Midweek interview with East Hotel’s Todd Handy

Midweek interview with East Hotel’s Todd Handy

This week, we took East Hotel’s general manager aside for an uber-private chat in a secret location. Okay, fine – we emailed him.

The challenge for the industry is…

Being fun. I’m not sure why some organisations create rigid boxes for their team and guests to operate in. Create exciting places for unique experiences and let your people be people!

The things I like about my job…

Are working for and with passionate people. It helps in this fast-paced industry – let’s make things happen and think creatively about solutions!

And the frustrations are …

Hotels who drop their rates at the first whisper of a quiet period. Have faith in the place and product (experience): travellers will pay what your product is worth! If they don’t, then…

If I didn’t work in travel I would be…

Similarly working with a group of passionate individuals who share a common goal and work ethic.

Favourite airline?

Qantas. I have to say, there are many I haven’t tried as I haven’t strayed much, but when I do I’m often let down.

My proudest moment was…

I have them all the time! My daughters and their accomplishments as they grow up and my team here at EAST and the constant awards and guest accolades. Truly blessed.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

Fairly epically crash my fathers treasured convertible taking a girlfriend home when I was 16 (fully licenced in Texas) and I was supposed to drive straight home after school. My father was working overseas and I had to call my mother to tell her…and have her pick me up. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but that was not a fun afternoon.

I try to relax by…

Exercising – or having a tasty adult beverage in peace. I do both most days – ha! Seemingly diametrically opposite, but both are great ways to quickly change the pace of thought and maintain balance.

The last time I feared for my life was…

See question re: the naughtiest thing I ever did. It wasn’t good. The crash nor the ensuing conversations.

If I can, I always try to avoid…

Situations which will create conflict. Sometimes it’s unavoidable but I try to teach my team this art and the beneficial outcomes.

I really wish I had…

More hours in the day.

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

Look after yourself first (not in a wholly selfish way) otherwise you won’t have the physical or mental capacity to lead a healthy life, have meaningful relationships and achieve what you want.

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t take the time to have more fun. There’s always time. If not, reassess and make time. Personal health and well-being is crucial.

My greatest weakness is…

Assuming people see things the way I do.

And my greatest strength is…

Leading teams to assess situations to find the logical, positive paths forward.

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…

Quietly pay down debt, buy a nice treat (did someone say pool and hot tub?!) and invest the rest.

If I was prime minister I would…

Probably only last a few months – seems to be the trend in recent history.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a…

Hunk like Jason Mamoa so I can wink at myself in reflections all day, “Oh, hey, who’s the sexy beast? Wait, that’s me.” <pointing finger at self-reflection and winking> Pretty certain I’d only last the one day before getting sick of it…and being moved on from a lot of shop fronts.

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Japan. So much I’d like to see and experience there. I’d either need to take a sabbatical or multiple trips!

My favourite holiday was…

The most recent in always freshest: South Africa. Spending two weeks with family seeing wildlife up close in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, going on nature walks and mountain biking in the Drakensberg ranges, touring Soweto and Johannesburg and meeting locals and learning about their various cultures – the history, how far they’ve come and the hope they have for the future. Truly an amazing country and people.

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