Kevin Carey

Bio:

Kevin Carey joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) in 2017 and currently serves as chief operating officer.  In March 2025, Kevin assumed expanded responsibilities as president & chief executive officer of the AHLA Foundation - the charitable arm of AHLA, which works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset—its people. 
 
In his role as COO, Kevin is responsible for all of AHLA’s revenue generating operations, including membership engagement, partnership & business development, and conferences & events.  He also oversees the consolidated financial operations of both the association, foundation and affiliated entities.  In addition, Kevin serves as AHLA’s board representative for Green Key Global, a certification organization dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within the hospitality industry in North America that is owned and operated by AHLA and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). 
 

Prior to joining AHLA, Kevin held senior executive leadership roles at American Express Company and American Express Global Business Travel. He spent more than two decades rising through the ranks at American Express, beginning his career in public affairs as a member of the company’s government affairs office in Washington, D.C., before transitioning to client management and sales leadership roles in the company’s card, merchant services, and travel business units.   
 
Kevin has a breadth of experience across the travel and hospitality industries through his service as a board and executive committee member for numerous travel and tourism industry associations, including U.S. Travel and the Travel Business Roundtable. He has also served as an alumni advisory board member at both Johns Hopkins University and Penn State University.