services, recently hired Montana native and local Haley Walter to lead its portfolio of travel and tourism and government work in the state.
Haley is a proud 5th generation Montanan who brings substantial Montana-based travel and tourism experience to the Agency. In her most recent role with Visit Montana, Haley built and maintained relationships with tourism partners and launched numerous campaigns that drove visitation throughout the state. Haley is well-versed in the real issues that local businesses and organizations face and is passionate about bringing new visitors to the state she loves most.
“Hiring Haley is a direct reflection of our commitment to Montana,” said Connie Anderson, chief strategy officer and partner of The Abbi Agency. “We know our unique and adventurous storytelling approach, along with our commitment to the communities we serve, make us a perfect teammate for Montana businesses and organizations looking to attract travelers. We can’t wait to find partners who are willing to take this journey with us.”
In addition to growing the agency’s physical presence in the state, The Abbi Agency will also be attending the 2023 Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism taking place in Helena, Montana this week. The company’s leaders will be alongside state and local organizations while gaining key educational insights in the industry, meeting regional tourism and business professionals and commemorating Montana’s growth in tourism.
The Abbi Agency’s extensive expertise in travel and tourism is represented by campaigns it has completed for destinations like Yosemite, Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Travel Nevada and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Even during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency created and successfully launched a seasonal campaign that captured the magic of Kalispell, Montana: Fall Under the Spell. The campaign captivated and invited visitors to become spellbound by a destination that delivers feelings of reflection, connection and introspection and allows them to immerse themselves in the moment.
In 2021, the agency also launched Venture Boldly, a year-long campaign aimed at attracting visitors to Kalispell who are unafraid to boldly embrace new adventures. This campaign led to a 6.3% increase in clicks on paid ads year over year. Since 2021, Kalispell has seen increases of more than 56% in hotel and lodging-related spending and a 33% increase on all travel-related spend. The Abbi Agency continues to work with Discover Kalispell on the promotion and preservation of the destination.
Beyond supporting destination clients, The Abbi Agency has also shown prowess working with government agencies, working closely with many of the organizations in their home state of Nevada, California, Minnesota and now Montana. The Abbi Agency along with a partner agency, Lightning Bug Public Relations, developed an integrated communication plan to reach and influence indigenous voter turnout for the 2022 Montana state election. The plan targeted key districts and implemented key tactics including on-site visits with informational brochures, timely blog and newsletter content highlighting the organization’s efforts, newsworthy events and voter resources, endorsement mailers and a content calendar providing foundational messaging for all communication channels (PR, social, website and newsletters).
In Nevada, the agency recently worked with Nevada DMV to revamp their website. The agency also updated messaging for The Nevada DMV’s Smoking Vehicle Program, encouraging all Nevadans to report smoking vehicles to the DMV by touting the clear health benefit. Members of the team have also worked on behalf of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, a sovereign tribal nation in Minnesota. They planned and executed all external public relations activities for the Band with a focus on raising awareness of health and wellness, natural resource preservation, public safety and economic development initiatives The Abbi Agency is eager to help the nonindigenous public understand tribal sovereignty and build respect for tribal nations.
The Abbi Agency is a proud B-Corporation, an esteemed certification that exemplifies the agency’s value of people, planet and profit equally. The Abbi Agency’s mission is to inspire people to discover places, ideas, and opportunities that impact their lives, and true to it’s B-Corp, abides by the belief that its practices and profits should aspire to do no harm and benefit all. The Abbi Agency hopes to expand the deep bond it has developed in Montana in order to help local businesses continue to grow and thrive.
With integrated, digitally led, and performance driven services, The Abbi Agency’s award winning team knows how to create meaningful campaigns. To learn more about the Abbi Agency’s experience in travel and tourism, government agencies, indigenous peoples, tech, and more, check out their recent work. To schedule a meeting about working with The Abbi Agency, Haley can be contacted at [email protected] or you can contact client services at [email protected]
For more information about The Abbi Agency and their work, visit www.theabbiagency.com.
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About The Abbi Agency:
The Abbi Agency is an integrated marketing communications agency specializing in creative, digital and public relations services with offices in Reno and Las Vegas and employees worldwide. The agency has executed award-winning integrated marketing campaigns for clients including Visit Carmel, North Lake Tahoe, the Yosemite Conservancy, Plumas Bank, Nevada Health Link and Travel Nevada. The agency works extensively in the travel and tourism, healthcare, technology, economic development and construction industries, and is focused on growing the next-gen brands and public affairs divisions of the company. The Abbi Agency is a Certified B-Corporation and uses this foundational mission to make the agency a force for good, leading with a philosophy of “Be Bold. Be Boundary-Breaking. Be Big-Hearted.” Learn more at theabbiagency.com.
