af&co. is officially 20! What began in 2005 as Andrew’s vision in his San Francisco living room has evolved into a nationally recognized creative powerhouse honored as PRSA’s Small Agency of the Year, named among PR Net’s Top 100 PR Agencies, featured on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and included for ten consecutive years among the San Francisco Business Times’ Top 50 LGBTQ-Owned Businesses.

From the very start, Andrew’s mission was simple: to reimagine how agencies partnered with their hospitality clients – building true collaborations focused on putting butts in seats and heads in beds. make an impact. Two decades later, af&co. has launched more than 500 restaurants, hotels, and lifestyle brands and helped shape the Bay Area’s hospitality identity – from neighborhood favorites to James Beard Award–winning chefs, Michelin-starred dining rooms and landmark destinations. “When I started af&co., I just wanted to make an impact,” says Andrew Freeman, Founder and CEO. “Twenty years later, I can say we’ve done that – not just for our clients, but for our community and our industry. We’ve grown, evolved, and stayed true to our belief that the best stories are told through heart, creativity and fearless hospitality. And we’re just getting started.”

Over the years, af&co. has grown and evolved. “When I started, there was no social media. We were still using cell phones without texting,” Andrew recalls. “We’ve evolved with every shift – digital storytelling, influencer partnerships, brand strategy, AI – and through it all, we’ve stayed true to our purpose: telling stories that connect people.”  From our first hospitality trends report (check out the 18th annual report here, produced with Carbonate!), to Andrew co-founding Carbonate with Candace in 2020, to dedicated work with hospitality industry organizations, Andrew and af&co. have been on the forefront of initiatives that make a true difference in the world of restaurants, hotels, wineries, and destinations. 

Of course, we had to celebrate with a party. To commemorate our 20th anniversary, we hosted a disco ball at L4, the gorgeous new event space at 945 Market Street. We spent the evening dancing, reconnecting with old friends, partners, and colleagues, and reminiscing on all the amazing moments that brought us from day one to year twenty. 

In recognition of its lasting influence, the City and County of San Francisco, led by Mayor Lurie, honored af&co. with a Certificate of Honor, celebrating the agency’s 20 years of creativity, leadership and impact on the Bay Area’s hospitality community. We were able to present the Certificate of Honor to Andrew during the party, which made it all feel so official! 

We truly could not have hosted the party without the support of so many incredible partners. A huge thank you to Evntwrks for producing the party and making sure it was disco-fabulous. We have to raise a glass to WestBev and all of our spirit partners for the cocktails, the Overshine Collective for the wine, Four Point for the beer and Shekoh Confections for the chocolates, and San Pellegrino for the water. DJ Aari and Outta Pocket kept the music flowing all night, and MGM Grande wowed the crowd with her fabulous performances.   

Take a look at the photos from the event, captured by Drew Altizer Photography. 

As we look to the future, we are so proud of our legacy, and we look forward to continued growth with immense gratitude for our clients, partners, and team. 

Go down memory lane with us and check out the Road to Now to discover af&co.’s history. 

To learn more, take a look at our official press release celebrating our 20th anniversary: af&co. Celebrates 20 Years