Taj Hotels Names Kathleen Shea Vice President, Sales & Marketing - the Americas

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Raymond Bickson, CEO and Managing Director, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, has appointed Kathleen Shea as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas, a newly created position to support Taj's strategic growth plans.

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A luxury hotel specialist with extensive experience focused on building top luxury brands, she will oversee sales and marketing for the company's three U.S. hotels -- The Pierre in New York, Taj Boston in Massachusetts and Taj Campton Place in San Francisco -- and play a pivotal role in launching new hotels by developing a sales and marketing infrastructure and strategies for the key US market. One of Asia's largest and finest hotel groups, Taj Hotels celebrated its centenary in 2003.

Kathleen Shea was most recently Vice President, Sales and Marketing - The Americas for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where she was responsible for the sales and marketing performance of the region's existing hotels as well as the US and Latin America global sales network. She played an integral leadership role in the design and execution of strategic sales initiatives and partnerships to support the launch of new city and hideaway resort properties during a period of rapid growth.  Throughout her career she has been recognized for building high performing sales teams with a strong customer focus and ability to differentiate from other luxury competitors.  Her extensive luxury expertise, US market knowledge and dynamic leadership style will position Taj to build brand awareness and successfully expand its portfolio in the US.

Previously, Shea spent seven years as Regional Director of Sales, New York for Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, where she oversaw the worldwide sales office and represented the global portfolio of Four Seasons and Regent International Hotels.  Her prior experience includes serving as Managing Director of Sales, Eastern Region for Hilton Hotels Corporation, where she spent 14 years progressing through various positions including on-property, pre-opening and regional and national responsibilities.

Shea is a graduate of St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, with a bachelor's degree in Business and Speech Communications. A member of the Luxury Marketing Council and Hospitality Sales & Marketing International, she is based in New York and reports to Ajoy Misra, Taj Hotels' Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. Contact Shea via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces