Sponsored Editorial - Carey’s Growth in Mexico: Meeting Global Travel Needs
In 2024, the demand for Carey’s services in Mexico surged, prompting the company to look for ways in which they could expand their operations in the country.
Carey International, the leader in premium chauffeured ground transportation services, has had a presence in Mexico since 2013, offering transportation solutions to major cities like Mexico City and Cancun. Then, in 2024, the demand for Carey’s services in Mexico surged, prompting the company to look for ways in which they could expand their operations in the country. “Something clicked in early 2024,” said Clive Bampfylde, Carey’s Manager of International Franchise & Alliance Network, Key Accounts. “We saw a sharp rise in the number of Carey clients requesting service in Mexico and an increasing diversity of locations where they were looking to travel.” According to Bampfylde, this rise coincided with a major rebound in Mexico's tourism and business sectors, particularly as the country began to surpass pre-pandemic levels of international inbound travel. It was over this same period that the Mexican Ministry of Tourism reported a 19.1% increase in international travel, reflecting a booming demand that was mirrored by companies seeking Carey’s services
“In situations where we’re seeing medium-to-long term growth patterns in a region, Carey has historically looked for opportunities to create partnerships with organizations that uphold Carey’s strong service standards, so as to ensure that client service comes first” explained Bampfylde “while also exploring opportunities to have a more direct presence in the region.” The vast majority of Carey’s services are performed by Carey employees or direct hires, who serviced over 91% of the trips arranged through the company in 2024. “However, creating partnerships with like-minded organizations we call Alliance Partners in new locations has been a pivotal part of Carey’s growth strategy for years” related Bampfylde, “and a major contributor to Carey’s longevity and ability to expand its operations rapidly.” Carey recently celebrated its 104th year in operation.
Bampfylde’s role within Carey, an organization that provided ground transportation services to clients in 72 countries in 2024, includes identifying partners who uphold the organization’s service standards in regions Carey clientele wish to travel. That incorporates assessing the quality of services provided by chauffeurs in said regions, ensuring that their vehicle quality, insurance, reservations and dispatch teams operate at expected levels, and much more. “All Carey partners need to meet and be prepared to be measured against our stringent core standards,” explains Bampfylde.
On April 7th, he, Greg Mendoza (Carey Regional Vice President of International Operations) and CEO Mitch Lahr announced that the ink was drying on a single partnership that would allow the organization to offer its services in 34 additional cities in Mexico, bringing the total number operating centers in Mexico (between Alliance Partners, Franchisees, and company-owned entities in the country to 43.
“It’s exciting when you can meet your clients where they’re hoping to travel, and expand Carey’s footprint, and be so sure that their expectations are going to be met,” said Mitch Lahr, Carey’s CEO who has been at the helm of the Frederick Maryland-based premium service provider since 2020. “Our first allegiance is always to our clients, and when Clive identified this opportunity for them to have seamless travel experiences in Mexico, and we took a long hard look at the key business indicators, we knew this opportunity was a home run.”
The expansion, which includes key business hubs like Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Los Cabos, is in direct response to this rising demand. The timing is particularly noteworthy, as the shift in global business dynamics, driven by factors such as American nearshoring and the continued growth of manufacturing and technology industries in Mexico, has increased travel needs in the country. Clive Bampfylde explained that companies operating in Mexico were increasingly requesting higher standards of chauffeured transportation, and Carey was well-positioned to meet these demands. “It was clear that our clients were expecting the same level of service they rely on globally, but now in Mexico’s key business hubs,” he said, continuing “It’s an exciting time for Carey, its partners, and its customers as we continue to evolve and really mold our business around a truly international business model.”
Carey will continue to identify opportunities to expand its operations within Latin America, providing access to bilingual (including English-speaking) chauffeurs in premium, luxury vehicles to ensure that their clients have a reliable, luxurious, and safe travel experience, whether it be for business or leisure travel.
