Peggy Bendel
Background
Peggy‘s post-college job as a travel writer for the State of New York launched her on the path that led to “I Love New York,” where she was a principal in the development of this iconic campaign. She joined Development Counsellors International in 1985 to handle the Australian Tourism Commission account, and lead the tourism division.
The years since have seen talented staff and wonderful clients join the division’s roster, expanding DCI’s client reach to Europe (Sweden, Scotland and Northern Ireland) Africa (South Africa), South America (Chile) and the Middle East (Dubai).
Peggy’s Passion for Places
Peggy has never met a place she didn’t like, from St. Petersburg (Florida) to South Africa, from Denver to Dubai. A special joy is introducing – or reintroducing – a destination to the North American traveler, as she did for South Africa in 1993 with the end of apartheid. Personal travels are often business-related, too, from Patagonia to Portland (both Maine and Oregon).
She’s visited more than 52 countries and 45 of the 50 states: still, there’s a long list of places, people and experiences to go.
Notable Results
- Peggy brought “The Today Show” to Australia for a weeklong broadcast, resulting in more than $10 million in advertising equivalency and record-breaking calls to the country’s toll-free tourism telephone number.
- On behalf of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peggy arranged for “Good Morning America” to visit the Islands, resulting in more than $13 million in advertising equivalency. She also successfully handled crisis communications for the islands in the wake of Hurricane Hugo.
- Peggy escorted a group of 51 print, broadcast and online reporters to South Africa immediately after President Mandela’s inauguration, resulting in more than $1.25 million in advertising equivalency.
- Peggy was honored with the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association’s “Lifetime Achievement” award for public relations executives and is now a member of the selection committee for future award winners.
Up Close
A childhood spending Sunday afternoons on the observation deck at Newark airport with her family, combined with writing plays at age seven and editing her college newspaper (Georgian Court University), almost predestined Peggy for a career in travel and tourism public relations. Summers with her grandparents, roaming the wilds of upstate New York (now a suburban neighborhood), left a lifelong love of nature.
Where You’ll Find Peggy on a Sunny Day
Digging, weeding, pruning in her garden, if it’s summer, and she’s back in the Northeast. In Arizona, where Peggy and her husband Richard spend November to April, they can be found exploring one of the many nature reserves in the area, shopping and absorbing culture in nearby Mexico, or relaxing on the patio with a tall cool beverage, enjoying their mountain view.
Places that Peggy has Called Home
Yonkers, New York
Troy, New York
Cranford, New Jersey
Westfield, New Jersey
Lakewood, New Jersey
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
New York, New York
Springfield, New Jersey
Poughquag, New York
Tucson, Arizona
Surprising Facts about Peggy
Feline Fascination
Though always a “dog person,” Peggy shares her homes with seven – yes, seven – cats. All rescues, including one from Beirut, Lebanon, the current team includes Rocket, Midnight, Lily, Boxer, Opus, Donald and Tawny. In their honor, Peggy’s Tuscon home is called, “Rancho de los Gatos,” which translates “Cat Ranch.”
How To Save A Life
A volunteer EMT for several years, Peggy studied for her master’s degree in health care planning and policy at New York University, but the lure of “I Love New York” remained too strong. These days, Peggy hopes never to need her CPR training.
Married Her ‘Mate’ in the Land Down Under
Embodying her 24-hour, seven-day-a-week commitment to her clients, Peggy and her husband were married in Sydney during her first business trip to Australia. Given this visit’s significance, both professionally and personally, Peggy will always have a fond place in her heart for the Land Down Under.
