Karen Brand is the National Sales Manager for new business development for the Mid-Atlantic states, Georgia and the Carolinas. Karen is a 20 plus-year hospitality industry veteran will be responsible for the synergistic sales efforts for new in-house group business for four of seven properties in the Rosen Hotels & Resorts collection: Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre, Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando.

Most recently a Regional Account Executive for Visit Orlando, the organization responsible for marketing the area to both business and leisure groups, Karen has extensive knowledge of Orlando as a premier convention destination. Her existing relationships with Mid-Atlantic associations and corporate clients will allow her to make a seamless transition to Rosen Hotels & Resorts, as she will continue to work with existing customers as well as forging new relationships for the hotel group. Karen joins Rosen Hotels & Resorts existing Mid-Atlantic sales team, which includes Mary Lytle, Linda Kamp, Linda Wiman and Celeste Frucht.

Karen spent 24 years working for Visit Orlando, formerly known as the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc., or Orlando CVB, in Orlando and in the Washington, D.C. satellite office. She began with the OOCCVB as an Account Executive in 1987, was promoted to Associate Director of Sales in 1991, then served in Washington, D.C. as Regional Account Executive from 1993 to August 2011. She was responsible for promoting Orlando as the premier meetings and convention destination in the nation, generating leads and bookings for in-house and citywide groups, servicing association and corporate meetings. Karen boasts a 100 percent achievement record for individual sales goals and has a proven track record of increasing the destination’s market share by fostering client relationships via meetings, tradeshows, industry events, sponsorship of client events, and sales presentations.

Karen is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Planners International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Frostburg University in Frostburg, Maryland.