How Bill Marriott Balanced Church, Family, and Business
Bill Marriott is the man behind the Marriott brand we all know and love today. In fact if you’ve ever taken a vacation, there’s a good chance you’ve stayed at one of his hotels. His vision grew his family business into the world’s largest global hotel chain. Now with over 6,500 properties across 127 countries and territories, The Marriott hotel company is one of the most successful brands out there. With his more than 50 years leading the company, there is much to be learned from Bill’s experience and expertise.
Clearly a successful businessman, Marriott was also a devoted husband and father. A family man who even made it home for dinner whenever he was in town.
“He was always home for dinner every single night at 6:15 to 6:30 whenever he was in town,” said Marriott’s daughter, Debbie Harrison. “Whenever we had a school vacation, Christmas vacation, spring vacation, he would take us somewhere and be with us.”
His secret to a great marriage? Hamburgers from McDonalds and a weekly movie with his wife.
“Just before I was going to graduate from school I started dating Donna and fell madly in love with her,” Marriott said. “And through the years, Donna and I kept our romance alive by going to a movie once a week on date night. And we usually go to McDonald’s and have a hamburger.”
This sweet couple proves that love doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The most important thing that matters, is time.
Not only did Bill find time for his wife and children, he spent hours devoted to his callings within the Church, according to his son, David.
“As busy as he was at work, he always made time to serve in the Church,” David Marriott said. “When I was growing up he was a stake president, and he worked probably 30 hours a week at that calling in addition to working 60 to 70 hours a week on the business.”
This man of faith made prayer and God a high priority in his life. Even with the many demands from his professional life, Marriott made sure that the gospel stayed at number one and even credits to some of his success as a businessman from his faith in the Church.
Bill Marriott and his family recall the day that changed their lives forever, and the one prompting that saved Bill Marriott's life.
“I think my faith has helped me tremendously, in setting an example in the company,” Marriott said.
A new biography, Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final, reflects on the extraordinary life of Bill Marriott and shares lessons that he learned along his journey. Readers will learn the fascinating details about the successes and failures of Bill’s business ventures and relate to his challenges of balancing roles as a CEO, a husband and father, and a man of faith. From his half-billion-dollar venture and “bet-the-farm” move to build the New York Marriott Marquis hotel, to the heartbreaking loss of an adult son whose body slowly degenerated from Mitochondrial Disease, to the billions of dollars donated to medical research, the biography of Bill Marriott tells the remarkable story of a man who had the vision to create a multi-billion dollar business, who understood the power of giving, and lived the creed that hard work will pay off but success is never final.
“Bill Marriott is one of the most caring and big-hearted people I know. In 2002, Bill graciously agreed to serve as Chair of the Leadership Council for the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. Bill helped me raise more than $25 million for America’s school libraries … I am a witness to his generosity, and I am thrilled that this fascinating biography will share the stories of his purposeful life with readers all over the world.”