MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlson Hotels Worldwide has appointed Kaaren Hamilton as vice president, global sales – North America.

In this new position, Hamilton will report to Thorsten Kirschke, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The Americas. She will oversee the company's global sales office, based outside Manhattan in New Jersey. Situated in the nation's top business travel market, the global sales office is focused on generating outbound sales from the United States to Carlson's hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific and will contribute to increasing the volume of inter-theater business among the regions.  

Hamilton's global sales team includes the current New York-based sales resources of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, and sales experts from Radisson Edwardian Hotels, based in London, in the United Kingdom, and The Rezidor Hotel Group, based in Brussels, Belgium, both long term, strategic partners of the group.

"We are pleased to appoint Kaaren to this important sales position within our company and value her experience with our hotel brands and the hotel industry," said Kirschke. "Kaaren and her global sales team will help build awareness of our Radisson brand's strong position in the global marketplace."  

"I am enthusiastic about leading the global sales office because it will provide a higher level of service to our U.S. business clients who source international hotels and meeting space," Hamilton said. "As a convenient, central, one-stop resource, we provide the opportunity for our clients in the U.S. to become more familiar with the tremendous hotels we have in the international marketplace."

A sales leader with extensive hotel industry experience, Hamilton joined Carlson Hotels Worldwide in 2007 as a director of national sales.  Prior to that, she worked for Hyatt Hotels at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson.  As the opening director of sales for the Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, N.J., she was responsible for the strategic vision and positioning of the new build conference center.  Throughout her hotel career, Hamilton has held other opening positions at world-class hotels such as the Hilton Short Hills in New Jersey and Turnberry Isle in Aventura, Florida.

Hamilton started her career in the hospitality industry in 1984 when she participated in a training program with The Westbury Hotel in London. Later, she joined the Hilton Hotels' management trainee program and was based at the 500-room Parsippany Hilton in New Jersey.

As president-elect of the New Jersey chapter of Meeting Professionals International, Hamilton has been deeply committed to the meetings, events and incentive industry for many years.  Her focus as president in 2010 will be on the globalization of the industry.

She has a bachelor of science - BSc degree (honors) in hotel and catering management with a special emphasis in marketing and tourism from the University of Surrey in Guildford, England.  

About Carlson Hotels Worldwide
Carlson Hotels Worldwide is a leading global hotel company with more than 1,060 locations in 77 countries. Its brands include: Regent® Hotels & Resorts, Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM) and Park Inn®. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is part of Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company. For more information, please visit www.carlsonhotels.com.