With over two decades of experience in travel and tourism public relations, Emele Hibdon founded EHPR in 2016 as a boutique agency specializing in destination marketing. Based in Portland, Oregon, EHPR represents esteemed clients such as Visit Big Sky, Travel Southern Oregon, Taste Newberg, and Mt. Hood & the Columbia River Gorge.

Prior to launching EHPR, Emele managed high-profile travel media programs at Anthology Public Relations in Honolulu, overseeing accounts including the Kauai Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association, and Atlantis Submarines. She also provided strategic support for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Prince Resorts Hawaii, and Hawaiian Airlines. EHPR has since collaborated with top travel brands, including TreeCasa Resort Nicaragua, Travel Oregon, Visit Phoenix, and Visit Huntington Beach.

A skilled storyteller and strategic communicator, Emele excels at crafting compelling narratives that build brand awareness, enhance reputations, and drive engagement. She has cultivated strong relationships with journalists, content creators, and producers, securing top-tier media placements in outlets such as Vogue, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, San Francisco Chronicle, Condé Nast Traveler, and CNN.com. Her expertise has also contributed to television features on The Biggest Loser, The Bachelor, The Today Show, and Places to Love with Samantha Brown.

Emele is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), where she previously served on the Western Chapter Board of Directors and currently contributes to the organization’s DEAI committee.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Emele holds a B.A. in journalism with a focus on public relations and a minor in sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A passionate traveler, she has explored numerous 50 countries across six continents. Her global experiences include volunteering at an orphanage in East Africa, working on an organic farm in India, trekking through the jungles of South America, and backpacking extensively throughout Europe and Southeast Asia.