Heather B. Freeman

Heather Freeman, an honors graduate from the University of Georgia with a BA in Art History, has been involved with publicity work in the food and hospitality industry for 20 years. She has spent the last 15 years in Washington, D.C. working in public relations, and five years ago, she launched her own business as an independent media consultant for notable restaurants and hotels. Prior to becoming a consultant, Freeman worked for several four-star hotel companies as Director of Public Relations. In this capacity she was responsible for executing special events, creating and managing media plans, as well as directing publicity campaigns, many of which benefited nonprofit organizations.

Freeman has orchestrated several highly publicized restaurant openings in Washington, D.C. such as Marcel’s, Café On M, Unkai, and Jinga. Recent restaurant press placements include: Discovery Channel’s Home Matters, The Food Network, Food Arts,

Wine Enthusiast, Southern Living, Wine & Spirits, Wall Street Journal, Nation’s Restaurant News, Washingtonian, The Washington Post, The New York Times,

Delta Shuttle Sheet, Vanity Fair, USA Today, In Style, Associated Press, American Way, Wine Spectator, Gourmet, Travel & Leisure, Chicago Tribune, and Boston Globe. Her ongoing restaurant projects include wine and beer dinners, fashion show events, sushi etiquette classes, guest-chef appearances, and cookbook author promotions. These happenings are regularly featured in the media.

Recent projects of note include a Lord of the Rings event at the Henley Park Hotel with costumes and custom rings for each of the 60 guests, plus a five-course dinner interpretation of the famous Tolkien novel for Halloween 2002. Another example is the replication of a White House State Dinner with the Smithsonian, a sold out affair at The Hay-Adams Hotel. Freeman worked with the White House to accurately orchestrate the event with a Clinton impersonator, a protocol expert and secured the US Marines to serve as escorts. Channel 9, The Washington Times, The Washington Flyer, WTOP, and The Georgetowner covered the dinner.

Furthermore, Freeman also organized the donation of new cherry trees on behalf of The Hay-Adams Hotel for the National Park Service. This opportunity capitalized on all the publicity generated worldwide around Washington’s Tidal Basin and the infamous beaver family that gnawed down the landmark trees. Channel 5’s Fox Morning News covered the tree planting ceremony for the duration of their morning show and WTOP News, Channel 4, Channel 9, Channel 8, and The Washington Post also publicized the event.

During her tenure with the ANA Hotel, Washington, D.C., she implemented successful programs including an inaugural pillowcase promotion featuring President Clinton and Vice President Gore on guestroom pillows, which generated $2 million in press coverage.

Freeman also created the “Socks Appeal” contest benefiting the Humane Society of The United States, which raised $12,000, 1200 new members, and over $300,000 in free publicity for the project. Both campaigns appeared in The Wall Street Journal,

USA Today, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, The Joan Rivers Show, and The New York Times to name a few.

Under Freeman’s guidance the ANA Hotel became a corporate sponsor of World Wildlife Fund. A “Save Room For Wildlife ’’ program was created and promoted. The ANA won a Community Service Award from the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C. as a result. She also developed a nation-wide middle school marine essay competition with World Wildlife Fund called “Make Waves, Protect Marine Life” that received national publicity. The winning student participated on a marine research and educational trip with World Wildlife Fund scientists.

Heather Freeman has also conducted highly publicized special events, including the Wine Caucus’ Vintage Affair 2002 in Washington, D.C. to benefit Children’s National Medical Center; the renowned International Gold Cup steeplechases, in The Plains, Virginia; The Classic Collection’s Oysterfest to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Georgetown’s 250^th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C.

Presently Freeman represents the new Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C., Maggiano’s Little Italy, Marcel’s, Café Atlantico, Jaleo, Zaytinya, Zola, Sushi-Ko, Morrison-Clark Inn, The Henley Park Hotel, La Perla, The Washington Plaza Hotel and 1789 Restaurant in Washington, D.C. Beyond creating promotional campaigns and obtaining media coverage for clients, Freeman has also been a contributing writer for Car & Travel/AAA World Magazine, Washingtonian, Restaurant Digest, Alliance and Association Management magazine.