Israel ↔ North America, Simplified.
ABOUT ME
I’m a ninth-generation Israeli (yes, my family came to the land in the late-18th century) and I’m passionate about creating sturdy bridges between North America and Israel.
My focus is to help companies and organizations find marketing and business development solutions on the other side of the Atlantic, be it Israel or the US.
WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE?
I’ve been at the forefront of Israel government marketing activities since 2006. In the summer of 2018, I completed four years as the State of Israel’s Tourism Commissioner to North America. During this period, tourism from North America to Israel broke all records and has reached a record of almost 1 million tourists from North America to Israel in 2018, a growth of more than 30% in 4 years. North America is the largest source of incoming tourism to Israel, with a share of more than 20% of the country’s incoming tourism.
In this role, I led the Israel travel brand in North America, managed 5 regional Israel government tourist offices in North America, and effectively strategized and allocated a marketing and advertising budget of approximately $15 million annually.
Prior to holding this position, I served in several key positions in the Israel government.
Between 2011 to 2014, I oversaw the Ministry of Tourism’s North American tourism marketing department in Jerusalem. From 2007 to 2011, I served as Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office in Chicago, with responsibility for promoting tourism to Israel from 13 US states. From 2001 to 2005, prior to my service at the Israel Ministry of Tourism, I served the Israel Ministry of Justice as Senior Assistant to the Spokesperson.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Geography from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Masters’ degree in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University.
I live in Tel Aviv, am married to Osnat and am the proud father of 2 gorgeous daughters, Aviya and Tamar.
Anything else about me?
Travelling and exploring the world are my strongest passions.
I know every U2 song ever recorded.
I love running and wish I had the time to do more of it.
Served 3 years in the Israel Defence Forces as a fighter in a special recon unit.
ROBERT POTTS DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICA
Robert is a Mississippi native raised on the Gulf Coast and brought up in a Southern Baptist home. The son of a Baptist pastor and a history teacher, he has long had a passion for the church and history. His family moved to Atlanta, GA, when he was 18 and he has lived there ever since. Robert spent his college years between his dream school, Louisiana State University, and his final alma mater, Kennesaw State University, where he majored in Communications with a focus on Public Relations and Political Science.
Robert has spent his years after graduating working in the PR business, faith-based driven political activism, and most recently with the Israel Ministry of Tourism where he focused on engaging pastors and ministries in the southern region of the U.S. to make Israel a regular part of their travel plans. After visiting Israel for the first time in 2015 his eyes were opened to the wonders of the Holy Land, helping him to better understand his faith, provide deeper truth to the scriptures, and to remind him how pivotal it is that Americans not only love and support Israel, but put their feet on the ground in Israel and experience her history for themselves. His passion in this role is to see pastors experience a place they teach about, and ignite a desire in their congregations to teach the theology of Israel and why God’s blessing is still upon her.
Robert is happily married to his wife, Lauren, whom he wed in 2015 just after returning from Israel for the first time. They have two handsome boys, Peyton and Cooper, and are enjoying life as new parents and the blessings that come with raising children. Robert, Lauren, Peyton, and Cooper attend North Metro Church in Marietta, GA, where they have been family members for eight years.
Robert can be reached at Robert@UriSteinberg.com.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We serve as a conduit between Israeli and American entities, helping them to connect with one other.
Working primarily with the faith-based and travel trade communities, we create the bridges necessary for meeting our clients’ objectives.
We apply productive strategies that serve to effectively overcome marketing and PR challenges.
Business development for faith-based entities
Supplying travel marketing and strategy services for relevant destinations and companies
Helping organizations and companies solve their PR challenges in the US.