From facts to fable: Unfolding Kerala’s hospitality saga

Kerala’s popularity as a tourist destination has skyrocketed over the past many years, both among national and international travelers. The state is usually synonymous with lush greenery, serene backwaters and a rich cultural heritage that sets itself apart from other tourist hotspots in the country. From kathakali to vanjipattu to captivating architecture and scenery, the attractions that Kerala offers to guests remain endless. A fact that remained undiscovered until very recently is the long list of five star properties functioning in the state. A surprising fact is that Kerala emerged as the state with the most number of five star hotels in the country, surpassing business hubs and tourism giants like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa.

This lesser known fact started gaining internet’s attention firstly through Reddit, with users initially shocked about Kerala’s win in the list. Among confusion and expected backlash, this information was backed up by the data provided in the National Database for Accommodation Units with the correct number of star properties in the state. With the attention of certain influencers, the information started gaining some momentum in social media but remained unexplored by the mainstream media. This, being an extremely significant milestone that the state has achieved, it deserved to be brought into the limelight and collective efforts were made by team Davidson PR to bring public attention to this great victory.

DPC’s efforts to initiate conversations surrounding the topic began with looking up for traces of this achievement online and by collecting the correct proof and exact numbers to share with journalists and stakeholders. Once the required data was collected, preparations for pitching began as the team drafted notes and messages highlighting the huge achievement to pitch to various media houses. Journalists were instantly hooked onto the topic as it is of huge relevance to not only the tourism and hospitality industry but to the state’s economy as a whole. Leading print publications and visual media were ecstatic to cover the story and the remarkable glory that the state witnessed. Incorporation of quotes from the key spokespersons of DPC’s leading hospitality clients gave more dimension to the story, highlighting the importance of the tourism sector’s growth, influence of MICE tourism, and the future of the industry in the state. The team was also able to get P.B Nooh IAS, Kerala Tourism Director on board to shed light on this achievement and was able to generate interaction opportunities with leading print publications, delving into the intricacies of the tourism sector in Kerala and the scope that it offers for various other sectors. The team was able to get through to media presence not just regionally but also to international portals like Gulf News using the employment of effective communication strategies.

Articles and stories generated conversations and discussions surrounding the topic, boosting Kerala’s position as a tourist destination not just for its idyllic greenery but also for its state-of-the-art luxurious five star amenities. Dissemination of a press release nationally was the game changer that got everyone talking about the recent developments that happened. Websites and news portals across the country were taking the development up and the facts were put in the spotlight for everyone to see. These movements along various publications brought a whole new light to the state’s tourism department as a whole and the standards of the hospitality players in Kerala.

To turn a lesser known factual data into compelling stories that showcased the quality and standards of tourist initiatives in Kerala, DPC employed clever communication techniques to make voices and stories heard to the public. Efforts were actively made to put forth God’s Own Country as one of the leaders in the nations in terms of the hospitality industry and tourism sector which was showcased in the large number of coverage received for this massive achievement.

Stories are born not just out of controversies and pop culture moments, but also out of the tiniest facts that one might stumble upon on their daily social media scroll. Like a magician pulling out a rabbit out of a magic hat, good PR will help one pull out captivating and effective stories and narratives out of the most detailed elements that go unnoticed by the common eye. Groundbreaking stories never come out of thin air, it usually has a creative mind shining light in the darkest corners, right when it matters.