If there was a Mount Rushmore for hospitality legends, no one would deny a spot for J. Willard Marriott Jr. Known informally as Bill, Marriott began his astounding career in high school, washing dishes at the Hot Shoppe restaurant chain founded by his parents. By 1956, they had created the Marriott hotel brand and granted Bill’s request to manage its first property, the Twin Bridges Marriott Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. “The hotel wasn’t doing well,” he says, “but we turned things around.” By 1969, the company had opened its first global property.
The inaugural Courtyard came in 1983, followed by the JW Marriott a year later. The acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016, Marriott says, “resulted in a dramatic expansion of our ability to provide unparalleled guest experiences around the world.” With 30 brands—including Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, Autograph, EDITION, Renaissance, and Bulgari—in 130 countries and territories, and a workforce of more than 700,000 under the Marriott umbrella, its leader considers his life “an incredible journey.”
Over the years, Marriott has developed a passion for design. “It has always been one of my favorite parts of the job. I hated beige and wanted color in everything. Now that we are global, we are lucky to work with some of the finest designers in the world. I get a kick out of it.”
At 86 years old, the octogenarian’s interest in technology has not lagged either. He speaks with enthusiasm about a partnership with Amazon to introduce Alexa for Hospitality, and of Alibaba Group, which will facilitate facial recognition technology at check-in—with more innovations expected in 2019. Marriott also likes to keep his eye on every detail, such as replacing closets with hooks in some hotels. “I’m told Millennials don’t like to hang up their clothes,” he quips.
He credits his father, Willard Sr., for much of the corporation’s success. “He founded the company on five core principles: put people first, pursue excellence, act with integrity, embrace change, and serve the world. I’ve learned that if you want to solve a problem, you have to get people to collaborate with you. You can’t say, ‘I’m the boss, do what I tell you.’
“My dad always said that success is never final,” he continues. “That means that we will continue to grow, take risks, and listen to our customers and associates.”
When asked if he had ever considered another career outside of hospitality, he says, simply, “I haven’t. I love this business. I always have.”
