Since 1927, Marriott has valued diversity and inclusion. Embracing differences is part of the way we do business around the world, and essential to our success as a leading hospitality company with a growing global portfolio. Diversity and inclusion are closely tied to our core values and our strategic business goals, so they are embedded into every facet of our business.
We believe our core strength lies in our ability to embrace differences and create opportunities for all employees, guests, owners and franchisees, and suppliers. Marriott’s diversity and inclusion policy is a company-wide priority supported by our board-level Committee of Excellence.
Our commitment to welcoming all customers includes engaging with diverse groups, creating inclusive guest experiences, and supporting key diversity initiatives. Including advocating to diversify our customer base through “Travel is Trade” reform.
Today the company is consistently recognized as a top employer and has one of the most diverse and inclusive workforces. Current efforts include: Cross-cultural workshops, the Women’s Leadership Development Initiative, and training for executive-level women for participation on corporate boards.
Our commitment to diversify our ownership portfolio not only provides a competitive advantage but also enhances sustainable business growth and economic and social vitality. In 2005, Marriott’s Diverse Ownership Initiative was created to introduce successful minority and women business owners to the hotel industry.
Marriott is an active corporate member of multinational organizations that support the development of diverse and historically excluded suppliers. Over the last decade, Marriott has spent nearly $4 billion with diverse suppliers.
At Marriott, we know that it is essential for our leaders to truly embrace and understand different cultures. As we evolve our diversity and inclusion goals to support global growth, Marriott’s core value of “putting people first” creates new opportunities in communities around the world.
We partner with nonprofits that provide employment skills and training to vulnerable youth, youth with disabilities, and members of the homeless community.
Community Impact: Marriott Lima Hotel employs 350 associates and contributes more than $10 million annually to the Peruvian economy through salaries, supplies and services.
Ritz-Carlton hotels in Asia Pacific introduce youth to hotel careers through our award-winning Succeed through Service partnership with local schools in disadvantaged communities.
Community Impact: In India, we expect to grow from 16 to more than 50 hotels by 2015, including Fairfield by Marriott(SM), which was specifically designed for the market.
Our hotels offer employment skills training and vocational opportunities through a variety of charitable partners including SOS Children’s Villages in Continental Europe and The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge program in the United Kingdom.
Community Impact: In 2012, our hotels contributed $300,000, volunteered nearly 4,000 hours of time and sponsored more than 250 young people across Europe in vocational training and employment courses.
Marriott partners with Akilah Institute for Women, a program that provides affordable, higher education for Rwandan women from disadvantaged backgrounds. We trained 17 young Rwandan women to work as supervisors in our first Sub-Saharan Africa hotel.
Community Impact: Marriott expects to increase its presence in Africa more than six-fold, from eight to 50 hotels, by 2020. We anticipate hiring nearly 10,000 associates.