THE LONGTIME HEAD of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, William “Chip” Rogers, is stepping down from the position “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.
