Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, has announced the promotion of Allison Handy to Chief Commercial Officer, a role that places her at the helm of all commercial operations across the organisation’s expansive global portfolio. She will report directly to CEO Craig S. Smith.
Handy’s promotion marks a significant step in the company’s strategic direction, reinforcing its commitment to internal advancement and unified commercial performance. In her expanded role, she will continue to oversee key enterprise functions, sales, national sales, marketing, revenue management, and ecommerce, ensuring all commercial efforts align under a single strategy that drives profitability and operational strength.
“Allison’s appointment reflects both the caliber of talent we have within Aimbridge and our continued focus on building a high-performance culture that delivers lasting value,” said Craig S. Smith, CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality. “As we pursue new opportunities in today’s evolving market, leaders like Allison are instrumental in advancing our vision and ensuring Aimbridge remains a trusted, results-driven operator. Her strategic counsel, deep industry expertise, and integration of our Commercial functions have elevated our capabilities and strengthened relationships with owners and partners.”
Since joining Aimbridge in 2021, Handy has played a central role in developing and executing a cohesive commercial strategy. Her leadership was pivotal in the launch of a fully integrated commercial model last year, which enhanced alignment between departments and led to improved topline performance, stronger profitability, and deeper value for stakeholders.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into this role at such a transformative time for Aimbridge,” said Allison Handy. “Launching a fully integrated Commercial model last year has significantly enhanced how we deploy strategy across sales, marketing, and revenue. This alignment has driven stronger topline performance, greater profitability, and deeper value for our owners. I’m excited to continue this work with an exceptional team that’s embracing the challenge and leading the way forward.”
Before joining Aimbridge, Handy held senior commercial leadership roles at PRISM Hotels & Resorts and Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where she built scalable systems and guided high-performing teams for more than a decade. She is known throughout the industry for her ability to unlock revenue growth and mentor emerging talent. Handy currently serves on the HSMAI Americas Board and actively supports initiatives that promote rising sales professionals and women in leadership.
Her promotion highlights Aimbridge’s broader strategy of cultivating in-house talent and reinforcing operational excellence through innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a collaborative approach.
About Aimbridge Hospitality
Aimbridge Hospitality is the world’s leading global hospitality management company. A trusted operator of over 80 globally recognized lodging brands and distinctive luxury and lifestyle assets, Aimbridge delivers compelling results for hotel owners by leveraging proprietary data and insights as an authority in key markets and destinations, while creating exceptional guest experiences. Aimbridge continually strives to set the new standard in hospitality excellence, leading the industry into the future through a wealth of unmatched resources and best-in-class supplier agreements, while recruiting and developing top industry talent in all key verticals and geographies.
