In her new role, Mahoney will design strategies to win new customers and keep the existing owners of vacation properties. "Fairfield continues to transform vacation ownership from a niche market to a mass market industry," Mahoney says.

She will report directly to Fairfield president and CEO Franz S. Hanning. While at Howard Johnson, Mahoney "led a successful re-imaging program that helped restore the brand's traditional competitive edge among mid-market hotel brands," Hanning says in a prepared statement.

Mahoney was named president and CEO of Howard Johnson International Inc. in 1998. She filled various executive posts at that company since 1994, including vice president of marketing and director of marketing development. From 1990 to 1994, Mahoney owned and operated Targa International Inc., a global sales and reservations firm. At Days Inns of America Inc., she served in several sales and marketing capacities from 1980 to 1990.

The trade press recognized Mahoney repeatedly for her accomplishments. Lodging magazine named her one of the top 75 executives in the hospitality industry in August 2000. Travel Agent magazine hailed her as one of the "Most Powerful Women in Travel" for four consecutive years. BrandWeek called the 23-year hospitality industry veteran one of the "Next Generation of Hot New Marketers." Group Travel Leader magazine named Mahoney Group Travel Leader of the Year.