Kevin Carey serves as AHLA’s chief operating officer and senior executive vice president. He also served as AHLA’s interim president & CEO from March 5, 2024, to Nov. 13, 2024.

In his role as COO and senior EVP, Kevin is responsible for all of AHLA’s revenue generating operations, including membership engagement, partnership & business development, and conferences & events. He leads both strategic planning and financial operations oversight of AHLA and its Foundation. Kevin supports AHLA’s officers, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and its numerous committees and councils.

Prior to joining AHLA, Kevin held senior executive leadership roles at American Express Company and American Express Global Business Travel. Most recently, he served as managing director and head of the Americas region and was responsible for the largest strategic customers and revenue generating region in the global business travel joint venture company. 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 also serves as an advisory board member at both Johns Hopkins University and Penn State University.