Aimbridge Hospitality

Proud to be a place where our people can embrace the opportunity to grow, belong and succeed at every step in their career journey!

Ann Christenson at Aimbridge Hospitality is one of our Board of Trustees members. We asked her about her superpower: "My superpower is the ability to see potential in people before they see it in themselves. Throughout my career, I’ve found the greatest fulfillment in mentoring and empowering others, helping them unlock opportunities they never thought possible." #WHM2025 #WomensHistoryMonth

We'll see you at IHIF EMEA next week, the premier event for European hospitality investment, to explore market trends, new deal cycles, and innovative partnership models. Our leaders are set to engage in key conversations that shape the future of hospitality investment, and Aimbridge insights will be featured as part of the Tuesday schedule, including Craig S. Smith, CEO, on Sealing the Deal: Lessons Learned from Recent Transactions and Niall Kelly, Head of Development, Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA, on Operating Agreements: Finding the Right Fit for Performance & Flexibility. Let’s connect in Berlin—schedule time with us at development[at]aimbridge.com.  

My career started in the kitchen. I was eight years old.     Mom was returning to work, and Dad decided it was time for me and my brothers to pitch in with cooking.   Dinner was to be on the table between six and seven o’clock – "Or else."   Monday nights were all mine, and an entrepreneur was unleashed. By age 12, I was washing dishes and chopping vegetables in restaurant kitchens. At 14, I joined the line four nights a week, dreaming of becoming a chef. At 16, my father helped me launch my first business – a tent rental company for catering events. At 18, I managed a wine bar with more than 700 wines and 400 beers – well before the craft beer phenom (and before I was legally allowed to drink). In my twenties, I took on nearly every role imaginable in hotels. It was the early 1990s, and the relatively nascent hotel franchise business model was just starting to break out when I got my first big break. ✴️ “How would you like to do franchise development?” ✴️ “Sure, I’ll give it my best shot," I said and never looked back ...   Over the next two decades, franchising fueled a new era of growth in our industry, marked by: ▶️ Hotel chains adopting an asset-light model (avoiding the capital cost of owning properties outright) and forging strategic partnerships with ownership groups/independent owners and hotel management (TPM) companies/third-party operators (TPOs). ▶️ Large hotel corporations moving away from operations to focus on brand development and distribution with rapid expansion and segmentation (e.g., luxury, midscale, extended stay, etc ▶️ Private equity entering the space and serving as an accelerant. Today, the global hotel landscape reminds me of the U.S. market in the 1990s – ripe with franchising opportunities and on the brink of transformation. Leading global growth for Aimbridge Hospitality at this inflection point feels a little like taking charge of Monday night dinners years ago — just the beginning, with the best still ahead ... 📈 [This post is based on a wide-ranging discussion on the popular It's Personal Stories, A Hospitality Podcast with Rachel Humphrey + recent photos in Portugal 👨🍳].

The Queen Mary isn’t just a legendary ship—it’s a world-class destination, and with the expertise of Second Wave Marketing, our in-house marketing agency, the Long Beach property has been revitalized through strategic storytelling, creative execution, and data-driven decision-making. Second Wave seamlessly aligns marketing with operations, sales, and revenue teams to drive measurable results as part of our services at scale. By leveraging deep industry insights and market expertise, Second Wave crafts targeted strategies to elevate brand visibility, attract guests, and maximize profitability. For Aimbridge owners, this translates to a competitive edge with smarter marketing, stronger demand, and optimized revenue streams. The Queen Mary is just one example of how we turn potential into performance, ensuring legendary destinations continue to thrive. https://lnkd.in/exwe9Cma

Strong leadership is built on preparation, mentorship, and the drive to create opportunity for others. In LODGING Magazine's Women’s History Month feature, Allison Handy, EVP of Commercial, shares how a foundation of mentorship and strategic thinking has shaped her 25-year career in hospitality. From learning the power of preparation early on to championing balance between family and career, her insights highlight how the industry is continually evolving. At Aimbridge, we’re fostering an environment where talent can grow, belong, succeed, and thrive in every role—ensuring growth opportunities and professional development are available at every career stage. Read more of Allison’s perspective: https://lnkd.in/eBXHpDQU

When it comes to celebrating our people, our properties, and our industry, Travis Burns is a champion for all things Aimbridge. Named a Top 50 Social Media Influencer in Hospitality for 2025 by the International Hospitality Institute, Aimbridge Vice President of Development Travis uses his platform to highlight the career journeys that define our industry. "It's inspiring to hear stories of people who started as housekeepers or bellmen and went on to become hotel owners or executives. Hospitality truly embodies the spirit of the American dream, and these stories are a testament to that." Thank you, Travis, for helping to shape important conversations about the future of hospitality and fostering connections everywhere—from on-property to online!

Our insights reach beyond the traditional hotel stay to leverage deep market expertise and unlock new opportunities for our managed properties. By bridging the guest experience from the hotel to other aspects of hospitality, we enhance the traveler journey while maximizing returns for our owners and partners. As Hotel News Now highlights, our Divisional VP of Sales, Donnelly N., shares how we’re expanding pre- and post-cruise partnerships with major cruise lines and wholesale providers to capture demand in key port markets. With the right strategic partners and creative solutions, we level up the ways people experience travel. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecVKZJjs

We’re headed to the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference next week, where industry leaders converge to explore key trends and opportunities in hospitality investment and development.   Our senior team members will be on-site, engaging in discussions that drive the future of the industry and continue strategic growth.   With Hunter’s reputation as a premier forum for forging meaningful connections, we look forward to productive conversations with hotel owners, developers, and investors.   Connect with us at development[at]aimbridge.com. 

Chief Global Growth Officer Eric B Jacobs shared what we're watching in 2025 earlier this year at ALIS with a clear path to success: Extended-stay is booming, luxury and lifestyle are evolving, and total revenue per square foot is the new north star. As the industry shifts, we’re doubling down on innovation, efficiency, and experience-driven hospitality to keep Aimbridge and our partners ahead of the curve. Simply put, as the next era of hospitality takes shape, we’re setting the pace. Read more from Hotel Investment Today: https://lnkd.in/eY3_j2JM