The Buzz Around Europe's Green Efforts

I recently returned from a cruise through Europe. As always, I had a tough time separating work and leisure. I can’t come into a port or a city without resisting the impulse to stop by some of our hotels and visit some competitors. What struck me on this trip is...

Awards of Excellence

My father often said “take good care of the associates and they’ll take good care of the customers.” That’s at the heart of how we do things at Marriott every day. Our associates around the world put people first - whether it's inside the hotels or outside in the communities...

Welcoming the World

A USA Today headline caught my eye the other day. It read: "Chinese travelers are seeing the USA in record numbers." A follow up article said: “NYC’s Marriott Marquis ready for Chinese visitors.” What’s happening in U.S. tourism is really exciting. Barriers are being removed and we’re taking steps to...

Building Bridges to Opportunity

One of my core business beliefs is that great companies exist for more fundamental purposes than just to make money. At Marriott, we “open doors to a world of opportunity.” That phrase connotes how much we want our associates to grow during their careers. But “opening doors to a world...

Living the American Dream

My family has lived the American Dream. My father started out herding sheep and saw an opportunity and drove cross-country from Utah to Washington, D.C. to open up an A&W Root Beer stand. That was way back in 1927. Many of us forget where we came from, but not me....

World of Opportunity: Chance Encounters

Listen to Blog After 33 years with Marriott International, Nusrat Mirza learned first-hand how our company can open doors to a world of opportunity. Nusrat’s story goes back to 1978, when he became a restaurant supervisor in one of our properties. Today, he’s the General Manager of our beautiful Renaissance...

The Year of the Dragon

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! 2012 is the year of the Dragon. Let the week-long celebrations begin. That’s right, an entire week of brilliant fireworks and colorful parades. It’s truly an amazing spectacle. Think Times Square – but a whole lot bigger! Our Marriott hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and Sanya, will...

Monumental Courage and Conviction of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (originally posted for MLK memorial dedication Oct. 2011)

My parents founded our company in 1927, nearly 30 years before the Civil Rights Movement. It didn’t matter to them who or what you were, you were welcome. Back then in the South, here in Washington, D.C., this was a courageous move. But they stuck to their beliefs. Martin Luther...

Incredible India

India is truly an incredible country. There’s something old and something new everywhere you turn. It’s experiencing tremendous growth and our hotels are right in the middle of it. Most people’s impressions of India are not nearly as up to date as the changes taking place there. They may have...

From Herdsmen to Hotel Workers

Listen to blog When we open the doors to a new hotel, we also open the doors to a world of opportunity for people who may never have imagined that they could work for a company like Marriott. Philip Papadopoulos is the general manager of the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort...