Checking In as a Guest, Leaving as Family

Joy Bricker went public at the age of 79. She’s famous for being the 10-year guest at TownePlace Suites in Falls Church, Virginia. Ten years … in the same room! Now that’s loyalty and a lot of Rewards points. It also makes for a great media story. When Joy announced...

'What's Cooking' at Marriott

My career began in the restaurant business. As the company transitioned over to hotels, I never wanted to lose those roots. To this day when I visit a hotel, I often go straight to the kitchen to see what’s cooking. Now you can see what’s cooking by visiting our new...

Making the Tough Call

Listen to blog I bought President Bush’s autobiography, Decision Points, a while ago and during some quiet time over the Fourth of July weekend had an opportunity to read it. It was obvious that President Bush wrote the book himself. It included many wonderful, personal stories about him, his courtship...

Fond Farewell to a Marriott Friend

Listen to Blog On July 6, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal published extensive obituaries on my friend, George Lang, one of America’s most successful restaurateurs. George had a truly fascinating and exciting life. He was born in Hungary in 1924. He was Jewish and escaped a...

Finding My "Ticket" at a Very Young Age

I recently had another tour through our archives, which really spoke to the very early days of our company. I remember when I was four or five years old, going up into the attic of our home and finding big boxes filled with A&W Root Beer tickets. With one of...

You Can't Lead With Your Feet on the Desk

Ed Fuller, our president and managing director of international lodging, knows first hand that you can’t lead with your feet on the desk. You’ve got to get those boots on the ground, as Ed says, and I agree with him. Ed has shown that by just returning from Egypt where...

One on One with The Connection by SpringHill Suites

I recently received a few questions from The Connection by SpringHill Suites, an exclusive online community of the brand’s most passionate guests. I’m delighted to be able to interact with this loyal group of supporters and thank them for being so enthusiastic about this wonderful brand. Brian Earley asked, “If...

Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane

When a company has been around for a long time, it’s only natural that there are a lot of historical mementos, keepsakes and records that have accumulated. We keep a lot of these items from the past in our company archives at our headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. We recently refurbished...

Celebrating One of Marriott's Finest - Bill Shaw to Retire After 37 Years

Since Bill Shaw joined us 37 years ago in 1974, he has been a tremendous influence in building our company to where we are today. He became corporate controller in 1979, treasurer in 1986, chief financial officer in 1988, and president & chief operating officer in 1997. I can’t think...

From 1 to 500, From Washington to India

In the category of “I remember when,” I certainly look back and remember the opening of our first Marriott hotel in 1957. It was the biggest motor hotel in the world at the time with 365 rooms. Customers would drive in to a drive-in check-in. They didn’t have to get...