Bill Marriott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, rolled up his sleeves in the Marriott Teaching Kitchen at USG during Marriott’s 12th annual “Spirit to Serve Our Communities” day on May 18th. The annual day of service, which coincides with Marriott’s company anniversary on May 20th, benefits local nonprofits, schools, hospitals, veterans, and other community causes.
This year Mr. Marriott and several Marriott executives joined thirty University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Hotel and Restaurant Management students at USG to participate in their Campus Kitchens Project. The group sliced fruit, baked biscuits, and prepared mini meatloaves under the direction of student chefs, helping to prepare meals for families experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County.
A Day of Service, a Culture of Responsibility
From Bethesda to Beijing and beyond, 150,000 Marriott associates across the globe reached out to their local communities on May 18th, including 1800 employees from the corporate headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. The annual event builds on Marriott International’s year-round commitments to sustainability, volunteerism, and giving. Marriott's "Spirit to Serve" philosophy is entrenched in the corporate culture, representing the fundamental ideals of service to customers, community, and employees.
Marriott and USG: Celebrating Partnership
UMES students and faculty at USG were honored to host Mr. Marriott and other executives in USG’s Marriott Teaching Kitchen and recognize Marriott’s longstanding partnership to the UMES Hotel and Restaurant Management program at USG. In 2009, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation awarded a $240,000 grant to create the Marriott Hospitality Center on USG’s campus. The generosity of the Marriott foundation has allowed for state-of-the-art updates to the culinary learning environment, including the latest point-of-sale and property management software and business simulation tools. Additionally, the Center is a compliment to the Marriott Hospitality Center at Montgomery College, where several students in the program complete their first two years of coursework.
In the room with Bill Marriott: Leadership Advice from the Top of the Chain
After the meal preparation, Mr. Marriott participated in a question and answer session with students, faculty, and representatives from USG, hosted by Mari Snyder, Vice President of Social Responsibility and Community Development, Marriott International, and member of the USG Board of Advisors. Mr. Marriott discussed the future of Marriott, the outlook for the hospitality industry, and offered advice to the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in the room.