CEO & Founder
About Rea Francis
Legend publicist Rea Francis lives in the picturesque village of Bangalow above Byron Bay, working her magic for clients locally and Australia wide. A true world citizen, her hold on the international hotel market is fascinating.
Canberra trained, Rea’s first star role was as the world PR for the Australian film and television industry creating marketplaces in Cannes at the International Film Fest, and MIPTV.
She represented the Australian Film Commission travelling the world profiling independent films under the AFC’s umbrella, thus ensuring Canberra maintained its funding for the industry. She opened her own media company thereafter, taking the AFC, Adams Packer Films, The Australian Film and TV School, other independent production houses, American, Brit and NZ distributors and actor Jack Thompson on board.
Roaming the world and with a penchant for fine hostelries and in London constantly, Rea has repped a series of five-star hotels there including The Grove and Athenaeum – and today the stunning Beaumont in Mayfair.
In France even a rural hotel privately owned and operated by French/American star Leslie Caron. From her Club Med days Rea maintains a close association with the Trigano family moving to Mama Shelter when they created the now global sassy hotel group with Phillipe Starck.
Another treasured operator in Paris, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée of The Dorchester Group fame, is still a constant referral for Australian media.
In Cannes she famously ‘married’ the American Film Market,(AFMA) the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel on La Croisette and brought in the just launched 200 metre Club Med 2 ship, mooring it just off the Carlton’s pier for AFMA’s annual party. She repped Club Med in Australasia for two decades, using its two ships and Le Club’s fabulous food to increase popularity in Noumea and in Australia.
Australian restaurateurs and hoteliers began to utilise her knowledge and skills within the food industry. The Hyatt Regency hosted Sydney’s top chefs, Rushcutters Harbourside (eventually a Vibe) profiled a signature restaurant headlined by Chef Neil Perry. Accor used her to profile a new harbour cruiser on Sydney Harbour, Rose Bay’s Catalina employed her to launch and run PR for several years. Tony Bilson was a top and adored client. Australian Food Media Club which encompassed all major food players brought her onto its committee –presided over by Margaret Fulton.
Today her stable is primarily food and beverage, hospitality and lifestyle oriented, with deviations into arts/theatre.
She launched the fabled Brunswick Picture House and its delightfully wicked world standard cabarets; the fabled Rocking Horse Studios and its inherent modern villa. Recently she profiled travelling outdoor Shakespearean theatre group Come You Spirits.
The Farm with its Three Blue Duck restaurant and Bread Social bakery was an initial Northern Rivers client. Earlier out of Sydney she helped launch Gaia Retreat & Spa, always thinking she would live in the Byron Region one day. And Duck Creek Macadamias.
Community-minded, the indefatigable Rea is a committee member for Northern Rivers Food Organisation and spent four years as a board member of the exemplary Northern Rivers Community Foundation. She reps too, the national Volunteer Emergency Services headquartered in Maclean, to achieve an educative legacy for children of fallen volunteer members.
In Australia present clients include The Brooklet, a stunning lodge style property set on 125 acres outside Newrybar, and the timeless Tweed River House Bistro and bar – now established as one of the premier restaurants in the Northern Rivers (just 2km downstream from the Tweed Regional Art Gallery).
Pocket Herbs is her latest produce client – located in rural Burringbar, it is a family run business nestled in the hills of beautiful Burringbar, in the Northern Rivers of NSW. The farm supplies wholesale agents, providers and retailers across Australia. And a 2022 category winner of Harvey Norman/Delicious produce award!
Rea is a very approachable, charming woman. Contact her directly to discuss your promotional needs.
