BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Sept. 9, 2015 – The Townsend Hotel, a AAA 4-Diamond, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star and Travel + Leisure 500-rated luxury property known for its exceptional service and amenities, today announced the addition of two new managers to its catering sales team – Maria Finateri as corporate catering sales manager, and Annie Whalen as catering sales event service manager. The announcement was made by Steven Kalczynski, The Townsend’s managing director.
“The Townsend Hotel enjoys a hard-earned reputation as one of the best places in the area for hosting special events, both business and personal, and that takes the behind-the-scenes work of some highly specialized service industry leaders like Maria and Annie,” said Kalczynski. “They embody the passion for excellence and commitment to service that is paramount to The Townsend guest experience.”
As corporate catering sales manager, Finateri – who began her hospitality career more than a decade ago as a college student serving as floor manager at East Lansing, Mich.’s Walnut Hills Country Club – is responsible for establishing new relationships among the area’s business community to further grow the luxury property’s corporate catering clientele.
Prior to joining The Townsend, Finateri honed her service industry skills with roles as beverage and hospitality manager for Darden Concepts in Cincinnati, Ohio and, most recently, sales and marketing manager for Blackfinn Ameripub in Royal Oak and Clinton Township, Mich.
A resident of Royal Oak, Mich., Finateri earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science from Michigan State University. She is a former board member of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association and current member of The Junior League of Birmingham.
Annie Whalen joins The Townsend Hotel team as catering sales event service manager with a career in the sales and special events industry spanning more than 20 years. In her new role, Whalen is responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of the luxury property’s volume of special events and catering contracts.
Prior to joining The Townsend Hotel team, Whalen served as special event and travel coordinator for the University of Michigan School of Public Health Risk Science Center. She also spent five years planning student and alumni social events at the historic Michigan Union on U of M’s central campus.
With a passion for the hospitality industry since her first restaurant job at age 17, Whalen served as sales manager and event planner under Chef Kelli Lewton at 2Unique Catering in Royal Oak, Mich., and has had the privilege of managing operations for several restaurants in Ann Arbor and throughout Southeast Michigan.
Whalen, who graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s of business administration in Management, is a resident of Redford, Mich. She is currently a student in the Masters of Divinity program at Moody Bible Institute, and volunteers with her church’s prison ministry, working with women battling substance abuse issues.
About The Townsend Hotel
Opened in 1988, The Townsend Hotel, which celebrated its Silver Anniversary in 2013, is AAA 4-Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star luxury property located in downtown Birmingham, Mich. A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ LVX Collection, The Townsend, also included among Travel + Leisure 500: The World’s Best Hotels 2015, is known for its exceptional service and amenities, including the Rugby Grille, The Corner bar, Afternoon Tea at The Townsend and a variety of bakery, banquet and catering services. For more information, visit www.townsendhotel.com or contact The Townsend Hotel at 800.548.4172.
Media Contact: Hope Brown, PublicCity PR – hbrown@publiccitypr.net; 248.663.6166