From openings to national growth campaigns, Resplendent Agency delivers PR, social media, and influencer marketing for restaurants, hotels, destinations, and food & beverage brands.
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin with an office in Richmond, Virginia, we’re a boutique communications firm built entirely around the hospitality and travel industry. Led by founder Ali Slutsky, our team brings national media expertise and deep hospitality roots to every client we take on.
We operate as growth partners, not vendors. That means senior strategy on every account, direct communication, and a team that adapts when the market, the platforms, or your priorities shift.
If you’re ready to elevate your hospitality brand, we’re ready to make it shine.
Title: CEO
Likes: Shibas, Murder Mysteries, the Perfect Gin Martini
Makes: A killer baked potato bar, an adept conversationalist and an even better trivia teammate
Ali earned her early hospitality stripes working in restaurants in the suburbs of Chicago before landing at the Four Seasons while attending the University of Miami. Post-college, she serendipitously picked Austin as one of seven cities in a hat and promptly moved in 2007. As hospitality is the bulk of her experience, she has developed an agency where customer service is at the core. What’s important to her, in addition to the client experience, is developing a team and company culture that lets talent thrive. Her behind-the-scenes talents lie in keeping us insured and the lights on. She says boring, we say crucial.
Title: Vice President & Head of Virginia Office
Likes: cats, a meal made entirely of appetizers, a solid dive bar
Makes: too many Seinfeld references, subpar pottery, an incredible road trip partner
As a self-proclaimed hospitality addict, Melissa worked front of house throughout Richmond and Austin before landing in hospitality PR. After graduating from VCU, she moved to Austin in 2014 where she started interning at Resplendent Agency, and over the years, has created and overseen PR and social media campaigns for local and national F&B concepts. Her campaign management skills cover everything from consumer packaged goods to wine and spirits to restaurant openings. Melissa moved back to Richmond in 2021 to grow Resplendent’s east coast office and manages campaigns in both Austin and Richmond.
