J.W. Marriott, Jr.’s Iconic Influence Seen In His Company & Many Others

Posted 5/27/2009 - 4:29:33 PM

| | | | | | | | | |
What are these?

Congratulations to Mr. J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. as well as Fred Malek, Jr. and Trip Schneck , both from TIG Global, for being honored with the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration’s First Annual Icon of the Industry Award and Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship’s Hospitality Innovator Award, respectively. Both awards will be presented during a dinner being held in each of the recipient’s honor on June 2 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Back in the Oct. 7, 2007 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS®, I used this space to congratulate Stephen Bollenbach for being selected as the 2008 American Lodging Investment Summit Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. While citing some of the accomplishments during his 40-plus year career, one of the milestones that I referenced was him leading the restructuring of the Marriott Corp., a move that ultimately resulted in the formation of two companies—Marriott International and Host Marriott, which is now Host Hotels & Resorts.

Ever since writing that column I’ve wondered just how many Marriott alumni over the years have gone on to run companies both within the hospitality industry as well as in other sectors.

Quite obviously, there’s a long and distinguished list of ex-Marriott executives that have remained in the hotel industry to run some of its most powerful companies, such as Chris Nassetta of Hilton Hotels Corp.; Stephen Joyce of Choice Hotels International; Fred Malek and Leland Pillsbury of Thayer Lodging Group. All have Marriott DNA running through their veins. All have had the experience, and I’m sure each would add, the privilege of working for Mr. Marriott.

Mr. Marriott’s list of accomplishments is extensive to say the least. Under his guidance, Marriott International has become one of the world’s largest lodging firms. During his 50-year reign the company has grown from a family restaurant business to a global giant with nearly 3,000 properties in just under 70 countries. But those are just numbers. His legacy will be far more than just Marriott’s phenomenal growth during his tenure. He will be recognized as a leader whose intuition about people’s abilities was second to none. He not only created a culture for the world-renowned company he built, but the essence of that culture has found its way into policies, procedures and guidelines of many other successful hotel firms around the world.

There is absolutely no one more deserving of this latest award than Mr. J.W. Marriott, Jr.