Marriott CEO Defends DEI Policy Amid Political Pressure

At the Great Place To Work Summit held April 8–10 in Las Vegas, Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano firmly reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), despite political pressures from the Trump administration to retreat from such initiatives. Capuano told attendees that Marriott’s legacy of nearly a century includes a steadfast promise to create opportunity and belonging for all. “The winds blow, but there are some fundamental truths for those 98 years,” he said. “We welcome all to our hotels and we create opportunities for all—and fundamentally those will never change.”

Capuano acknowledged privately questioning whether standing firm on DEI was the right move, but found swift reassurance. Within 24 hours of his public stance, he received more than 40,000 emails from employees expressing gratitude and support for his leadership. These messages, he said, confirmed the alignment between Marriott’s values and its workforce.

Marriott, which employs over 800,000 people worldwide, ranks eighth on Forbes’ “Best Companies to Work For” list and boasts a 90% employee retention rate—far exceeding the hospitality industry average of 57%. According to Forbes, Capuano’s remarks challenged the narrative pushed by some Republican-led states and federal policies that portray DEI as mere social programming. Instead, he emphasized that DEI is woven into Marriott’s operational structure and identity.

Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work, stressed that organizations like Marriott outperform competitors by cultivating high levels of trust and belonging. “The 100 Best Companies have built a foundation of employee trust that fuels performance in all areas of their business — not just some areas, and not just for some people,” Bush said. He credited these environments with reducing burnout and enhancing emotional well-being, stating, “They’ve built organizations where transparency, well-being, and high levels of cooperation are cornerstones. That is how business is done: with people, not to people.”

In Capuano’s view, the consistency between what Marriott says and does isn’t just ethical — it’s essential to long-term success and community impact.

Link: Black Enterprise