Four Women Named to Taj Hotels' New U.S. Sales & Marketing Team
March 22, 2011 - Kathleen Shea, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, has named Amy Deve, Tara Grand, Denise Simmons and **Bridget Tran* to her new team. Shea was appointed to her newly created position last year to oversee sales and marketing for the company's three U.S. five-star hotels: The Pierre, New York, A Taj Hotel in midtown Manhattan; Taj Boston in Massachusetts and Taj Campton Place in San Francisco, and to support strategic growth in key markets in the Americas.
“I'm delighted to add Amy, Tara, Denise and Bridget to our Taj team in the U.S.,” said Shea. “These talented individuals, with their diverse expertise and far-reaching relationships, greatly expand our ability to drive Taj brand awareness, and nurture key accounts and new partnerships to benefit existing and future Taj properties in the U.S. and the Americas. I look forward to announcing additional new developments in the coming months.”
Shea's new team complements that of Jodi Leblanc, Taj Hotels Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, whose team supports Taj's international portfolio.
Amy Deve , Director of Travel Industry Sales - The Americas
Deve is responsible for direct sales efforts, agent education/trainings, familiarization trips and tactical initiatives for the East Coast, Canada and Latin America markets for Taj U.S. She brings more than a decade of experience to her new role, having served in a similar capacity for California-based Viceroy Hotel Group (formerly Kor Hotel Group). She joined the group in 2006 as its first Director of Leisure Sales, where she initially focused on the repositioning of Campton Place, and then launched two new hotels in Miami and Anguilla. Previously, she handled the corporate and leisure markets for Mandarin Oriental, Miami where she was part of the team that established the hotel as a premiere urban resort in downtown Miami. Amy has a degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida. Contact her at [email protected].
Denise Simmons , Director of Group & Corporate Sales - The Americas
Simmons is responsible for Taj U.S. group and corporate sales in the Northeast, bringing more than 15 years of hotel sales expertise to this new position with Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Her expansive hospitality career includes her role as Director of Business Travel for the Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel, and as Director of National Sales for the Kimpton Hotel Group. In 1999, she opened the hotel group's San Francisco national sales office, serving as the in-market director for both corporate and group segments for the company's portfolio of 38 boutique properties. From this position, Denise moved to the New York area as the Director of National Sales for Destination Hotels and Resorts, representing their collection of resorts, city hotels and conference centers. Most recently, she was responsible for overseeing the national sales efforts of Wynn Resorts on behalf of Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. She graduated from St. Mary's of Moraga, California with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management. Contact her at [email protected].
Tara Grand , Director of Western Region & Entertainment Sales - The Americas
Grand, based in Los Angeles, handles corporate, group and leisure market sales in the Western U.S. and Canada for Taj U.S. She also has a specialty in entertainment industry sales that draws upon the extensive network of television, film and music producers and studio contacts that she has cultivated throughout North America for more than a decade. She joins Taj from the Maybourne Hotel Group where, as the company's Los Angeles-based Regional Director of Sales, Western Region, she spent more than three years enhancing North America market share and brand recognition for Claridge's, The Connaught and the Berkeley Hotels in the UK. Previously, she enjoyed a nine-year career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in a variety of sales manager positions in the U.S. and the UK, developing entertainment, corporate and travel industry business on behalf of properties in Los Angeles, Houston, London and Tokyo. Prior to entering the hospitality industry, this native of Venezuela who speaks English and French owned and operated her own floral design studio, managed an antiques showroom, and spent time as a business analyst with Shearson Lehman Hutton in New York. Her extensive educational background includes more than a decade of strategic selling courses, an internship with Sotheby's London Old Master Paintings Department and a degree in English Literature and Mathematics. Contact her at [email protected].
Bridget Tran , Director of Marketing - The Americas
Tran brings significant multi-channel marketing experience to her new role with Taj U.S., where she oversees development and implementation of 360-degree marketing initiatives for the Americas. Most recently, she was Director of Strategic Accounts for Twitter with responsibility for growing business by fostering strategic relationships with brands and digital agencies. Previously, as E-Marketing Manager at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, she directed all search and mobile marketing, advertising and social marketing and executed best online practices to drive guest engagement and revenue. Her prior experience includes positions with Contact Services and InterContinental Hotels Group to drive profitable growth for the on-demand marketing solutions firm and for IHG Canada across seven brands and 166 hotels. She is also a co-founder of WOWtraveler.net, now known as KiwiCollection.com, one of the world's first online luxury hotel magazines, and a co-founder of MyLeisureTime.com, the first concierge Web site to focus on affluent audiences. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Bridget also pursued medical studies at Harvard Medical School before turning her attention to the world of business full-time. Contact her at [email protected].
About Taj U.S.
The Taj Hotel's U.S. portfolio currently features three Taj luxury hotels with outstanding locations: The Pierre on New York's Central Park; Taj Boston overlooking Boston's Public Garden, and Taj Campton Place on San Francisco's Union Square. All offer acclaimed addresses in urban centers with great access to financial, shopping and entertainment districts, and unparalleled services for business and leisure travelers, from board meetings or conferences to memorable weddings and social gatherings. Each luxury property reflects Taj traditions for warm hospitality, culinary innovation and commitment to arts and culture. Fresh from a $100 million renovation and celebrating its 80th anniversary, The Pierre, New York is the Taj U.S. flagship with 11 Grand Suites, elegant ballrooms and state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and Le Caprice and Two E bar and lounge for refined dining and entertainment. The landmark Taj Boston at fashionable Arlington and Newbury streets is the only U.S. Taj hotel to offer guest suites and meeting spaces with wood-burning fireplaces; the exclusive Taj Club, with elegant lounge and dedicated concierge service; high definition TelePresence video conferencing, and seasonal Sunday brunch on The Roof. Taj Campton Place, an intimate hotel with boutique atmosphere and 110 guest rooms and suites, continues the property's celebrated reputation for inventive food and wine with the Michelin-starred Campton Place restaurant offering unique menus and exclusive wine dinners under the direction of Master Sommelier Richard Dean. For hotel reservations, visit www.tajhotels.com.
About Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces
Established in 1903, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia's largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 92 hotels in 53 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, has recently completed the centenary of its landmark hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India's premier business house. http://www.tajhotels.com
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