December 15, 2016Dear Associates:With the New Year quickly approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. Whether you’re new to the Marriott International family or a long-tenured associate, we appreciate all that you do each day to take care of our guests, owners and each other.
This year will surely go down as one of the most exciting and dynamic in the company’s history. We completed the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, creating the world’s largest hotel company with more than 6,000 hotels in 120 countries. Our 30 brands are now home to almost 1.2 million rooms and are served by nearly 650,000 associates, managed and franchised, and we have nearly 420,000 rooms – over half of which are outside of North America – in the development pipeline. Incredible. And while that is exciting news, being the largest isn’t in and of itself an accomplishment – it’s what we do going forward that will define who we are as a company and how we will continue to grow. While the merger dominated the news this year, we had many other shining moments that demonstrated how we’re continuing to make progress. In 2016, we welcomed millions of guests in new hotels around the world. We opened doors to the first Marriott Hotel in Rwanda, the Kigali Marriott Hotel, contributing to the country’s economic transformation. We also introduced the world’s first hotel “incubator,” the M Beta at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. This unique property allows guests to help us transform the traditional hotel experience. Starwood became the first U.S. hotel company to sign a deal in Cuba in nearly 60 years, and the Four Points Havana has opened its doors. And, we successfully linked our two loyalty programs, a feat no other consumer company has accomplished on the first day of an acquisition, thanks to the hard work and sleepless nights of countless associates. Our company won numerous awards worldwide, from “2016 World’s Most Ethical Company” by Ethisphere to “Company of the Year” by LATINAStyle. Our TakeCare program is keeping associates happy, healthy and mindful while our Spirit to Serve guides how we make a difference in the communities where we live and work with countless volunteer hours across the globe. Now that’s making an impact!Thank you for being our company’s biggest advocates, for doing your part to give back, for treating our guests like family, and above all, treating your fellow associates with respect and kindness.Happy holidays to you and your families! Sincerely,