Following the political shift from Donald Trump’s presidency, Marriott’s CEO, Anthony Capuano, reported receiving over 40,000 emails from employees globally, expressing support after he publicly backed the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative.
At a recent workplace summit, Capuano reflected on the impact of Trump’s executive order on DEI, which prompted some serious self-reflection within Marriott.
He recounted, “That day [the DEI executive order] was announced, I gathered with the senior leadership team.” Capuano emphasized, “We welcome everything… We create opportunities for everyone… that’s who we are as a company.”
After expressing this sentiment, he returned to his hotel, hoping to make a positive impact. Almost immediately, his inbox filled with messages from Marriott Associates around the world, expressing their gratitude.
His remarks came shortly after Trump issued an order to dismantle federal DEI offices, revoking several diversity initiatives introduced by Joe Biden. This included halting race- and gender-based preferences in hiring and enrollment and establishing a Federal Aviation Administration policy focused on DEI hiring practices.
Other major corporations, like Amazon, Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart, Ford, and Toyota, have followed suit, ramping up their internal DEI efforts as well.
The next day, Capuano addressed the DEI conversation directly at the ALIS Conference, a significant hotel investment event, where DEI was a hot topic of discussion, highlighted through multiple media engagements.
He referenced Marriott’s nearly century-long history, mentioning, “We’ve been around for almost a century, and the political winds have taken us in various directions, especially since we operate in close to 150 countries. Yet, certain fundamental truths have guided us for the past 98 years.” He underscored the importance of inclusion, saying, “We’ve always been about welcoming everyone and creating opportunities for all. That’s our core identity.” Capuano reiterated the impact of his stance, noting that within 24 hours, he received 40,000 thank-you emails from associates worldwide.
