Damon M. Banks |

Content and Ad Copywriting: Marriott Residences

Damon M. Banks — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 16:18:41 +0000

Though much of my contract and freelance copywriting work is content based, I also love having the opportunity to work with ad copywriting and other copy for social media, newsletters and other avenues that are all part of the overall brand marketing world! This project was for the current brochure that provides potential Owners with an overview of what each branded luxury residence offers within the greater Marriott family of residential offerings. Beginning with the tagline, “Live Well, Travel Well” and other copy throughout this brochure, I am pleased to have a small part in projects of this caliber that involve so many amazing team members. Here are a few sample pages…

Details: Copywriting & Copyediting for Marriott International

Damon M. Banks — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:24:22 +0000

COPYWRITING + COPYEDITING + CONTENT + SOCIAL MEDIA

These past 6 months have been anything but “normal,” and like so many people, I have been shifting to adjust with the times. Though I have collaborated with hundreds of the properties over the years as a journalists; and also worked on numerous photography projects with the various Marriott International brands; I was honored when asked to be an official vendor for the brands for their copywriting and copyediting needs.

If you work with one of the Marriott brands, and need to bring on an approved copywriter and/or copyeditor for brochures, website copy, advertising and marketing campaigns, or any other brand projects, please reach out so I can work with you and your team…

As someone who has been working with hotels for 10+ years while developing news and editorials for magazines, websites and other media outlets; being able to now “officially” work with the hotels that are part of the impressive Marriott International portfolio is such a natural fit on every level. Thank you for the support of those of you who I have already worked with in this new capacity, and to those who endorsed me for these services. Thanks!!

Reach out to discuss how I can help you with your copywriting and copyediting needs…

In The News: Belmond Aims to Reengage Travelers

Damon M. Banks — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 11:53:16 +0000

LVMH-owned hotel group Belmond is helping travelers reconnect with nature by touting some of its experience offerings. Belmond and high-end camera manufacturer Leica Sport Optics are offering “First Light” nature walks at different destinations, giving travelers opportunities to see breathtaking sites under unique circumstances. While the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed the travel industry, affluent travelers will likely continue seeking out exclusive, and safe, experiences.

“While many luxury travel brands have focused on intimate localized experiences with guests for years now, we are seeing this become more important than ever as guests want to make the most of their travel experience, but social distancing is a must,” said Damon Banks, editor and managing partner at LuxeGetaways. “Early mornings are an ideal time to set out on these experiences to start your day on a high note while enjoying some freedom from your social bubble at home.”

Full Story Below

In The News: The Fantastic Recipes by Mandarin Oriental

Damon M. Banks — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 12:06:42 +0000

I was pleased to contribute to this story with Luxury Daily about the virtual cooking opportunities with Mandarin Oriental, titled “The Fantastic Recipes.” Mandarin Oriental is running this new content marketing campaign that aims to connect virtually with consumers on lockdown through its classic hospitality, keeping ties warm with its audience and hoping to resume the in-person relationship once travel restrictions are lifted.

Featured Image Courtesy Mandarin Oriental

In The News: Will Luxury Hotels Have Upper Hand When Travel Returns

Damon M. Banks — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 11:50:11 +0000

I was pleased to contribute to this story with Luxury Daily about the expectations when travel does return in a post-covid world. The travel and tourism business has been hit hard as lockdowns and border closures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak are keeping consumers from leaving their homes.

There could be a new opportunity for luxury hotels and resorts when they do reopen to win back the affluent clientele that turned to Airbnb rentals in recent years. Luxury hotels can offer a higher- hygiene, standardized cleaning process with consistency across properties in a key differentiation that might be lacking at typical Airbnb rentals – a post-coronavirus asset.

Featured Image: Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Anguilla

A Look Back at 14 Memorable Hotel Experiences

Damon M. Banks — Tue, 26 May 2020 21:01:19 +0000

These are strange times, indeed. I have spent years working and planning “the next” project or assignment, when working with publishers, hotels, destinations and other travel and lifestyle brands. Whether it was my work on brand marketing projects; developing editorial destination features; or reviewing hotels; there has always been an urgency to begin focusing on the next job.

While I switched directions in an effort to stay home and stay safe during this pandemic, I took some time to look back at several of my favorite hotel experiences over the years. I chose to highlight 14 of these properties within the United States as part of a 14-Day Hotel Challenge to further support the hospitality industry, which has been turned upside down during the past few months. While I could easily expand this to include additional positive hospitality experiences I have had at properties around the world, these 14 hotels and resorts provided a memorable experience worthy of some recognition.

We will travel again, but until then, here is a look at 14 hotels and resorts from coast to coast that still stand out to me after all these years. When it is time to begin planning your travels again, I hope that you find an opportunity to visit a few of these options that I have listed alphabetically, based on each state. Stay safe everyone!

Arizona | Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

This is a true getaway into the desert, and one that will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed. Like so many Four Seasons properties, the level of service here is exceptional while you savor every minute taking-in the amazing views of Pinnacle Peak and the surrounding landscape. This is also perfect for families with a complimentary kids program, a kids pool, larger casita options and more.

Favorite Features: The blissful pool, local golf options, and the Patio Firepit Casita option is ideal for the area.

Learn More: www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale

California | Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa

My love for this property goes back many years, but it remains one of my favorites in California when needing a great golf and spa getaway with friends and family. Not only is the resort in one of the most desirable regions in the country due to the weather and views, but it also takes it to another level with an unpretentious luxury experience from the moment you check-in to the time that you must check-out. I cannot wait to visit this one again to see the latest renovations…

Favorite Features: The spa, Aviara Golf Course, and though there are no “bad views” from anywhere on the property, I love the Coastal View rooms and suites.

Learn More: www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/park-hyatt-aviara-resort

Colorado | Sonnenalp Vail

This is about as close as you can get to a European getaway without leaving the United States. Vail Village is a favorite for the cozy feel with world-class shopping and dining; and the personalized services at Sonnenalp make you never want to leave this dreamy destination. Let them take care of all the details when enjoying hiking and golf in the summer months, or skiing and snowboarding during the winter season.

Favorite Features: The Two-Bedroom Suites, indoor/outdoor pool and spa area, and do not miss the amazing breakfast experience that is one of the best I’ve enjoyed in the United States.

Learn More: www.sonnenalp.com

District of Columbia | Fairmont Washington DC Georgetown

This has been another favorite hotel for many years, even back to when I visited D.C. before moving to the area. A recent renovation has taken this property from great to simply amazing. It is certainly worth the upgrade to Fairmont Gold for the private check-in and concierge service, and to have access to the beautiful club lounge to use throughout the day.

Favorite Features: Fairmont Gold is hard to beat, as is the location being so close to all Georgetown has to offer – and relaxing in the gorgeous lobby in hopes to catch a glimpse of their canine ambassador, Georgie.

Learn More: www.fairmont.com/washington

Florida | The Breakers Palm Beach

I never shy away from telling others that visiting The Breakers is a must-do at least once in your lifetime. The services, amenities, spa, golf and dining make every stay priceless, but it’s the awe-inspiring architecture and attention to detail that makes this place such a treasure.

Favorite Features: The Ocean Course on property, the bungalow rentals and the renovated suites… and for the ultimate experience, the hotel within a hotel at the Flagler Club.

Learn More: www.thebreakers.com

Georgia | The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee

This is truly a different kind of Ritz-Carlton experience, but that is what makes it so special. The lodge feel from the moment you enter the lobby puts you at ease, and the signature service you would expect makes for a relaxed luxury adventure. The lakeside vibes are perfection, and even better when you take advantage of The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge Suites for their elevated concierge experience.

Favorite Features: Access to the local golf, relaxing by the lake, and joining others by the fire for evening s’mores.

Learn More: www.ritzcarlton.com/reynolds

Illinois | The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

This location is simply the best in Chicago that is within walking distance of just about everything. Plus, it has immediate access to the great shops of Water Tower Place, which is ideal during the winter months. A recent renovation has only made this property that much better, and certainly my pick for anyone looking to visit Chicago.

Favorite Features: The Club Lounge, the concierge team, and the Lakeside Suite (or any of the lake view rooms and suites).

Learn More: www.ritzcarlton.com/chicago

Interstate | Home 2 Suites by Hilton

I had to throw this into the mix of favorite hotel experiences because I was so pleasantly surprised when discovering several Home2Suites by Hilton while driving to another hotel project. Of course, the few times that I visited these properties, they were fairly new, but still really impressed with the inventive design within the rooms that just makes sense. Hilton invests a lot of time and money into creating unique experiences, and this is seen here.

Favorite Features: They were clean and modern, and I appreciated the in-suite kitchens, and the commitment to being Green.

Learn More: www.hilton.com/en/home2

New York | The Kimberly Hotel

This hotel treats me like family each time I visit, and this goes back nearly twenty years now. The intimate feel within one of the busiest cities in the world makes this a special place to call “home” while in Manhattan. The location is perfect to all you want in midtown, and the larger than average rooms and suites provide a unique, yet cozy experience.

Favorite Features: The staff is amazing and the views from their rooftop “Upstairs” are fantastic for locals and tourists during breakfast or happy hour.

Learn More: www.kimberlyhotel.com

North Carolina | The Ivey’s Hotel

I was finally able to experience this boutique hotel after hearing great things for several years… and it did not disappoint! Nestled in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, this hotel was charming on every level, and the attention to detail was amazing in the suites. For anyone looking for a boutique hotel experience that is full of character, then this is a must-visit for them.

Favorite Features: Attention to detail in the suites (bathrooms, furniture and décor), and enjoying coffee in the Library Lounge each morning.

Learn More: www.theiveyshotel.com

Ohio | The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland

If you find yourself in Cleveland, this is where you need to stay. Period. I was so pleasantly surprised with every new discovery at this property. The rooms and suites are intelligently designed with all the technology we want in rooms today, the Club Lounge is friendly and inviting, and the localized food options and craft cocktails at Turn Bar & Kitchen are spectacular.

Favorite Features: The Junior Presidential Suite is one of the finest “standard” suites I’ve experienced in years, and the level of friendly and professional service is simply refreshing.

Learn More: www.ritzcarlton.com/cleveland

South Carolina | Andell Inn

As many people know, I worked at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort while in high school and college, so getting back to this area is always a treat. The Andell Inn is a true treasure for this area, and just steps away from all the great coastal stores and local restaurants of Freshfields Village. The hotel has a boutique feel with a great dose of whimsy and beach coziness that I love.

Favorite Features: The large wrap-around patio is ideal to relax, and the one- and two-bedroom residences are perfect for extended stays and families/groups with plenty of room to spread out (and includes a kitchen).

Learn More: www.andellinn.com

Utah | Montage Deer Valley

Another beautiful destination, whether it be for skiing by day and enjoying snowy nights by the fireplace in the winter months, or hiking the beautiful mountains, followed by cocktails outside in the evening during the summer months. Montage Deer Valley has a lot to offer, and the concierge staff here is focused on creating the perfect Deer Valley getaway for every guest.

Favorite Features: The Peak View Suites are the perfect combination of masculine features with elegant accents and the spa is a must-visit while at the property. Monty is their canine ambassador, who is a Bernese Mountain Dog that everyone loves to visit!

Learn More: www.montagehotels.com/deervalley

Virginia | The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner

This is one of those special hotel properties that has all the luxurious services and amenities you want from a large hotel, but it is also able to provide a very “boutique” feel because of the level of personalized and bespoke services you receive each step of the way. The Club Lounge is another great addition to the property, while also having easy access to the local malls and restaurants.

Favorite Features: No detail has been overlooked when it comes to the room and suites here, and the personal approach to each guest is hard to beat.

Learn More: www.ritzcarlton.com/tysons-corner

In The News: Most Instagrammed Luxury Hotel Brand

Damon M. Banks — Sat, 23 May 2020 02:58:53 +0000

I was pleased to contribute to this story for Luxury Daily that features Four Seasons as the most instagrammed luxury hotel brand worldwide…

This is a win for a company that has focused on a visible consumer-facing digital strategy, adopting everything from podcasts and hashtags to emails and tweets.

In The News: Luxury Hotels Post Covid-19

Damon M. Banks — Sat, 23 May 2020 02:29:20 +0000

I was pleased to contribute to this story for Luxury Daily that explores the future of travel after the Covid-19 pandemic…

The travel and tourism business has been hit hard this winter and spring as lockdowns and border closures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak are keeping consumers from leaving their homes. But when luxury hotels and resorts reopen, there could be a new opportunity to claw back the affluent clientele that turned to Airbnb rentals in recent years. Luxury hotels can offer a higher- hygiene, standardized cleaning process with consistency across properties in a key differentiation that might be lacking at typical Airbnb rentals – a post-coronavirus asset.

Brand Marketing: Several Projects with The Ritz-Carlton

Damon M. Banks — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 04:07:34 +0000

As someone who has been involved with brands at just about every stage of development, marketing and promoting for nearly 20 years, it’s exciting when I have an opportunity to work with brand marketing projects. It’s always a collaboration, so it is important to bring the best people together with the strongest members of the brand teams to execute photoshoots, video production, interviews, press releases, collateral materials, social media and advertising campaigns and more.

The Ritz-Carlton inspires life’s most meaningful journeys. With 100 years of history, countless rewards, and an unshakeable credo and corporate philosophy of un-wavering commitment to service within their hotels and residences, The Ritz-Carlton has been recognized with numerous awards for being the gold standard of hospitality. Though each property has their own flare and style, the elevated sense of luxury and service can be seen at each hotel, resort and residence. As with so many cases, a photo is really worth a thousand words, and these photos are used for all the property’s marketing, advertising, website and printed collateral to highlight the travel experiences with The Ritz-Carlton.

The Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner

The Ritz-Carlton, Oconee

The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Baltimore

Copyediting: The House Hacking Strategy Book Launches

Damon M. Banks — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:02:56 +0000

I always enjoy the opportunity to work on projects that are uniquely matched with my talents and interests, so when I was approached to copyedit a new real estate investing book, I jumped at the opportunity. When copyediting nearly 100,000 words, it consumes several weeks of your life, so it’s fantastic to see the book now released, and receiving great feedback from the many followers of the author and publishing group. Congratulations to Craig Curelop and the team at BiggerPockets Publishing with the release of The House Hacking Strategy.

Learn More:

Savvy investors have been using a little-known but clever strategy in real estate for decades―and now, you will learn exactly how to perfect this trade secret! When mastered, house hacking can save you thousands of dollars in monthly expenses, build tens of thousands of dollars in equity each year, and provide the financial means to retire early. In fact, the average house hacker can turn a single-family home or small multifamily property into a cash-flowing investment. You can collect rent that completely covers your living expenses―and then some!

House hacking doesn’t have to be a mystery. Discover why so many successful investors support their investment careers with house hacking―and learn from a frugality expert who has “hacked” his way toward financial freedom! Serial house hacker Craig Curelop lays out the in-depth details so you can make your first (or next) house hack a huge success. biggerpockets.com

Details: A Snapshot of My Freelance Writing and Editing Services

Damon M. Banks — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:03:07 +0000

After so many years of working with a diversity of magazines around the world to develop travel and lifestyle editorials, and collaborating with other corporate/hospitality brands and digital agencies as a copywriter to develop a variety of content for websites, blogs and other marketing materials; I thought it could be beneficial to break it down to showcase what I might be able to do when collaborating with you. Whether it be providing content for large corporations looking for “smart” writing that is customized for search engine optimization (SEO); or working with hotels and other brands on a local level to develop press releases, marketing materials or local guides; I enjoy having the ability to work with my clients directly to make it a true collaboration and deliver the style and feel that is needed to best represent the client’s message.

My Freelance Writing & Editing Services Include:

Copywriting: Content writing for a variety of industries — websites, brochures, emails, advertisements, etc.
Feature Articles: As seen in the portfolios on the site — travel, lifestyle, real estate, hotels, culinary and profiles.
Blogging: Having worked with WordPress extensively, I can develop blog posts, upload, optimize, etc. for clients.
Reviews: From hotel and restaurant reviews to product testing and reviews, I have been able to develop a variety of these reviews.
Marketing Materials: Going a step beyond developing the content, I can also work with graphic designers to create collateral materials.
Social Media: Through the social media accounts I manage, or client’s accounts, I can create and maintain social media posts and communications.
Press Releases: With a background in PR and Marketing, I can work with clients to develop the press releases about their announcements, openings, etc.
Local Guides: With so many hotels and destinations wanting to focus on local experiences, I can provide local guides — round-ups, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Select Past & Present Clients and Collaborators

Brand Marketing: A Review of Several Luxury Hotel Projects

Damon M. Banks — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 20:46:28 +0000

In the case of these luxury hotels, it was important to create a library of photography to showcase the property’s many assets to guests. Four Seasons had just recently completed the renovations of their meeting room and ballroom spaces, as well as wanting to feature several luxury suites; The Jefferson wanted to highlight the travel experience while at the hotel; and The W had just revealed their $30 million top-to-bottom renovation. Though each of these hotel projects have a very different look and feel to them, it was important to produce photography that best told their own unique story.