It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast · David Kong, Dorothy Dowling, Rachel Humphrey, Lan Elliott

Allison Handy, Chief Commercial Officer, Aimbridge, interviewed by Rachel Humphrey

·32 min·3 clips

Allison once told her boss she never wanted his job because she wanted to be a mom—now she takes 80 flights a year with three kids.

This episode features Rachel Humphrey interviewing Allison Handy, the Chief Commercial Officer at Aimbridge Hospitality. Handy shares her 27-year career journey and perspectives on leadership, motherhood, and professional growth. She began her career as a sales administrator after cold-calling hotels from the Yellow Pages in Newport Beach. Handy started at a Hilton property managed by Interstate Hotels, later worked for Prism Hotels, and ultimately saw both companies acquired by Aimbridge. She emphasizes the importance of longevity, citing her family's work ethic as a key influence. A pivotal moment was telling a vice president she never wanted his job because she aspired to be a mom, a perspective she later reversed. Handy has taken 80 flights this year while raising three children, demonstrating that career and motherhood can coexist with intentionality. She argues that success requires a supportive partner at home and redefines balance as being present and engaged in each role, not allocating equal time. Handy believes leadership is demonstrated by developing teams and adding value, not by holding a title. She advocates "doing the job before you get the job" by volunteering for work outside one's scope. Her transition to Aimbridge tested her leadership, as she moved from a small, family-like company to the world's largest hospitality management firm. Handy credits her vocal nature to childhood dinner table debates and sees it as a strength, though she occasionally questions if she is too vocal. She notes her patience has decreased for disrespectful workplace behavior, and she now prioritizes surrounding her team with collaborative people. To address knowledge gaps, she once asked a partner to teach her financial terms like cap rate and IRR after a meeting. A semester at sea in college built her confidence and ability to engage in adult conversations globally. She co-founded HSMAI's Rising Sales Leader program to give younger professionals a voice, criticizing leaders who guess what Gen Z wants instead of asking them. Handy describes herself as an introverted extrovert who needs quiet time to recharge during events. She advises her younger self to stop hiding her age and embrace her achievements early in her career. Her final wisdom is to avoid self-imposed boundaries, like she once did by doubting she could be both a mother and a vice president. The tone is conversational and mentorship-focused, blending personal anecdotes with practical career advice. It is educational and reflective, offering a candid look at Handy's experiences and philosophies. Hospitality professionals, especially women and parents balancing career ambitions, will find this episode inspiring and relatable. Listeners seeking tactical insights on mergers, leadership development, or industry consolidation may also appreciate it. Those uninterested in personal career narratives or the hospitality sector might skip it.

As heard by us

Hospitality leadership here feels earned, not polished.

Rachel Humphrey and Allison Handy keep the focus on leadership that is earned in the day-to-day work, not announced from a title. Allison's advice is practical: look for ways to add value outside your lane, take on work beyond your own scope, and keep showing up when a new…

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Why you'd press play

If you want career advice that sounds lived-in, not motivational, start here.

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