Business Details
41 Years
experience
Trusted Marketing and PR Experts in Charlotte
Founded in 1985, Hensley Fontana Public Relations & Marketing is a full-service agency headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Led by Bruce and Jill Hensley, we combine decades of combined communications expertise with a boutique approach, prioritizing hands-on account management while leveraging specialized freelance talent for tailored client solutions. Our core specializations in hospitality, lifestyle, and travel/tourism marketing focus on creating impactful stories that cultivate brand loyalty and customer advocacy.With a proven track record in restaurant marketing, including the creation of Charlotte Restaurant Week, we offer public relations, media strategy, event planning, and integrated marketing campaigns that align with clients' unique objectives. Our journalistic foundations and strategic insights enable us to develop compelling narratives and maintain strong media relationships, delivering measurable results across diverse industries such as healthcare, finance, technology, and consumer services.
Services
Public Relations
Media Relations
Marketing Campaigns
Event Planning
Social Media Strategy
Details
- Year established: 1985
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of combined marketing expertise across diverse industries
- Our boutique agency provides personalized account management with specialized resources
- Proven success growing Charlotte Restaurant Week to 140+ participating restaurants
- We combine journalistic expertise with strategic media relationships for impactful campaigns
- Specialized focus on hospitality and lifestyle marketing solutions
Services
Public Relations
We develop strategic public relations campaigns that shape brand perception through media relations, press releases, crisis communications, and public affairs. Our journalistic approach ensures consistent messaging across all platforms while maintaining media credibility. With over four decades of combined experience, we create earned media opportunities that build long-term brand trust and awareness.
Marketing Campaigns
Our customized marketing campaigns integrate traditional and digital strategies to achieve measurable business objectives. From market research to execution, we combine creative storytelling with data-driven insights across hospitality, tourism, and lifestyle sectors. We specialize in creating comprehensive 360-degree marketing solutions that deliver tangible ROI for businesses and organizations.
Media Relations
Leveraging decades of news industry experience, we execute targeted media outreach strategies that secure high-impact press coverage. Our services include press kit development, journalist training, media pitching, and relationship-building with key influencers. We maintain strong connections across print, broadcast, and digital media platforms to amplify client visibility and credibility.
Event Planning
From concept to execution, we create impactful events that strengthen brand engagement and community relationships. Our expertise includes restaurant grand openings, tourism initiatives, and the management of Charlotte Restaurant Week, which grew from 42 to over 140 participating venues during our leadership. We handle every detail of event logistics, sponsorship acquisition, and promotional execution.
Social Media Strategy
We develop targeted social media strategies that increase engagement and build online communities for hospitality and lifestyle brands. Our approach combines content creation, platform-specific optimization, and audience analytics to strengthen brand presence across digital channels. We focus on driving meaningful interactions that translate to customer loyalty and business growth for our clients.
People
Bruce Hensley
Owner / Founder
With over 40 years in public relations, Bruce Hensley founded Hensley Fontana in 1985 after working in journalism and with the world's largest PR firm. He co-created Charlotte Restaurant Week and brings extensive experience in travel marketing, media relations, and brand storytelling to client campaigns.
Jill Hensley
Owner / Partner
Jill Hensley contributes 30+ years of marketing expertise focusing on strategic communications and brand development. She co-founded Charlotte Restaurant Week and specializes in media relations, content creation, and marketing for hospitality clients through both traditional and digital channels.
Questions
What services does Hensley Fontana offer?
We provide public relations, marketing campaigns, media relations, event planning, and social media strategy with specialization in hospitality and lifestyle industries.
How long has Hensley Fontana been in business?
Founded in 1985 in Charlotte, NC, we have over 35 years of combined experience in public relations and marketing.
What industries do you specialize in?
While serving diverse sectors, we focus on hospitality, tourism, restaurants, consumer services, and lifestyle marketing with proven expertise.
Can you handle both local and national campaigns?
Our Charlotte-based agency successfully manages campaigns across North Carolina and throughout the Southeast United States.
How do you measure campaign success?
We use media coverage metrics, social media engagement, event participation, and client goal achievement tracking to evaluate campaign effectiveness.
