MIAMI—Palace Resorts promoted Kathy Halpern to VP/sales and marketing for the brand’s seven oceanfront resort properties in Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Riviera Maya, Mexico, as well as Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun.
Previously VP/marketing for Palace Resorts, in her new role Halpern will collaborate with the sales team to develop effective strategies with a focus on increasing revenue while continuing to oversee strategic marketing, public relations and advertising initiatives and working with the company’s advertising agency, ISM, for marketing and advertising efforts.
Halpern has more than two decades’ of experience in both hotel and tour operator sales and marketing. Prior to joining Palace Resorts, Halpern worked with Occidental Hotels & Resorts for more than 13 years. Halpern’s past experience includes tenure with Island Destinations, where she held several titles including VP/marketing, specializing in Caribbean, Mexican and Greek island travel. Additional hospitality experience includes positions with Days Inn of America, Americana Hotels and Marriott Host International.
In addition, Cessie Cerrato has been named public relations director. Formerly the brand’s public relations manager, Cerrato will continue to lead and execute publicity efforts, internal communications strategies and event and trade show activations for the Palace Resorts brand. Additionally, Cerrato will continue to manage the company’s public relations agency, Newlink Communications, for publicity efforts in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Before joining Palace Resorts in 2011, Cerrato worked at Newlink Group, a communications agency in Miami, FL. As a senior account executive with the company’s tourism practice, Cerrato worked with organizations such as the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), Visit Panama, Los Cabos, Aeromexico, the States of Jalisco and Quintana Roo in Mexico, One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, Expedia Inc., Bacardi, HATUEY and ESPN Deportes, among others. Additional experience includes real estate publicity with South Florida based clients before joining M. Silver Associates, executing strategies on national travel, hospitality, consumer retail and financial service accounts.