The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has announced Kevin Carey will serve as AHLA’s interim president/CEO while continuing as the association’s senior executive vice president & COO. Carey succeeds outgoing president/CEO William “Chip” Rogers, who resigned last March 1 to pursue other professional interests.
Carey will report directly to AHLA’s board of directors until a permanent replacement is selected. The organization’s board of directors is forming a committee to identify and evaluate potential candidates and will be retaining an executive search firm.
Carey has served as AHLA’s COO since 2017. He has led numerous AHLA initiatives that have helped accelerate its growth and expansion, including the association’s strategic plan development, dues model changes, and a nearly 60 percent increase in revenue through membership growth, mergers, and strategic partnerships. Before joining AHLA, Carey spent more than 25 years with American Express.
“As we begin our search for a permanent AHLA president/CEO, the association is in capable hands,” says 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.“
