Kiawah Island, SC, November 1, 2018 – Kiawah Island Golf Resort is pleased to announce it is adding three new sales positions to help generate leads for its expanding conference services. After a lengthy and competitive search, the resort has named Seanan Keleher, Katherine Potts and Erin Whitsitt as Villa Sales Managers. The three, who will report to Kiawah Island Golf Resort Director of Sales Marty Couch, will be responsible for developing and fostering relationships with businesses and organizations through proactive direct sales to groups interested in hosting meetings and events in a luxury resort environment.
“The expansion of our meetings capabilities at our new West Beach Conference Center, which is slated to open next fall, provides an opportunity to attract new groups that we previously have not hosted,” explained Couch. “These three sales managers are specifically tasked with growing our conference and group business to stay in our resort villas.”
Seanan Keleher, a hospitality industry veteran with thirteen years’ experience, was promoted internally, having served for the past two and one half years as Front Office Manager of the resort’s Forbes Five Star Sanctuary hotel. Prior to that, he served for one year as the resort’s Transportation Manager.
Katherine Potts was also promoted internally, having been with the resort for seven years, most recently as Villa Property Manager for the past four years. Her extensive experience with the resort’s villa operations includes stints as Housekeeping Office Manager for one year, Assistant Front Office Manager at the Villa Front Desk for one year and Villa Concierge for one year.
Erin Whitsitt joins Kiawah Island Golf Resort from North Charleston, S.C.-based John Q. Hammons, where she served as sales manager for both Courtyard Fort Smith (Ark.) and Residence Inn Charleston (S.C.) Airport. While with Hammons, Whitsitt has also served as Managing Editor and Editorial Director for A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine based on Johns Island, S.C., a suburb of Charleston. Her previous diverse sales experience ranges from the hospitality, catering and media sectors.
“After an extensive search, these three professionals emerged from a competitive pool of candidates, all of whom were extremely qualified,” said Couch. “Combined, they bring a valuable level of institutional knowledge of the resort as well as of the broader Charleston community; an intimate appreciation for the high expectations our groups have for the resort and its amenities and offerings; and, most importantly, a sharply honed service- and relationship-oriented approach to everything they do. We are delighted to welcome them the sales team and have high confidence in their ability to grow our group business on the Villa Resort side. The groups that work with them will come to appreciate their level of professionalism and service that reflect the core values of Kiawah Island Golf Resort.”
Keleher, Potts and Whitsitt will began their new roles November 1, 2018.
Groups interested in hosting their next meeting or event at Kiawah Island Golf Resort are invited to call our groups sales office at 843-768-6040.
About Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Located along 10 miles of pristine beach less than 30 miles south of Charleston, S.C., Kiawah Island Golf Resort is consistently rated as one of the country’s top resorts. It includes The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the resort’s ultra-luxury 255-room hotel and spa – and nearly 500 private villas and luxury homes, five championship golf courses, including The Ocean Course – host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 PGA Championship and upcoming 2021 PGA Championship. For 10 of the past 12 years, the resort has ranked as the number one tennis resort in the world by TennisResortsOnline.com, and features a renowned recreation and nature program. Beginning spring 2018, Kiawah Island Golf Resort launched a three-year development that will greatly enhance the resort’s already world-class amenities. For more information, visit www.kiawahresort.com.
