Leadership Team
Alexandra Wensley
President
Alexandra Wensley has three decades of experience in the media industry working with prestigious brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Acqualina, Rolls-Royce, Bal Harbour Shops, Luxury Living, the Islands of Hawaii, and high-profile celebrity chefs.
Her strategic campaigns have landed her clients in the pages of The New York Times, Departures, The Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, People, Food & Wine, and many other nationally circulated, top-shelf publications and media outlets.
Her most memorable placements include garnering a cover placement in Condé Nast Traveler magazine, securing guest chef appearances on The Today Show, getting her clients on “Mornings with Maria” on FOX Business, Oprah and ABC News, and hosting successful press events for the Karl Lagerfeld lobbies.
Tanya Ansaldi
Vice President
Tanya Ansaldi serves as Vice President at Alex Wensley Communications. Tanya’s international career spans almost two decades in locations including Miami, London and now New York with a focus on Public Relations, Communications and an in-depth knowledge of luxury travel specializing in hotels, spas, restaurants and wineries. She has overseen the North American Public Relations and Partnerships for Club Med.
Previously she was the Associate Director of one of London’s premier travel PR agencies, where she spent several years directing the UK press for some of the world’s top hotels in destinations including Europe, South America and Asia.
Her passion for public relations and corporate communications was also first honed throughout her many years of in-house PR experience with Mandarin Oriental.
Heidi Barfels
Business Development & Strategic Account Management
Heidi Barfels is an award-winning communications executive who has spent nearly two decades shaping the narrative of upscale hospitality brands and destinations, including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
She has led marketing communications for major U.S. travel destinations, including Visit Florida Keys, Visit Estes Park, and Visit Lauderdale, driving international campaigns and multiple cover story placements. Heidi’s strategic PR leadership has resulted in top-tier coverage in coveted outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, and The New York Times, among others. She is known for her strength in strategic messaging that translates brand insights into compelling, conversion-driven storytelling, as well as expertise in executive and crisis communications.
As part of Alex Wensley Communications, she brings a collaborative, data-driven approach that helps hospitality brands achieve measurable results in a competitive global landscape.
Elisa Fershtadt
PR & Marketing Communications Travel Specialist
Elisa Fershtadt, based in New York, is a public relations and marketing communications specialist with extensive travel and tourism experience and is a PR executive at Alex Wensley Communications. Her far-reaching media contacts with leading print and online media as well as leading influencers, have placed her clients in front of a national and international audience through all mediums.
Much of Elisa’s experience has been representing and promoting national and international destinations (DMOs) and luxury hotels and resorts as well some lifestyle and wellness-related businesses.
Her experience also includes representing major luxury hotels, resorts and brands including the Ritz Hotel, Paris, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Hotel des Bergues, Geneva, MayFair Hotel, London, Edwardian Hotels, London, The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences, London, and Keystone Resort, Vail, and Beaver Creek in Colorado, to name a few.
Monica Ruiz
Social Media Strategist
For more than a decade, Monica Ruiz has had a finger on the pulse of social media trends and digital marketing. Her work has been recognized with a Facebook case study and multiple American Advertising Awards. Monica was a chosen featured speaker at the 3CMA conference and the "Let's Make Lemonade" series hosted by the American Advertising Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches.
Past brand experience includes Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Port Everglades, Visit Estes Park, Amelia Island, Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport, Karisma Hotels, Elegant Hotels, and Nova Southeastern University.
About Us
We are a concise and effective public relations agency with longstanding experience and relationships in hotels, resorts, tourism, spas, restaurants, wine & spirits, real estate and many other verticals. With a fresh take and skillful approach, we are able to provide clients with goal-orientated results and always strive to exceed expectations. Most importantly, we are a passionate team that sees ourselves as an extension of our clients - and we love what we do!