The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has revealed that William “Chip” Rogers resigned from his position as president/CEO last Friday to pursue other professional interests.
The AHLA board of directors is in the process of forming a committee to identify and evaluate potential replacement candidates and will be retaining an executive search firm.
Effective immediately, AHLA Senior EVP/COO Kevin Carey will also serve as AHLA’s interim president/CEO. He will report directly to the board until a permanent president/CEO is selected and onboarded.
“We have been able to build one of America’s most effective associations over the last five years,” said Rogers. “As I move on to my next chapter, I am truly thankful for the opportunity I had to lead this incredible team and work alongside the industry’s best leaders.
Kevin Jacobs, board chair, AHLA, stated, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Chip for his service to AHLA. We now begin a search for a new CEO to lead AHLA during this exciting time for both our industry and our association. The board and I look forward to working with the next CEO to advance our mission well into the future.”
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 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.”
Carey said, “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.”
