It’s no secret that exceptional work stems from the power of collaboration. So in addition to featuring notable young professionals and entrepreneurs every single day, we’ll be chatting to some of Canada’s best teams every Thursday to get an inside look at how they combine talents to stand out in their industry. Today we’re talking to the PR and Experiential team of Spafax Canada…
WORK
Describe what you and your team focus on in less than 140 characters. Go.
As part of our content marketing offering, Spafax has an in-house PR and experiential team. That’s us! We oversee programs for a wide portfolio of global lifestyle brands.
What kick-ass projects /programs have you been working on recently?
Everything from five-star hotels to first-class vacuums; we’ve had some amazing projects on the go including a cross-Canada road show with Dyson, the launch of DINR in Toronto (a last-minute restaurant app, and VIP events for Guerlain. We’ve also worked on media previews for Nike Vision and Salvatore Ferragamo eyewear, PR support for MadeGood granola, as well as PR and event management for Air Canada enRoute Canada’s Best New Restaurants and Air Canada’s international route launches.
What are some of the benefits of working on a team?
Varying experiences and talents all complement one another and allow us to take different perspectives on each of our projects. We each bring our own personal and professional passions to the team dynamic. As a whole we’re big fans of travel, art, design, beauty, fashion, technology and food.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced? (Tell a funny story here)
We’re always on the go; our client projects take us on regular trips across North America, which comes with lots of adventures. One memorable moment was when one of our team members (who will remain unnamed) lost her cell phone on a flight to LA. The next day she was overseeing an event for 200 people in Hollywood, so being unreachable added an extra challenge.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals working within a team?
Jump right in and put your hand up. Be proactive and always look for ways to add value to the team. These are the types of people others want to work with and often get the best opportunities. Be in demand.
Does your team have a designated leader?
The incredible Courtney MacNeil, our Senior Director. She brings an innovative mindset and integrated approach to all projects, big or small. She is our rock – she is always there when we need her and supports us fully.
Within your organization are teams switched up every once in a while or do they maintain the same? What are some of the benefits and cons of that?
Our teams are grouped both by clients and by area of expertise, so there is a lot of interaction between departments. For example, we work hand-in-hand with our digital team on social media projects and amplification, and our sales and partnerships teams often open doors for our clients in terms of new opportunities.
What does the word collaboration mean to you?
Collaboration is a core value at Spafax; we are obsessed with making sure that our teams work together as efficiently as possible. The key is staying positive, trusting in each other, and recognizing that a collective is likely to come to a better result than an individual. This means challenging each other without taking it personally, focusing on getting the best outcome (not who came up with the idea), and always having each others’ backs!
What has been you and your teams favourite project/campaign/ initiative to work on and why?
We recently threw an Australian beach-themed event in Vancouver for Air Canada, Tourism and Events Queensland, and Tourism Australia, which was a great experience because it allowed us to collaborate with different partners while executing a large-scale media event in another market. To see it come to life and have all clients and attendees thrilled with the end result is the high that really motivates us.
PLAY
Where is your team’s favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
We love the new Bosk Patio at the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto; they have an incredible “Bosk Tower” (featuring sliders, oysters and wraps) and a sangria called “Summer in the 6ix” – how could anyone resist?
In Toronto, our office is at Yonge & Bloor, so we tend to frequent local Yorkville restaurants (our last team lunch was a dim sum-fest at Dynasty). In Montreal, Garde Manger is a favourite (it’s less than five minutes from our new office on rue Saint-Jacques).
Do you and your team go out together? Where and why?
We travel together a lot for client projects (this is likely what has made our team so close since you get to know each other extremely well when in close quarters all the time) and do an annual company-wide trip (last year it was in New York). We also like to go out as a team every few weeks to check out the city’s newest hot spots and have fun together.
What’s the best thing that has happened to you and your team recently?
The past few months have been action-packed, with new clients, new team members, and new opportunities to do great work. There isn’t one best thing; it’s all been incredible and quite the ride.
Are there any other teams within your company or any company that you know of that are killing it?
We’re lucky enough to work with teams at Spafax all over the world. They’re all fantastic but we especially love our amazing in-house editors and art directors, who are key players in our “content-first” approach to PR. They live and breathe journalism, so they help us tell great stories and ensure that our pitches hit the mark!
And finally, what does success look like to you and your team? Work, play, or otherwise…
It’s different for every project, but in general: Dedicated team + smart and engaging campaigns + strong results = happy clients (SUCCESS!)