Commercial leader Carol Dodds steps down from Aimbridge EMEA

Aimbridge hospitality has announced that Carol Dodds is leaving her longstanding role with Aimbridge EMEA to spend more time with her family.

Dodds has worked as senior vice president – Commercial at Aimbridge EMEA – formerly Interstate Hotels and Resorts – for almost 20 years and has held numerous other industry roles including chair of the European Commercial Committee for IHG; member of the Marriott European Distribution advisory committee; member of the Annual Hotel Conference Advisory Board; and Global Representative for the IHG Owners Association in the field of Digital Marketing and Distribution.

Her decision to step down follows a change in personal circumstances earlier this year.

Dodds said: “It’s not been an easy decision to make. I have felt truly privileged to hold such an influential role with Aimbridge EMEA, collaborating with incredible industry leaders and a team of best-in-class experts to set the benchmark in commercial excellence.

“However, after a change in personal circumstances, now feels the right time to reduce the amount of travelling I do, step back and take a break to allow more focus on my family.”

Dodds started work in the hospitality industry in 1987 and has since achieved a wealth of successes including multiple industry awards, managing portfolio integrations and leading Aimbridge’s highly successful commercial team of 45 specialists across the UK and Europe.

She added: “After 17 wonderful years with IHG, I ventured into third-party management joining Chardon Management Ltd in 2005, supporting growth from seven to more than 30 hotels, which was subsequently acquired by Interstate Hotels & Resorts to create a platform in Europe which has evolved to become Aimbridge EMEA today.

“In that time I have seen the world of commercial evolve hugely. Over the past 20 years it has grown to be a highly specialised field, particularly in the areas of distribution and digital, but the importance of relationships has remained.Hospitality and, indeed, commercial remains a people industry. It’s more vital than ever to collaborate, work closely with operations and remain agile and resilient– both key skills in this changing world.It’s now the right time for me to hand the reins over to my very capable team, as I embark on a new phase in my life.”

David Anderson, divisional president at Aimbridge EMEA, concluded: “Carol’s contribution to the success and growth of Aimbridge EMEA during her tenure has been invaluable and I know she will be missed by our team and our owners alike. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish her all the best with her next chapter and thank her for everything she has done for both our organisation and the industry as a whole.”