The Natural Gas Revolution Begins in Newark

Ready for my first ride in the Courtyard's green van Marriott has a companywide program called “Spirit to Preserve.” It’s a global effort to protect the planet. It’s up to each hotel to make it happen. I was visiting the Courtyard Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel around Earth Day and...

If Phyllis Wasn't Here, I Don't Know if I Would be

Phyllis has guarded my door for 25 years I’ve known Phyllis Hester for 45 years. The first 20, we went to church together. The last 25 were as my executive assistant guarding the entrance to my office. She’s one of this year’s recipients of Marriott’s “Awards of Excellence,” our top...

No Boring Annual Reports Here

When you think of the words “annual report,” you probably think of a lot of pages of small numbers that only an accountant could understand. But many annual reports are beautiful magazine-like corporate narratives. It’s a chance to tell a story beyond the numbers. That’s why – even though the...

One Year Later, My In-Box is Half Full

It’s been a year since I stepped down as Chairman & CEO and assumed the role of Executive Chairman of the Board. As I said in handing over the reins to Arne Sorenson, “This business is getting too complicated.” My longtime assistant, Phyllis Hester, told me, “It’s your own fault....

T.M.A. – Too Many Acronyms!

I haven’t learned much over the years. But one thing I have learned is, we have far too many acronyms. It started with government agencies (GOV), and it has invaded corporate (CORP) headquarters (HQ). Like an invasive species, it’s threatening to choke off innovation. Growing up in Washington, D.C., it’s...

Eco-Tourism Makes Environmental Ambassadors of Us All

Jean-Michel Cousteau and I enjoyed the green environment of St. Thomas I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but I’m not sure “eco-tourist” has ever been one of them, until now. I just returned from an early spring break in St. Thomas with my wife, Donna, where...

Relax: A Guidepost to Health

A few months ago, I blogged about a letter my dad wrote me when I became president in 1964. I was only 31 at the time. Included with the letter was his list of guideposts to being a good manager and leader. The letter meant a lot to me, and...

Tough Interviews Are All in the Family

I’ve been interviewed by some tough customers: business journalists, Wall Street analysts, hotel owners, stockholders. I didn’t think anyone could throw one by me. Boy, was I was wrong. There was another type of interviewer that I couldn’t prepare for, an interviewer with unprecedented “insider” knowledge – my own kids!...

“Fast Forward” to a Great Career in Travel

Can you imagine that a record one billion people traveled outside their country in 2012? That’s one in seven people on this earth. Well, they really did. I’ve always said that the travel industry offers the best jobs and the greatest opportunities of any business in the world. I’ve never...

Unearthing Incan Relics in Cusco, Peru

Every hotel has a story. Some are built new from the ground up. Some are historical buildings that are renovated and remodeled. But once in awhile, while digging a foundation, we uncover history. In Peru, while building the new JW Marriott Hotel Cusco, the construction site turned into an archeological...