J. W. Marriott, Jr.

John Willard "Bill" Marriott, Jr. (b. March 25, 1932, Washington, D.C.) is
the Chairman and CEO of Marriott International.

LIFE AND SUCCESS

J.W. Marriott, Jr. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott
International, Inc., one of the world’s largest lodging companies. His
leadership spans more than 50 years, and he has taken Marriott from a
family restaurant business to a global lodging company with more than
3,200 properties in 67 countries and territories.

Mr. Marriott’s vision for the company is to be the world’s lodging leader.
It is grounded in his intense focus on taking care of the guest, extensive
operational knowledge, the development of a highly skilled and diverse
workforce, and offering the best portfolio of lodging brands in the
industry.
Under his leadership, Marriott continues to enjoy strong customer,
owner and franchise preference, steady growth and profitability.
Known throughout the industry for his hands-on management style, Mr.
Marriott has built a highly regarded culture that emphasizes the
importance of Marriott’s people and recognizes the value they bring to the
organization.
Marriott International’s “spirit to serve” culture is based on a business
philosophy originated more than 80 years ago by his parents, J. Willard
and Alice S. Marriott – “Take care of the associate, and they’ll take care of
the guest.” Today, approximately 300,000 Marriott associates are serving
guests in Marriott managed and franchised properties throughout the
world.
Marriott International is also well known as a great place to work and for
its commitment to diversity, social responsibility and community
engagement. It has consistently been named to Fortune’s lists of most
admired companies, best places to work and top companies for minorities.
At an early age, Mr. Marriott developed a passion for the business and
worked in a variety of positions in the Hot Shoppes restaurant chain during
his high school and college years.
He joined the company full-time in 1956 and soon afterward, took over
management of Marriott’s first hotel. Mr. Marriott became executive vice
president of the company, then its president, in 1964. He was elected chief
executive officer in 1972, and chairman of the board in 1985.
Regarded as a lodging innovator, Mr. Marriott began shifting the company
in the late 1970s from hotel ownership to property management and
franchising. His strategic decision allowed the company to accelerate its
growth and broaden its leadership position.
That transformation culminated in the company’s split into Marriott
International, a hotel management and franchising company, headed by
Mr. Marriott, and Host Marriott International, a hotel ownership company
chaired by his younger brother, Richard Marriott.
Mr. Marriott has also worked to compile a family of 18 lodging brands
that range from limited service to full service luxury hotels that meet the
needs of any traveler.
Today, the company manages and franchises hotels and resorts under the
Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Bulgaria, The Ritz-Carlton,
Courtyard, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, Town Place Suites, and
Fairfield Inn brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership
resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, The Ritz-Carlton
Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and Horizons brands; operates
Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing
through its Marriott Executes division; operates conference centres; and
manages golf courses.
Mr. Marriott serves on the board of The J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott
Foundation. He is a member of the National Business Council and the
Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council. He also
serves as the chairman of the Mayo Clinic Capital Campaign.
Mr. Marriott recently served on the Board of Trustees of the National
Geographic Society, director of the United States Naval Academy
Foundation, chairman of the President’s Export Council (PEC) and
member of the Secure Borders Open Doors Advisory Committee
(SBODAC) and the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB).
Mr. Marriott attended St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., earned a
B.S. degree in banking and finance from the University of Utah and served
as an officer in the United States Navy.
He is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. He is married to the former Donna Garff. They have four children
and 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
On May 4, 2006, Marriott received an honorary doctorate of humanities
from Weber State University during the university's 127th
commencement. He also delivered the commencement address during
these proceedings.
Marriott's book The Spirit To Serve (1997), written with Kathi Ann Brown
and with a Foreword by James C. Collins, is a personal view of the rise of
the Marriott company and outlines principles of business success.
JW Marriott Jr. is a 2006 nominee for the Hotel Travel Personality of the
Year award from World Travel Awards.
While CEO of Marriott International in 2008, J. Willard Marriott Jr.
earned a total compensation of $8,314,136, which included a base salary
of $1,253,654, a cash bonus of $904,700, no stock, options granted of
$5,750,012, and other compensation of $405,77