Students Sit Down and Chat with David Marriott

 

 

David MarriottMarch 30, 2009

Marriott Heir Shares Experiences with Future Hoteliers


It’s not everyday that business students get to hobnob with iconic industry leaders, but that’s just what Hotel and Tourism Management (HTM) majors at JMU’s College of Business did earlier this month. In fact, they went right to the top. Well, almost.

Heir to the Marriott dynasty, David Marriott, son of the hotel chain’s current CEO Bill Marriott, visited JMU with CoB alumnae Amy McPherson, who serves as executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing. The two were also joined by Steve Bauman, vice president of Human Resources for Marriott.

After a private dinner with select faculty and students, Marriott spoke to a standing-room-only audience about family, the economy, Marriott’s SERVE program and the company’s leadership in the green movement.

David Marriott with HTM students at JMUBut the highlight of the visit for 15 HTM juniors was an informal discussion around a conference table where Marriott shared his personal experience working in the family business and answered student questions frankly.

“This was a rare opportunity for our majors to hear from one of the world’s leaders in the hospitality industry. The insight he shared gave our students an insiders view of the industry in light of today’s changing and challenging economy,” said Michael O’Fallon, director of CoB’s HTM program. “It’s just another example of how we value interjecting our students into the real world.”


Marriott currently serves as the regional vice president of market management in Marriott’s Eastern Region.  He is responsible for leading the hotel operations at 14 Marriott properties in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Michael O'Fallon (JMU-HTM), Amy McPhearson (Marriott), and David Marriott