Thunder Communications welcomes Four Seasons to luxury hospitality PR client portfolio

Thunder worked with Four Seasons on its Chinese luxury lifestyle microsite launch in February 2012.

Based in Toronto, Four Seasons currently has 86 properties in 35 countries. The group entered the Chinese market in 2002 with the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai. Since then, it has added hotels in Hong Kong, Macau, and most recently on West Lake in Hangzhou.

Two additional properties are expected to open this year in Guangzhou and at Pudong in Shanghai.

Thunder will lead the hotel’s corporate PR to boost brand awareness in the luxury market in China, support the marketing activities for its Asia marketing team in its Singapore regional office and work on launch communications for the Guangzhou Hotel’s opening, scheduled for mid-July.

Bates Asia is the creative agency for the Four Seaons for China and Hong Kong since 2010.

Thunder Communications was acquired by Ruder Finn in November 2010. This is the agency's first luxury hotel client, although Ruder Finn holds the Dubai luxury hotel chain Jumeirah Group’s PR account in Greater China.

Thunder’s clients in the travel industry include Forbes Travel Guide. In the past, the agency has also worked with the European Food Association as well as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, and Villeroy & Boch.

“It is a privilege for us to work with such an exciting and prestigious new client,” said Tracy Tong, founder and general manager of Thunder Communications. “This win reaffirms our experience and knowledge in the fast-growing luxury, travel and hospitality industry in China.”

Reported in June, PHD has consolidated Hotels.com's offline and online media business after being appointed to handle the online media business across Greater China and the Southeast Asia region without a pitch in May.