AH MARCH 2024
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MARCH 2024 ASIAN HOSPITALITY
he longtime head of the American
Hotel & Lodging Association,
William “Chip” Rogers, stepped
down from the position in March “to
pursue other professional interests,”
according to AHLA. The AHLA board
of directors appointed Kevin Carey,
AHLA’s senior executive vice president
and COO, as interim president and CEO
and is forming a committee to identify
potential replacements for Rogers and
will be retaining an executive search
firm.
AHLA said in a statement that more
information on its search for Rogers’
replacement will be available on its
website in the coming weeks. It did not
release any more information about why
Rogers is stepping down.
“We have been able to build one of
America’s most effective associations
over the last five years,” said Rogers
in the statement. “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, Hilton’s CFO and
president of global development who
was appointed chairman of AHLA’s
board in January, thanked Rogers for his
service.
“We now begin a search for a new
CEO to lead AHLA during this exciting
time for both our industry and our
association,” Jacobs said. “The board
and I look forward to working with the
next CEO to advance our mission well
into the future.”
Prior to taking the president and CEO
position at AHLA, Rogers was AAHOA’s
president and CEO from 2014 to 2019.
He served as a Georgia state senator
from 2002 to 2012 and was president
and CEO for Rogers Communications in
Woodstock, Georgia, from 1994 to 2011,
according to his LinkedIn.com page.
Carey has served as AHLA’s COO
since 2017 and has led numerous AHLA
initiatives that increased the association’s
growth and expansion, according to a
statement. These efforts include the
association’s strategic plan development,
dues model changes and a nearly 60
percent increase in revenue through
membership growth, mergers, and
partnerships. Prior to joining AHLA,
Carey spent more than 25 years with
American Express, where he led global
business groups across the company.
“As we begin our search for a
permanent AHLA president & CEO,
the association is in capable hands,”
Jacobs said. “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 thanked the board for the
opportunity.
“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,” said Carey.
AAHOA welcomes Carey
AAHOA released a statement welcoming
Carey to the interim position.
“We look forward to working with
Mr. Carey to continue strengthening the
hospitality industry,” said Laura Lee Blake,
AAHOA president and CEO. “Together,
AAHOA and AHLA can continue on a path
of advocacy and progress to address the
challenges facing the hospitality sector and
ensure a stronger future moving forward.”
The two associations have not always
been on the same side of certain issues.
For example, AAHOA supports proposed
legislation in New Jersey that would make
changes to the New Jersey Franchise
Practices Act that could benefit hotel
franchisees, AAHOA said previously.
AHLA, and specifically Rogers, opposed
the bill, saying it threatened the hotel
franchise model.
Bharat Patel, AAHOA chairman, said he
anticipates “a positive and constructive
partnership to benefit our members and
the industry at large.”
“Through collaboration, we can proactively
address and shape the industry's growth
and achieve new milestones for our
members moving forward,” Patel said.
Rogers steps down as head
of AHLA
The association’s COO Carey is interim president and CEO, board forming search committee
William “Chip” Rogers, left, is stepping down as president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging
Association “to pursue other professional interests,” according to AHLA. Kevin Carey, AHLA’s senior
executive vice president and COO, has been appointed interim president and CEO until the board of
directors finds a replacement.
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