Carrie Wilder is Senior Director of Market Management at Expedia Group, leading commercial strategy across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. With a background in hotel operations and consulting, she brings a deep understanding of the travel industry from the ground up.

In this blog, she shares how her career has evolved—from opening luxury hotels in Buenos Aires to driving regional growth at Expedia Group—and what makes events like Explore Cancun so impactful for partners and the industry.

How has your career evolved over time?

My career began unexpectedly in hospitality while studying Diplomacy and International Relations. A part-time hotel job sparked a passion that led me to Hyatt International in Buenos Aires, where I spent seven years in operations, including opening a Park Hyatt. 

For the next two decades, I worked in hotel consulting, which involved key projects like opening and managing two award-winning hotels: Faena Hotel Buenos Aires and The Vines Resort & Spa. After gaining a 360-degree view of the industry, I joined Expedia Group in 2017 as Director of Market Management for Spanish-speaking South America, later becoming Senior Director for the entire region. 

Two and a half years ago, I transitioned to lead Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America—markets where Expedia Group plays a key role. Now based in Mexico City, I feel I have the best job, managing some of the most beautiful destinations in the world! The move also fulfilled a personal dream: to travel and live in different countries, aligning my childhood aspirations with my career at Expedia. 

What does your role as Senior Director, Market Management entail? 

My role as Senior Director, Market Management involves leading the commercial teams responsible for Expedia Group’s supply strategy across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America (36 countries). My key responsibilities are maximizing partner performance by guiding my teams on commercial strategies, driving internal alignment by coordinating with demand teams and managing complex issues like regulations, and serving as the primary industry ambassador, building key relationships with hotel associations to ensure Expedia’s strategic voice is heard in the region’s vital tourism economy.  

What makes working in your role and Expedia Group so great? 

The greatest aspects of working in my role at Expedia Group are the combination of passion, people, and purpose. As a self-proclaimed hotel junkie, I’m genuinely motivated and energized to spend every day working with a product—travel and hotels—that people love, anticipate, and value. This constant engagement with a positive industry keeps the work dynamic and rewarding. Beyond the product, the people and culture here are exceptional; I’ve built amazing teams and find that colleagues are universally supportive and open to helping you learn and grow, fostering a truly collaborative and amazing work environment across borders. Finally, there is a strong sense of purpose because I truly believe in our mission. By helping our hotel partners thrive and grow, we directly support the economic stability and good employment for vast numbers of people in our key markets, which is the most gratifying part of leading this business.

Explore Cancun is taking place October 21^st, 2025. What excites you about the event? 

Explore Cancun is part of our commitment to local engagement, and this event will bring together around 500 partners from all lines of business—hotels, car rentals, airlines—to hear directly from Expedia Group leaders about our strategy and vision. The true excitement comes from the engagement and partnership it fosters. By providing deep data and industry insights—which our partners value highly—we help them make smarter business decisions regarding technology adoption and market trends.  

we are hosting this alongside the Cancun Travel Mart, the biggest industry event in Mexico. This strategic pairing ensures maximum impact and allows us to reinforce our commitment to the region. I look forward to contributing to this engagement by presenting on 2026 travel trends, specifically focusing on how our partners can maximize their performance by leveraging insights around major events like sports tourism and the World Cup. 

What is your favorite type of vacation?   

That’s a tough choice, but my ideal getaway is a small cruise, preferably on a boat carrying only 100 or 200 people. My number one requirement is water; I love being on a boat, surrounded by the sea, which is instantly calming for me. Beyond that, the freedom from planning is great. Since I’m always the planner for my family, I look forward to a vacation where I can completely switch off. It provides the perfect balance: you can get off and explore a small island, or you can stay on the boat and relax by the pool, all without the hassle of packing and unpacking between destinations. It’s the ultimate stress-free escape 

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