Beth Preddy was recruited from New York to Naples, Fla., in 1993, for the position of director of public relations for The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. An immediate task was to celebrate the hotel’s 10th anniversary with an epic, year-long marketing campaign that included nationwide headlines for what was then the number-one hotel in the U.S. and world. For the gala, Beth was inspired by the “Belle Epoque” era of Auguste Escoffier and Cesar Ritz, the creators of the Ritz mystique. She directed the Art Nouveau decor, orchestral music, table settings, and all branded marketing materials, continuing the vintage theme. The event was the gala of the year and still talked about to this day. The year-long campaign also included “giving back” gestures to the Naples community. For the anniversary campaign, Beth won the gold marketing award from HSMAI, the world’s leading international hotel organization, and was the only gold award in the category that year. During her tenure Beth handled ongoing media and community relations. A highlight was her creation of an eco-tourism initiative that gathered public and private environmental leaders in a group called the Egret Coalition. The Coalition raised awareness of Southwest Florida’s nature attractions, but disbanded when Beth resigned her position at the Ritz and could no longer provide the necessary leadership.