Marriott on the Move

Since I was very young, I’ve known how important vacations can be to families, especially since they’ve meant so much to mine.  Whatever we did during our vacations – from holidays at the beach to summers by the lake in New Hampshire – we had a fantastic and wonderful time together.

When I got married, my wife Donna and I knew vacations would be a very important part of our family tradition.  Today, we all try to get together several times a year.  I feel so fortunate to have this time to discover new places and share these wonderful experiences with people I love.

Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of living a healthy life and watching what I eat.  I spend 45 minutes on the treadmill 5 nights a week and I do Pilates twice a week because I love my work and my family and want to enjoy both for many years to come.

We’re working hard at Marriott to make sure our guests are well-informed about what they’re eating, also.  For example, a few years ago, we announced that we were ensuring none of the meals served in our hotels contained trans fats.  We also revamped the menus at many of the restaurants in our Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance brands to indicate which meal options are healthy.

And, now, I’m excited to tell you that our Courtyard brand is hopping on the health-conscious band wagon by including calorie counts for all items on the menu at the brand’s new food and beverage outlet, The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect.®

I just returned from China a few weeks ago, and next week I’m heading back out on the road – this time across the pond to London.  I’m really excited about this trip as I get to visit some hotels, take in some history and, later, spend time with my entire family.

My first stop in London and will be visiting the St. Pancras train station where next year we’ll be opening St. Pancras London, A Renaissance Hotel.  I’m a history buff, and I’m thrilled to be opening a hotel at such an historic site.  The Victorian building that will house our hotel first opened in 1873 and is classified as Grade 1 English Heritage, meaning we will follow special procedures set forth by English Heritage as we restore and renovate this beautiful and historic building.

We’re in the hospitality business and nothing gives us more pleasure than welcoming our guests for life’s most memorable moments, an important business negotiation, or simply a good night’s sleep.

Sometimes, situations outside our control create inhospitable conditions, like the tragic events that recently unfolded in Bangkok. That’s when our focus shifts to protecting our guests’ personal well-being and doing our very best to ensure that they have a hotel to come back to.

July marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, something our company has supported with all our heart and soul.  After all, we are in the hospitality business and we welcome everyone.

That’s why last night I attended a very special event we hold each year, the annual fund raising dinner in Washington, D.C., to support Bridges from school to work.  It’s a program that is run by the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities and is chaired by my brother Richard.  The purpose of the program is to help young people with disabilities, ages 17-22, make the tough transition from school into satisfying and rewarding jobs and careers.