Lindsey Wiegmann’s Place in the Sun

Name: Lindsey Wiegmann 

Title: Director, PR & Social Media, Discover the Palm Beaches

Location: West Palm Beach, Fla.

Career highlights: Working with Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller at Lippe Taylor; launching MiO at Ketchum; working with P&G’s Charmin & Puffs at MSL Group; working with Oster, Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee and Red Roof at Hill + Knowlton; working with Best Western Hotels & Resorts at Hemsworth Communications; promoting visitation to the Palm Beaches

Favorite activity: Spinning with Alex and Cody on my Peloton

Favorite apps: Pandora, TikTok and FaceTime. 

3 dinner guests: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anderson Cooper and Oprah Winfrey  

Favorite Broadway Shows: “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Hamilton,” “Next to Normal”

Favorite places to travel: New York City, Paris, Florida Keys

Why did you decide to transition from an agency setting to an in-house team? 

I spent most of my career working in an agency setting which afforded me the opportunity to experience different cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, and work with different clients. 

Working in an agency gave me the foundation for my career. When the position at Discover the Palm Beaches became available, it was an exciting opportunity to go in-house, leveraging my agency experience in travel and tourism. 

You started working at Discover the Palm Beaches in November. What was the job-hunting process like during the pandemic? 

It was difficult as [many] companies had just come off of downsizing. A lot of the “pandemic trends” we see in the workplace now were part of my interview process. I found companies to be a lot more open to remote work and most interviews took place virtually, which allowed me to cast a wider net in the application stage. 

What were some of the challenges with starting a new job while still in a remote-work situation? 

Not being able to meet people face to face and not being able to visit the hotels and attractions in our destination was tough at the beginning. You can read fact sheets and see pictures, but not until you visit a hotel — step into the lobby and rooms and meet the staff — do you really get the full experience. 

Also, networking and building relationships just aren’t the same over Zoom. I am thankful that things are opening up and events are returning to in-person to better get to know my community. 

What is the recovery process like in Florida? Have you seen a big increase in leisure travel? What about business travel? 

We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and visitation is starting to return to pre-pandemic levels. The Palm Beaches are well-positioned to benefit during the recovery, having a lot of assets people are looking for when traveling, including an abundance of outdoor activities, a comfortable climate, less congestion, diverse offerings, etc. 

How are you encouraging residents to support local businesses? 

We recently launched the first-ever The Palm Beaches Restaurant Week, in conjunction with FRLA, to help promote the diverse culinary offerings in our county. Residents and visitors can try their favorite place or experience a new restaurant at a discounted price. 

What lessons have you learned during the pandemic, and how has it impacted outreach and marketing? Do you have a more tailored approach as some have different comfort levels in returning to travel? 

The greatest thing I’ve learned is the importance of grace and compassion. This pandemic affected every single person in some way or another and people’s lives were changed forever. Having a little grace and understanding goes a long way, in every relationship, whether it’s personal or professional. 

People may not be ready to travel now, but we’ve taken several measures to ensure that when they are ready, they understand what the Palm Beaches can offer and how we’re taking steps to make sure they feel comfortable.

You’ve worked with consumer, travel and health brands throughout your career. What appeals to you about these sectors? 

I’ve learned something different from working in each of these sectors —  health care is very rewarding. Working with CPG brands, including some of the largest in the world, gave me the opportunity to work on large-scale programs in an integrated setting, learning different disciplines, beyond PR, in the marketing mix. 

I find travel and tourism to be the most fun and, for me, having the opportunity to promote visitation to one of the greatest destinations in the United States is an honor and a dream. 

Wellness is the theme of this issue. How do you try to maintain a healthy work-life balance? 

I love to cook and aim to cook dinner for my family at least three nights a week. With two kids, ages 7 and 3, I try my best to be present with them during evening hours, involving them in cooking and eating around the dinner table, even if it means catching up on work and emails after they go to bed.