Pilot PR's founder, Mandy Gore-Booth, is Jamaican born and bred with over 25 years of experience in the travel, wellness, lifestyle, and real estate sectors. She has worked across an array of accounts including independent bolt-holes in the Mediterranean, destination spas in South Tyrol, luxury hostels in the UK, tourism boards in the US, up & coming fashion and beauty brands, real estate developments in Ibiza and hotel groups across the Caribbean.
Mandy first discovered her passion for PR when, growing up, she found herself in awe of larger-than-life Jamaican hoteliers, such as Butch Stewart of Sandals Resorts and Chris Blackwell of Island Outpost, who had made their mark internationally and put Jamaica tourism on the map.
Mandy emigrated to London in the 90s where she completed a Chartered Institute of Marketing Course and a Graphic Design programme. Soon after, she secured a position in a PR agency that represented a host of travel clients including both Jamaican hotel groups she had long admired. Mandy found herself loving the buzz, variation, and energy of travel PR, and took advantage of fabulous opportunities to escort press trips to New York, Paris, The Bahamas, Tunisia, Hong Kong, and of course Jamaica.
Branching out on her own, Mandy founded travel & lifestyle consultancy, Pilot PR in 2011. She relishes the hands-on approach and day-to-day involvement in the creative process of campaigns and is proud of the positive impact this has on her clients.
With years of travelling under her belt and having lived in Jamaica, Canada, the UK, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago, Mandy has unsurprisingly become an expert packer. This summer, now that travel is back on (if you are double-vaccinated), Mandy shares her favourite six things she won’t be traveling without:
I had been looking for a long time for a gorgeous swimsuit that was sustainably made when Mimie Reed came into my life! This up and coming designer was recommended to me by a previous client and I jumped on the opportunity to not just help promote her brand to also to own one of her designs myself. These are beautifully crafted swimsuits with attention to detail, such as the double lining and the moulded cups, not to mention they are made using regenerated nylon from ocean waste. I am particularly keen on the Maryline ruched bikini and love the look of the white bandeau top with the black bikini bottom. This is the perfect swimsuit for Hydra, Greece where we go every summer - here old world glamour rules and Mimie Reed will feel right at home.
Top: €118; briefs €89; mimiereed.com
This beautiful, all natural, plant-based skincare brand was founded by two fabulous women who live locally. Their range includes 4 face oils as well as a face mist, lip and cleansing balm. I have always loved their Frank & Sense face oil and never travel far without it. I just put a few drops on my face anytime my skin feels a bit dry – especially on an airplane. It never feels heavy or greasy and smells divine. It is especially good for my sun-exposed skin as the buriti oil helps with pigmentation and it just gives my skin a little glow. I love it and they make for great gifts too!
£52.00 for 17ml; rosalena.co.uk
I discovered Sorbet at a street fair in south London quite a few years ago now. The stall was awash with coloured towels and I was immediately drawn in. Maybe it was the fact that both of the founders were also called Amanda that helped clinch the deal but I have been a huge fan and supporter ever since. Sorbet sells a range of throws, wraps and towels but it is their brightly coloured Hammam towels that I particularly love. We must have every shade of blue and my family and I travel nowhere without our personal favourite packed in our suitcase. And they look so pretty wherever we go – floating on hooks, draped on sun loungers, wrapped around sun-kissed bodies. This year I actually have my eye on their Rocky Road towel. I think the monochrome will look fabulous with my Mimie Reed swimsuit!
Rocky Road towel, £25; sorbetltd.co.uk
This is my daughter Jemma’s handmade jewelry, which she started making during her final year of school as a form of distraction from all the studying as well as from the madness of lockdown. Her collection includes lovely nude and coloured glass-bead necklaces as well as earrings, all made to order. They are so pretty, plastic-free and super affordable. I love wearing jewellery but when I pack for holidays I usually only take one simple necklace and a couple of pairs of earrings. The brown and white pearl necklace with the butterfly pendant is from her nude collection and I just love it. It goes with everything and looks great with a tan. And yes, I am a biased mom!
Necklaces from £8; earrings from £4; depop.com/byjemmalouise
I always exercise when I travel, regardless of whether it’s a work trip or a holiday. Back in the day, I would use the hotel gym, then when work took me to Preidlhof in South Tyrol it would be the amazing mountains that I would explore. Now, since lockdown, I’ve become really fond of online workouts and my current go-to programme is Sweat with Lex. Lexie is a super effective and super-efficient Pilates teacher. Her on-demand schedule features a host of ‘pay-as-you-go’ classes as well as my favourite - her “10 days of Movement” challenge. These are 20-minute sessions that work the whole body and the beauty of online exercise is that I can fit it in anytime, anywhere and can do them on my phone or laptop no matter where I am. The extra special factor is that Lexie is my niece and I’m really proud of what she’s doing!
$15 for on-demand classes; $100 for the 10 Day Challenge; sweatwithlex.com
My friend and naturopathic nutritionist Charlotte Fraser introduced me to supplements over a decade ago. She is my go-to advisor on maintaining our family’s nutritional health, which has become even more pressing during this pandemic. She prescribes supplements to help support our immune systems and I especially love the Cytoplan range of products which are suitable for the whole family, even our dog Sprocket gets some! Before travel I check in with Charlotte for her recommendations and make sure our supplements get packed in the suitcase too. Our basic supplies always include a good multivitamin high in B vitamins (for increased energy and nervous system support), Fish Oil (great for reducing inflammation, skin, heart and brain health) Magnesium (for muscle function, stress reduction and blood sugar management) and Vitamin D3 (to boost immunity).
Vitamins from £8.50 & probiotics from £19.30; cytoplan.co.uk