Hospitality Business Review: Specials Magazine

When it comes to public relations, specialization is often overlooked in favor of a broad client base. Many agencies pride themselves on their ability to represent brands across multiple industries, but for Emma Colby, the founder and CEO of Talk and Tonic, that model never felt quite right. Before launching Talk and Tonic, a boutique PR firm dedicated exclusively to hospitality, she spent years in traditional public relations. That experience shaped her philosophy on what PR should be—and what it shouldn’t. Her “aha” moment came while working with a luxury money management client. Despite being skilled at crafting narratives and connecting brands with the right audience, she felt entirely disconnected from the industry she was representing. Finance, investments, and wealth management were foreign territories to her. “The best financial advice I could give at the time was how to find the best sales at Bloomingdale’s,” she jokes. That disconnect sparked a realization: for PR to be truly effective, it needed to come from a place of understanding and passion. Colby knew she was great at what she did, but she also knew she would be even better if she specialized in an industry she truly understood. Hospitality was the obvious choice—she had lived and breathed it for years, working in nearly every role in the industry, growing up in a family immersed in it, and even meeting her partner through it. So, she built Talk and Tonic not as part of a sprawling corporate PR machine but as a firm that delivers tailored, high-touch PR services rooted in deep industry knowledge. That very foundation—the decision to focus exclusively on hospitality—is what makes Talk and Tonic so effective today.

Guest experiences often hinge on atmosphere and design, and furniture plays a starring role in the world of hospitality. From luxurious case goods to custom seating, each piece contributes to a hotel’s overall aesthetic and functionality. At the forefront of this specialized craft is Andaaz Manufacturing, a company that takes pride in its ability to turn designers’ visions into reality. For Andaaz, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Everything they produce is custom-made to bring creative ideas to life, delivering furniture that complements and enhances guest experience. “Our mission is simple but ambitious: take the vision of designers and make it a reality,” says David Williams, president of Andaaz Manufacturing. “We don’t just make furniture; we create bespoke pieces that align perfectly with the designer’s concept and the hotel’s identity.” Crafting the Future of Hospitality Design From its inception, Andaaz has stood out for its innovative and customercentric approach. The company doesn’t merely supply furniture—it partners with clients to co-create pieces that combine aesthetics, functionality, and durability. This process begins with one guiding principle: every product is unique because every project is unique. Designers come to Andaaz with concepts ranging from detailed blueprints to abstract ideas. The company’s team works closely with them to transform those ideas into functional, beautiful furniture. “Our strength lies in collaboration,” says Williams. “We’ve built a team that understands not just manufacturing but also design and architecture, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.” Precision Every Step of the Way What sets Andaaz apart is its meticulous process, honed over years of working on high-profile hospitality projects. Each piece of furniture undergoes a six-step journey: 1. Understanding the Vision: The process begins with detailed discussions with designers and architects. Andaaz’s team reviews the project’s aesthetic goals, functional requirements, and environmental factors, such as climate, geographic setting, property attributes and guest usage patterns. .