New York – (June 16, 2011) -- Kathleen Shea, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, has appointed Lisa Iaquez and Frances Maxwell to her team. Shea took on her newly created position last year to oversee sales and marketing for the company’s three U.S. hotels: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel in New York; 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 have Lisa and Frances join our Taj team in the U.S.,” said Shea.  “With the addition of their talents, diverse expertise and strong relationships, our sales and marketing team to drive Taj brand awareness, and nurture key accounts and partnerships to benefit existing and future Taj properties in the U.S. and the Americas is complete.”

Shea’s team complements that of Jodi Dell Leblanc, Taj Hotels Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, whose team supports the international Taj portfolio.

Lisa Iaquez, Director of Corporate and Group Sales – The Americas
Iaquez, based in New York, is responsible for corporate transient sales and group sales in the Eastern US.  She brings more than a decade of corporate transient and group sales to her new role with Taj Hotels. Most recently, she was Global Director of Corporate Sales with Jumeirah Hotels, where she represented 11 luxury hotels. Previously, she spent five years as Director of Corporate Sales with New York’s SoHo Grand and Tribeca Grand hotels, and two years as pre-opening Group Sales Manager with Hilton Times Square. Her additional experience includes conference sales planning for the Paramount Hotel, Merrill Lynch and Estee Lauder.  A graduate of SUNY New York with a degree in marketing, Iaquez also holds certification from Master Connections sales training and Hilton Sales College. She is a member of British American Business, Hedge Fund Association, NYCBTA NY chapter and ACTE, and supports the Sankara Eye Foundation, the Sikh Arts Foundation and UNICEF world water projects. Contact her at [email protected].

Frances Maxwell, Director of Corporate, Group and Incentive Sales – The Americas
Maxwell, based in Chicago, is responsible for group and corporate segments with a specialty in incentive and insurance sales. With 15 years of experience in hospitality and business-to-business sales, she joined Taj Hotels from her position as Director of Regional Accounts, Midwest, for Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. Her prior experience includes serving as Business Development Director with BI, a Minneapolis-based business improvement company, where she advised C-level clients and sold reward, recognition, marketing and other programs. She also held Corporate Sales Manager positions with Pheasant Run Resort & Spa and Wyndham Hotels in Illinois, was a wedding planner for Radisson Lisle, Lisle, IL and was Director of Food & Beverage for the Drake Hotel in Oakbrook, IL. Maxwell is a member of Meeting Planners International, where she is also on the board of directors for the organization’s Chicago Area Chapter, and HSMAI. She has a degree in Psychology from Illinois State University. Contact her at [email protected].

About Taj U.S.
The Taj Hotel’s U.S. portfolio currently features three Taj Hotels with outstanding locations: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel 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 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 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 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 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.  www.tajhotels.com