New York, NY, June 13, 2012 … Catherine McKenna, CMP, CMM, has been appointed Director of Sales, North America, for Adare Manor, the five star castle hotel & golf resort located near Limerick, Ireland; and The K Club , the five star manor house estate, golf & spa resort near Dublin.

In her new role, Ms. McKenna will focus on developing incentive & group business originating from the United States and Canada for both extraordinary properties, which serve as important venues for the group meetings segment.  Ms. McKenna will operate out of offices in Chicago.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Catherine to these magnificent Irish resorts, and to their North American sales team,” said Richard Williams of Richard Williams Associates, who oversees North American sales and marketing operations for Adare Manor and The K Club.  “She brings 25 years of experience in US luxury hospitality and destination sales to her new role, and we look forward to her successful development of new business for both of these magnificent five star properties.”

Catherine McKenna was most recently director of global accounts for Peabody Hotels, responsible for a 16-state region throughout the Midwestern United States. In this role she successfully developed new business strategies, generating over $4 Million in annual revenues.  She has previously served in senior-level sales positions for Destination Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Hotels and Resorts, at properties in Illinois and California.

Ms. McKenna gained important destination sales and marketing experience through positions with Visit Charlotte, the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Charlotte, North Carolina; the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau; and the Evanston, Illinois, Convention and Visitors Bureau.  In these roles, her sales strategies generated substantial travel revenues for each destination.

McKenna holds the industry designations CMP & CMM and was recently awarded “Supplier of the Year” by the Chicago Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.  She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. Ms. McKenna is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association and Meeting Professionals International.  As well, she is active in the American Legion.

About Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort
Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in Co. Limerick is one of Ireland's leading Five Star castle properties. The 840-acre Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort is the ultimate luxury vacation destination, offering a variety of deluxe accommodations, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed championship golf course, luxurious spa treatment rooms, world-class dining facilities, fishing, shopping, sightseeing, and a host of other estate activities which will intrigue even the most experienced travellers. It is situated along the River Maigue and next to the village of Adare, one of the most picturesque places to visit in all of Ireland, and just 25 minutes from Shannon International Airport. For more information on Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort and for reservations, visit www.adaremanor.com.  Adare Manor is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

About The K Club
The K Club is a multifaceted resort set on 550 acres and on the banks of the River Liffey in Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland.  Just 30 minutes from Dublin International Airport and Dublin City Centre, the resort includes a 69-bedroom hotel which is this year’s AA Hotel of the Year; two Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf courses – The Palmer Ryder Cup Course and The Smurfit Palmer Course, The K Spa and several restaurants and bars.  The resort has staged 13 European Opens and The Ryder Cup 2006.

Winner of several accolades for both its hotel and golf offerings, The K Club is renowned as one of the world’s premier golfing destinations.  Other facilities and activities offered on site include conferencing, fishing, horse riding, archery, wine cellar and art & history tours. There is a dedicated Health and Fitness Club, the extraordinary K Spa, and a Kids Club which runs daily.

The magical setting of the resort, the magnificent grounds and stringent attention to detail and service has made the property a firm favorite with golfers, families, business travelers, spa goers and wedding couples.  The K Club offers excellent value-added packages for the corporate, leisure and incentive markets.  For more information on packages, services or for best available rates offered log on to www.kclub.ie   The K Club is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.