BERLIN, GERMANY—J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO of Marriott International, has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), scheduled for March 8 to 10, 2010, at the InterContinental Berlin, Germany. The IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who, over his or her lifetime, has made a significant difference in the hospitality industry by their actions, deeds, and great accomplishments.
Since 1975, when Marriott opened his opened his first hotel in Europe, until now, his successes are many and the hotel industry worldwide has admired his business acumen in creating one of the largest hotel groups around the globe as well as his leadership on the environmental front. With his leadership, Marriott International today has more than 3,200 lodging properties located in 68 countries and territories and has been named as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies To Work for in 2009.
Marriott has also made an indelible mark on the industry in the past 20 years with his strong commitment, through Marriott International, to environmental preservation. Key elements of the campaign include global conservation to reduce and offset Marriott International’s carbon footprint; reduction of fuel and water consumption by 25 percent over the next 10 years with installation of solar power at 40 hotels by 2017; engagement of Marriott’s top 40 vendors to supply price-neutral green products across 12 categories of its $10 billion supply chain and empower Marriott International hotel development partners to site, design and construct new hotels according to green standards by updating Marriott International’s design guidelines in line with LEED standards by the end of 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Marriott International with its 2009 Sustained Excellence award and placed the Energy Star label on more than 275 hotels, more than any other hotel company.
Tribute to Responsible Business Practices
“IHIF is pleased to award Bill Marriott with this prestigious award due to his commitment to the hospitality industry and his responsible actions in regard to the environment,” said Jon Leibowitz, EVP of Questex Media Group, co-organizer of IHIF.
“We believe that his integrated approach to combining business with a green strategy sets a positive example about how a hotel company can make a big difference in the world,” stated Jonathan Worsley, co-organizer of IHIF. “He has continually made outstanding contributions to our industry and we are delighted to present this award to him as a shining example for us all.”
Marriott is actively involved in various boards and councils including the U.S. Travel and Tourism Promotional Advisory Board, the executive committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council, the National Business Council, the board of trustees of the National Urban League, a director of the National Geographic Society, and a director of the Naval Academy Endowment Trust. He has served as chairman of the President’s Export Council, a group that advises the U.S. president on matters relating to export trade, and has served as chairman of the Leadership Council of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is selected by a committee comprised of the IHIF’s patrons, sponsors, hosts, and organizers.
The Lifetime Achievement award presentation will take place on March 10 at the InterContinental Berlin luncheon.
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