There’s only one thing more precious than our time, and that’s who we spend it on.
Leo Christopher
Maria’s Story
Maria Kelly is an exceptional “people person”, having worked most of her career in the Hospitality Industry both in Ireland and abroad. By reputation, Maria has a natural ability to connect with others instantly in a professional and friendly manner.
Maria is a brilliant, authentic networker and gets to know people very quickly and has a genuine interest in people and their story, it’s a personal connection that she develops which often develops into life long relationships. Maria likes to surround herself with like-minded, positive people and likewise you feel very uplifted and energised by Maria every time you meet her.
Maria is a professional marketer with a vast experience in sales, digital marketing, communication skills, word of mouth and referral marketing, and business development over the past 25 years, as well as a varied hotel and catering management background. Having won a national HSMAI Award in 2008 for heading up the Best Hotel Sales and Marketing Team in Ireland, it was a very proud moment for Maria who finds it easy to mentor, build trust and rapport with people that she works with whether it is with colleagues, suppliers or clients. Her hands-on practical approach to “marketing without the fluff” and experience in sales and delivering results whilst driving revenues, has become an integral part of Asentiv’s offering to create an amazing business and a spectacular life.
Originally from County Kildare, but now living in Galway on Ireland’s West Coast – Maria is no stranger to hard work, cooking, entertaining and socialising down through the years. Having grown up on the family farm and coming from a large, close-knit, extended family on both sides all living in close proximity, gatherings, occasions and parties were the norm, coupled with home-cooking and good old fashioned hospitality so networking began from a very young age!
Maria stays engaged, passionate and connected with those she works with. Maria uses her many networks that she belongs to connect people and make introductions to each other by use of referral strategies to identify and attract new clients and opportunities for mutual benefit.
Maria is married with 3 children living in the West of Ireland and enjoys the outdoors, swimming in the sea or nearby Lough Corrib, enjoys travelling, going to zumba class and baking, but in reality Maria spends most of her time going to the children’s sports events, shuttling them to matches and competitions and trying to keep order in the home and garden, just like every other parent and entrepreneur!
