Marriott-Sorenson Centre for Hospitality Leadership set to be established

Thursday, February 25, 2021

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation have announced that the establishment of the Marriott-Sorenson Centre for Hospitality Leadership will take place soon. The location has been set up to honour of Arne Sorenson, Marriott International Chief Executive who passed away earlier this month from pancreatic cancer. The foundation will provide a $20 million endowment to launch the Centre at Howard University, a leading historically black college.

In addition, Marriott International announced the creation of the Arne Sorenson Hospitality Fund which will support the critical programmatic and career development elements of the centre. The fund is dedicated to helping the industry build leadership talent in hospitality. Marriott has pledged the first donation of $1 million and is inviting other companies, organisations and individuals from all industries to support the initiative.

The Marriott-Sorenson Centre for Hospitality Leadership, which will be housed in Howard University’s School of Business, will feature a best-in-class program that expands educational and professional opportunities for Howard students and aims to develop future executives in the hospitality industry. J.W. ‘Bill’ Marriott, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Marriott International said that no better could have been given to the amazing legacy of Arne Sorenson than to focus on educating and advancing future leaders of the hospitality industry.

He shared that Arne’s passion for creating a culture of opportunity brought real change in the executive ranks of Marriott but work remains to be done. He mentioned that the industry needs a pipeline of diverse leadership talent and that is exactly what this centre will achieve. He said authorities are proud to bring Marriott International and the family foundation together to partner with the esteemed university in the city of founding.

He informed that the innovative program will foster leadership excellence and help drive greater inclusion at the most senior levels of the hospitality industry and added that he hopes other hospitality companies will join the effort in designing the program and providing experiential opportunities to generate talent that will meet the needs of the industry well into the future.

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