FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – July 14, 2025 – Ten Kelly Designs, a branding and advertising agency based in Pinellas County, Florida, and owned by married couple Kristen (aka Ten Kelly) and Matt (aka Mattske) Berman, today issued a statement addressing the significant challenges facing the American tourism industry. The agency, which serves clients in tourism and other sectors with digital marketing and creative direction, is amplifying the concerns of its clients who feel unable to speak out due to fear of retribution and reprisal.
“The American tourism industry is inextricably linked to the American dream these days,” said Kristen Berman, who is the agency’s lead client services director.
Kristen adds, “People worldwide yearn to visit America’s diverse landscapes, from Florida’s beaches to the majestic Rocky Mountains, and experience the unique fabric of our country. Domestically, political divisiveness is undeniably casting a shadow over this vital sector. People are feeling it all over the place.”
The Bermans emphasized the deep connection between the tourism industry and the foundational principles of the United States. “America offers nearly every kind of terrain imaginable, and the desire to explore it, both for international visitors and domestic travelers, remains strong,” added Matt Berman, Co-Owner and copywriter. “However, the current political climate, particularly distorting the importance of immigration, is creating an environment of terror and apprehension that directly impacts travel and hospitality more broadly.”
Ten Kelly Designs acknowledges the complexities of the national discourse, particularly concerning immigration. “While the political rhetoric often confuses the realities of immigration, the truth is that many individuals arriving at our borders are refugees by consequence of American foreign policy decisions spanning decades,” Matt stated. “This is a difficult truth I have been confronting, and it has profound implications that extend far beyond our direct commitment to the tourism and hospitality industries. We find it abhorrent that DHS is enforcing what can only be described as modern-day slavery, from which both governmental and private entities are profiting.”
The agency also highlighted the often-overlooked economic realities of those who power the tourism sector. “Our clients, the proprietors of small businesses in the tourism industry – from the charming boat tour operators to the dedicated scuba instructors – are some of the most genuinely kind individuals you could meet,” Kristen Berman explained. “They are not ‘super rich’; they are humble, hardworking people striving to provide visitors with experiences that create lifelong memories. While their customers might be enjoying discretionary spending, these business owners are simply trying to earn an honest living. So despite claims from across the political spectrum about caring for ‘working people,’ I believe the true meaning of that phrase has been lost over time.”
Ten Kelly Designs asserts that a thriving tourism industry is not merely an economic engine but a testament to American hospitality and opportunity. The agency stands firm in its commitment to supporting its clients and advocating for an environment where the tourism industry can flourish, free from the damaging effects of political polarization.
About Ten Kelly Designs
Ten Kelly Designs is a dynamic branding and advertising agency founded by Kristen and Matt Berman. Based in Pinellas County, FL, with roots in Philadelphia, the agency specializes in digital marketing and creative direction, serving a diverse range of clients, including those in the vital tourism and hospitality industries.
