STAMFORD, Conn., July 8, 2015 — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that Alison Taylor has assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Starwood’s Sales Organization. In her new role, Taylor leads Starwood’s business-to-business sales strategy and directs the company’s sales team of more than 5,000 associates around the world. A 25-year Starwood veteran, Taylor replaced Christie Hicks, who retired in March of this year.
“I am thrilled to take on this new opportunity and will leverage my broad experience and deep connections with customers and within Starwood to grow our groups and meetings business and enhance our corporate, leisure and group segmentation strategies,” said Alison Taylor, Senior Vice President of Starwood’s Sales Organization. “Starwood remains committed to selling the way customers want to buy and providing best-in-class service. To that end, I will work together with Starwood’s divisional sales leaders Mary Casey, Nichlas Maratos, Alan Duggan and Asad Ahmed to align our sales force and deploy our teams and resources to match our customers’ evolving needs in every segment where we do business.”
Taylor continued: “As we continue to expand SPG Pro, the industry’s first comprehensive B2B loyalty program, we are cultivating ever stronger and more personal relationships with our global customers and the next generation of travel professionals. We also remain focused on introducing new technologies like the recently launched ProMeetings app, which gives our meeting planners and SPG Pro members the personalization and flexibility they need to deliver flawless experiences for their attendees.”
Prior to taking on this global position, Taylor developed the Starwood Sales Organization in Asia Pacific into an industry-leading team during a period of unprecedented growth over the last decade. She also successfully evolved and led Starwood’s fast-moving Digital Marketing and Revenue Management functions to drive business into the company’s hotels. Taylor has relocated from Singapore to Starwood’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
Taylor, who joined ITT Sheraton 27 years ago, has worked in six countries across Asia-Pacific and spent two years working for Le Meridien in Indonesia prior to Starwood’s acquisition of the brand. Originally from Australia and educated in London, Taylor earned her Business Degree in Hotel Management and Marketing from Victoria University, Melbourne.
