Jill Milan Profile: Kim Kessler
In our latest blog about Jill Milan’s customers, we are very pleased to introduce you to Kim Kessler, director of Public Relations at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Among her more than 15 years of public relations experience in the luxury hotel sector is a stint as PR director at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui, and 2 years at The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa, where she was named Western Regional Public Relations Director of the Year. Previously she gained agency experience with Murphy O’Brien Public Relations, where she handled publicity for Esperanza, an Auberge Resort in Cabo, and The Peninsula Hotels. Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Pepperdine University in Malibu. She has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar UK, LiveTheProcess.com, Foam Magazine, Harper's Bazaar Russia and JohnnyJet.com. In her spare time, she loves traveling the globe, yoga, hiking, meditation, and cooking vegan dishes with friends. A third-generation Los Angeles native, her favorite travel destinations include the Greek islands, Bali, South of France, Maldives, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and Hawaii.
Could you tell us a little bit about where you live and what you do?
“I’m a third-generation Angeleno and have worked as director of public relations at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills for the last 6 years, and was recently also added to the Spa Task Force team for the Americas for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. I currently reside in Brentwood, as I like to be equidistant between the ocean and my office, as I enjoy beach walks, yoga and hikes on the weekends. I also contribute vegan travel articles for Viva Glam Magazine and Kind Traveler.”
Are you vegan?
“Yes, I became vegan during Calabasas High School over 20 years ago, as my best friend Julie’s dad was Casey Kasem – who, in addition to being known for inventing the Top 40 in radio, was also a big vegan activist and taught me about factory farming and how they negatively treat the animals. Although I started on this path strictly for animal rights, I now also keep the plant-based diet for environmental, health and vitality reasons.”
Do you have any favorite restaurants in Los Angeles?
“I prefer Crossroads Kitchen, Shojin (best vegan sushi!), Plant Food & Wine, Gracias Madre, Café Gratitude, Real Food Daily and M Café. I also love Culina restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, as Italian Chef Denis Dello Stritto has created delicious plant-based options, including the Pera Vegana, a dish of grilled pears with house-made almond ricotta and the Ortolana vegan pizza. Culina also offers a customized juice menu, where guests can select from 20 ingredients, and a soup of the day based on farmers market produce. Our poolside Cabana restaurant at Four Seasons also features the best Parsley and Kale Superfood Rigatoni that is vegan and gluten free, as well as the antioxidant kale salad.”
Four Seasons L.A. at Beverly Hills Culina restaurant
Four Seasons LA at Beverly Hills poolside Cabana restaurant
Could you tell us about your travel blog?
“I am very active on my Instagram @VeganTravelista, where I feature photos from traveling the globe and my favorite vegan dishes. I have posted photos from the Greek islands, Maldives, Bali, Thailand, Croatia, South of France, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Istanbul, Mexico, Hawaii, Uruguay, Argentina, St. Martin, St. Barth, Brazil, Anguilla and more. I also write feature travel articles for Viva Glam Magazine and have a Vegan Travelista column on Kind Traveler, a new site launching that involves travel while benefiting charities around the world including Wild Aid and Surfrider Foundation.”
Could you tell us about the charity work you do?
“I have developed a partnership with Global Green and Four Seasons, starting with Global Wellness Day last year, which is blossoming into an ongoing formal partnership! I really love what Global Green is doing to help the environment. I also support Mercy for Animals, as I believe it is one of the best organizations for sending people undercover to film factory farming. They have made great strides in getting the media involved to help show the public what’s really going on in the nation’s biggest animal farming companies. In addition, I donate to Farm Sanctuary as the organization rescues factory farm animals. Farm Sanctuary is open to the general public, who can interact with the adorable animals, such as cows, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens.”
What are some of your picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles?
Museums: “Spend an afternoon at the Getty Villa in Malibu, which houses breathtaking art and artefacts from ancient Greece and Rome.”
Drinks: “Sip on cocktails at the exclusive Chateau Marmont or the chic SoHo House in West Hollywood.”
Spa: “Enjoy a manicure and pedicure using the vegan nail polish line SpaRitual in the beautiful Nail Suite at Four Seasons Los Angeles, overlooking palm trees.”
Pera Vegana dish with house made almond ricotta
Four Seasons L.A. at Beverly Hills Nail Spa
