ANNOUNCING
THE MARRIOTT-SORENSON CENTER FOR HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
IN RECOGNITION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER IN HOSPITALITY WHOSE VISION TRANSFORMED THE BUSINESS OF TRAVEL
Arne M. Sorenson (1958-2021)
Donate to the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund or Scholarship Fund
Make a gift to the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund to honor the legacy of the late President and CEO of Marriott International and help Howard University build the next generation of hospitality industry leaders. The fund, established by Marriott International, will support the programmatic and career development elements of the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership, which will be housed within the Howard University School of Business. The Center is being created by a generous gift from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
The Fund will be used to design a best-in-class program and curriculum that expands educational and professional opportunities for Howard students interested in hospitality. The aim is to develop future executives in the industry.
You can also make a gift to the Arne M. Sorenson Scholarship Fund to support student scholarship for Howard University students interested in studying hospitality leadership. Howard University students are amongst the brightest, and have the ability to create an everylasting legacy in the industry, like Arne. A donation to the Scholarship Fund, will ensure that a financial burden does not prevent our students from developing their leadership skills at the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership.
If you require assistance making a corporate contribution or have any questions about your gift, please contact Princess Gamble at 202-238-2340 or princess.gamble@howard.edu
About Arne M. Sorenson
Mr. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996 and held a number of positions before becoming chief executive officer in 2012, making history as the first person to hold the post without the Marriott family name. Mr. Sorenson built his tenure on the bedrock of Marriott International’s core values: putting people first, pursuing excellence, acting with integrity, embracing change and serving our world. An outspoken corporate leader, Mr. Sorenson advocated for human rights, environmental sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Under his leadership, Marriott grew its long-standing and recognized commitment to welcoming all and ensuring inclusive opportunity.
Building off that legacy, the Marriott family foundation and Howard University will work together to form a hospitality industry advisory council to design a program that will draw on the university’s ideal location in the geographic heart of the hospitality industry—Greater Washington, D.C.—where Marriott and many other hospitality companies are headquartered. In addition to advising on the development of a world-class hospitality curriculum, the center’s advisory council members will serve as guest lecturers and mentors and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students. The council will include representatives from Howard, the Marriott family foundation and Marriott International as well as leaders from across multiple segments of the hospitality industry, association leaders and academics who together will develop a hospitality program focused on traditional and experiential learning opportunities.