Reflecting back on Marriott's 80 years in the hospitality industry, one word summarizes our company's enduring success: opportunity. This weekend in San Francisco, I'm challenging our JW Marriott, Marriott and Renaissance General Managers from around the world to look for opportunities for their associates to grow and build careers within Marriott. When your employees see personal opportunity, the company thrives, and that has helped Marriott get to where it is today. At the recent Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites General Managers Conference in San Antonio, I shared with all the General Managers the following story about an opportunity my father was fortunate enough to receive.
In 1921, my father returned from his mission for the Mormon Church in the eastern part of the United States, back to Ogden, Utah. When he got home, he found that his father was broke. He had borrowed heavily - he had a big herd of sheep in Ogden. He had borrowed $14 a head on the sheep - they were worth about $3.50 - and he had no money to pay off the loan, so the bank foreclosed on him and took his sheep. He had nothing left. My father realized that his father was going to be working for the bank for the rest of his life. My dad also knew that the only way out for him personally was to have an education. He knew he had to study and learn how to think. He was certainly willing to work hard, but he knew he couldn't make it in the marketplace without an education.
He needed a college education and the money to pay for it. He didn't have either one. He had come home from his mission with $4 in his pocket. He thought about high school credits - he didn't have any of those either. Every year he had to leave school to take care of the sheep as they roamed the winter range in the Nevada mountains. And in the spring, he returned home to the farm to help with the spring planning.
In his biography, Robert O'Brien said, "One afternoon, Bill Marriott went to see Aaron Tracy. It was like finding a trail in the desert, a trail that would lead him out of the wasteland." Tracy was a great teacher and college administrator. He was a professor of English at Weber College. He liked my dad and he realized what a great struggle it had been for my father to get an education. In fact, he helped my dad go from the 6th to the 7th grade. I don't think my dad ever really went much further until he got with Aaron Tracy when he was 21.
Almost all his education was self taught. Aaron Tracy gave him an opportunity. He forgot about the fact that he didn't have any high school credits and he helped him make them up. He helped him find odd jobs around the college that would provide his full tuition. Each day, my father would get up at four o'clock in the morning, do his homework and study, and then get on his horse or take his horse and buggy, travel five miles across Ogden to Weber College. After class, he spent the afternoon selling ads for the yearbook and for the college newspaper. And in the evening, he worked until the bookstore closed every night. Adding to all this, he was Student Body President and he was one of three returned missionaries to teach a theology class.
When he graduated from Weber, Aaron Tracy shook his hand and he said, "Forward, my boy, forward." Tears came to my father's eyes. The first stage of the journey, perhaps the toughest, was behind him. He worked the next two or three summers selling woolen goods to the loggers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and then finally entered the University of Utah and graduated in 1926.
In May of 1927 he married my mother. They came to Washington in a Model T Ford and opened up a nine stool A&W root beer stand. Of course, when the weather got cold, people stopped buying root beer. So, they put on chili and hot tamales and hamburgers and hot dogs, and the Hot Shoppe was born. And of course, we'll celebrate that 80th anniversary this spring.
I often wonder what would have happened if Aaron Tracy had not given my father an opportunity; an opportunity to learn and get a college education. I don't think my father would have ever left Utah had he not had the self confidence which came from having a good education. He would've never come to Washington to open that root beer stand. And without that little root beer stand, we would not be where we are today.
Determined to Get an Education
I'm a recent discover of your blog. In looking back at some old entries, this one caught my attention. I too am an alumnus of Weber State University and the University of Utah. While at Utah, I joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After joining, I learned of your father's membership in Phi Delta Theta at the U. Curios to know more about him, I learned of his attendance at Weber College.
Fueled by the similarities, I researched the Marriott story further - inspiring! Around the same time, I came to possess an old U of U yearbook. Coincidentally, it was the year your father graduated and features two photos of him. I've often wondered if he ever imagined seeing his Marriott name on buildings in his hometowns of Ogden and Salt Lake City - let alone - around the world.
Posted by: Tyler Felt | 11/02/2007 at 10:43 AM
I read about this blog and then I read it and thought I should tell you about my trip to your Renaisance hotel at Heathrow. I was there on my way home to Finalnd from london on the night of the problems last month. My flight was cancelled. I had no place to go and the airport was closed and we were told to leave. I went to your hotel and they helped me. They had no rooms but they gave me a camping bed and some dinner and coffee. I think they were so kind and wonderful. Thank you
Posted by: Tiina Salo | 07/17/2007 at 10:49 AM
Mr. Marriott,
I was inspired by the article in the Washington Post magazine (July 1, 2007 issue) and your father's story as recounted in your blog. I, too, have had to postpone my education due to family needs, both as a youth and as an adult. I have benefited from a number of mentors who saw potential in me and a deep desire to learn to advance my career opportunities, too. It made such a difference. A calling to mission work and beginning a family contributed to further delay. I do hope to complete my college educaton in the near future. But so far, I have over 23 years in commercial real estate management, leasing, project management and international HQ facilities management. I have worked for companies large and small, including national firms such as Transwestern and Grubb & Ellis. I would be honored to have the opportunity to work for your company. I'm not sure if my resume fits too many of the opportunities offered by your company, but I would be willing to consider related opportunities if, in the spirit of your company, I might be given consideration. I have submitted my resume on line for consideration. Again, thank you for sharing your inspiring family story.
Best Regards,
David R. Pelton, RPA
dpvictor@msn.com
Posted by: David R. Pelton | 07/01/2007 at 07:43 AM
The difficulties encountered by your father and grandfather, plus the hardships your dad endured on his journey to gain an education, is quite inspirational and a remarkable family story. Today you now stand proudly at the helm of his great accomplishment. There is some commonality in my own family history, including a mentor like Mr. Aaron Tracy, who helped me gain an education at the George Washington University in Washington. I remember, quite fondly too, eating my first hamburgers and fries at the Hot Shoppes in Arlington, Virginia, while a student at GW, where I was also a member of your own college fraternity - Sigma Chi. Those are memories I shall never forget. Needless to say, my wife and I have a fondness for Marriott Hotels whenever we can afford to travel. We both appreciate how well managed and immaculately clean they are.
All the very best.
Posted by: Ronald m. Clancy | 04/30/2007 at 07:23 AM
Hello Mr. Marrriott, Very Inspiring.
Posted by: Kamlesh Bhikha | 04/08/2007 at 03:37 PM
Dear Mr. Marriott: I was part of Marriott corporation, I worked in banquets events in J.W Marriott Hotel in Lima - Perú . Today I obtain my Master's Degree in Business Administration in Lima Peru, thank you for the opportunity you provided me as an employer to improve myself and grow professionally.
Posted by: José Carlos Véliz | 03/10/2007 at 10:10 AM
thankyou for the wonderfull experiances you share with us each week, fantastic blog on your father. he sounded and obviously was such a dedicated man. thankyou again
Posted by: david hadges | 03/04/2007 at 10:25 PM
Very Inspiring story. I am curious about Aaron Tracy- where is he ? And he must have helped more people. Does Marriott have an endowment at Weber College?
Posted by: Shashi Bellamkonda | 02/27/2007 at 12:40 AM
This story really inspired me. It reminds me of my family and my grandfather. My father is actually at the GM meeting in San Francisco representing Marriott Fullerton. Not only am I proud to talk about my father working in Marriott, but also I am proud to talk about the struggles my grandfather went through when he was young, and how he conquered through it all becoming a successful business man in the restuarant business. Reading that blog reminded me of the American dream. Hospitality has been in the "Hust blood" for more than 60 years. I am actually majoring in hospitaliy, foodservice, and hotel management at California State University, Long Beach, and hope to run my own hotel one day. Luckily, I am fortunate enough to stay at Marriotts, and take in the hospitality. Mr. Marriott, that is a truly inspirational story and I hope this story reaches more people than your fellow blog readers.
Posted by: Shay Hust | 02/26/2007 at 12:51 PM
Mr.Marriott
I started my hotel career with the Marriott and till date no matter which ever property i move to, some hard core fundamentals taught to me at the marriott, remain strong in me.Thank you
Posted by: Sudeshna Roy | 02/26/2007 at 11:06 AM
Dear Mr. Marriott:
I am a former Marriott employee of 23 1/2 years. I was part of Marriott Management Services and now am a Sodexho employee. To this day, I still get inspiration from your father's struggles and humble start. He was a man of honor in the truest sense of the word. Education is the foundation of success. It is stories like your father's that prompted me to go back and obtain my Master's Degree in Business Administration. The majority of that cost was funded by Marriott Corp. as a benefit. I thank you for the opportunity you provided me as an employer to improve myself and grow professionally. I will forever be indebted. I still carry the card in my wallet of the thoughts your father passed on to you when you took over the reins at Marriott Corp. They are as fresh today as they were 40 years ago!!!
Posted by: Mark A. Rusin | 02/26/2007 at 04:34 AM
Dear Bill,thanks for your great blog.I'm following this blog because I'm doing a research for my report: the history and key to success of an organization.I'm glad I chose the Marriott International.From this blog I have learned Marriott International values loyalty,multiculture,education and more ,and it is a world of oppunities , which I appreciate much because I'm a loyal person,an immigrant and a hospitality student who would like to find oppunities in hotel management. My goal is to get involved with the career of Marriott international after graduation. I'm going to send my resume to local Marriott hotel for my internship.
Posted by: ZhiHao Li | 02/25/2007 at 03:40 PM
Dear Mr. Marriott: Thank you for sharing the story about your father's determination to get an education. I also read the paperback book called Marriott, by Mr. Obrien, after a stay in a Marriott Hotel. I am continually inspired by the drive, the struggle and the accomplishments of your family , you and the Company. I had the benefit of working in the Marriott family for about nine years, in full service hotels. The training and education I received there have proven to be lifelong benefits. I know you have had a meaningful effect on many people's lives by your example of hard work, value of family time, and contribution to improvement of communities and their living standards. Thank you, sir, for all you've done.
Sincerely, Ted Cleary
Posted by: Ted Cleary | 02/25/2007 at 01:12 PM
I am a teacher of 35 years and I hope I have touched my students lives the way Aaaron Tracy touched your dads.I now teach migrants in Immokalee,Fl.This is only my second year but I believe my most
rewarding year.Like your dad these migrants want to learn and want better lives for their children...as you personnal know.Thank you for giving them a chance as I hope I am.
Posted by: sue leitner | 02/23/2007 at 10:59 AM