Marriott International’s diversity initiatives continue to expand, even as the United States government under President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes in both public and private sectors.
The hotel group’s strategy stands in contrast to the administration’s policies, which have included executive orders targeting DEI practices in federal contracting and education.
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Expanding hotel ownership among underrepresented groups
In 2022, Marriott launched “Bridging the Gap,” a $50 million initiative aimed at increasing hotel ownership among historically underrepresented groups, including Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/First Nation individuals, and women.
The programme offers financial and other incentives to qualified owners and franchisees with controlling equity interests in select branded projects in the US and Canada.
Over three years, these development projects are expected to reach $1 billion in total asset value for their ownership groups.
Fostering future hospitality leaders
Marriott has also partnered with Howard University to establish the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership, supported by a $20 million endowment from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
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By GlobalDataThe centre aims to train the next generation of hospitality and travel industry executives from Howard’s business school, particularly addressing the lack of diversity in the industry’s senior levels.
Internal commitments to diversity
Within its operations, Marriott has set goals to achieve gender parity for global executives by the end of 2023 and to increase the representation of people of colour in U.S. executive positions to 25% by the end of 2025.
The company’s DEI strategy is integrated into its human capital approach, focusing on growing leaders, investing in associates, and providing access to opportunities.
These initiatives come as the Trump administration has taken steps to curtail DEI programmes. In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order terminating DEI-related factors in federal hiring and contracting, asserting that such practices constitute illegal discrimination.
The order also directs federal agencies to investigate private sector DEI programmes.
Despite these federal actions, Marriott continues to implement its DEI-focused programmes, maintaining its commitment to fostering inclusivity across all levels of its operations.
