The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced that Kevin Carey will serve as AHLA’s interim president & CEO while continuing in his role as AHLA senior executive vice president & COO.
Carey succeeds former AHLA President & CEO William “Chip” Rogers, who resigned last Friday to pursue other professional interests.
Carey will report directly to AHLA’s Board of Directors until a permanent president & CEO is selected and onboarded. AHLA’s Board of Directors is in the process of forming a committee to identify and evaluate potential president & CEO candidates and will be retaining an executive search firm.
Carey has served as AHLA’s COO since 2017. He has led numerous key AHLA initiatives that have helped accelerate the association’s growth and expansion. These efforts include the association’s strategic plan development, dues model changes, and a nearly 60% increase in revenue through membership growth, mergers, and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining AHLA, Carey spent more than 25 years with American Express, where he led key global business groups across the company.
“As we begin our search for a permanent AHLA president & CEO, the association is in capable hands,” said AHLA Board Chair Kevin Jacobs.
“Kevin’s deep knowledge of AHLA’s operations and his relationships with hospitality stakeholders throughout the industry make him the right leader for AHLA during this transition. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working with Kevin as AHLA continues to deliver highly effective advocacy, communications and member services for the industry.”
“I want to thank the Board for the opportunity to serve AHLA during this important time,” said Carey.
“I look forward to working with my team members to continue doing what AHLA does best: serving members and achieving responsible public policy outcomes for hoteliers that advance this outstanding industry.”
