Courtesy of Marcus F.
Name: Marcus F.
Position: Director, Loyalty and Partnership Product
Location: Los Angeles
Dream Destination: I would love to travel more throughout Europe. My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon in Spain, totally loved it! There is so much left to see in Europe!
Drink or treat of choice: Coffee! I collect coffee beans from wherever I travel.
Not a lot of people can say they have changed careers six times, and all within the same company — but Marcus can. Today, Marcus is a Director within Marriott’s Global Technology organization, but his multifaceted journey started 19 years ago with a college job as a Food & Beverage Supervisor at the Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort.
“Success is never final, and we all know who championed that phrase!” Marcus says, quoting the company founder, Bill Marriott.
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Marcus has since held positions in Group Sales, Training & Delivery, Human Resources, Systems Implementation and now Global Technology. His current role as Director, Loyalty and Partnership Product includes serving as a product manager on Marriott’s Stay and Earn team. In addition to maintaining a roadmap for innovative loyalty product projects, he ensures the team stays on track and that all changes are communicated to stakeholders including product management, development, design, and quality assurance.
“Nineteen years later, I would make the same choices and wouldn’t look back!” he says. “I like to think of it as adding [tools] to my tool belt.”
Courtesy of Marcus F.
His recipe for succeeding in such different roles and continuing to grow within the company? “Learn, network and advance,” he says. “It definitely wasn’t easy, but I applied myself by volunteering to shadow in the areas I was interested in.”
Besides shadowing peers, Marcus also took advantage of the certification and training courses Marriott offers and counted on his managers to help him make connections with the right people. “My leaders always supported my growth to advance and often reached out on my behalf to set up connections. Networking is the key to advancing within Marriott and I am thankful for the support I have received.”
Learn more about Marcus unique Marriott journey in his own words below.
What have been the 3 biggest lessons you’ve learned from your time at Marriott?
- Always keep a growth mindset, continuously challenge yourself to learn and grow.
- Networking is key to advancing your career.
- We are in the people business; we are paid to be nice to people. So, focus on service excellence and going the extra mile for the customer.
You recently participated in AfroTech — how was that experience?
I really enjoyed my experience. Marriott hosted a booth on the expo floor and there was a ton of traffic! It was great being in an environment centered around technology to connect, network, and share perspectives. I personally enjoyed connecting with the college students and sharing all that Marriott has to offer, and it was also encouraging to see so many Black people passionate about technology and excited to learn. I am proud to have been a part of it.
Courtesy of Marcus F.
How have you witnessed your impact globally?
In 2018, I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong for the SPG [Starwood Preferred Guest] integration. I was able to bring my knowledge and expertise to an area of the world that was completely foreign to me and support the teams until they were comfortable with the new process. I was able to witness the impact that I had on the team and be a part of something that was larger than myself.
Tell us about an exciting project you’ve worked on at Marriott.
Outside of my current initiative, the most exciting project I worked on was the Starwood integration. It was such a huge project to be a part of and felt historical due to the magnitude of bringing two large companies together. It was truly a 24/7 operation spanning across multiple teams and multiple continents. A lot of hard work was put in by all of us, but it was so rewarding to see it all come together in the end.
How would you describe Marriott’s culture?
Very simply, the five core values this company was founded on are still alive and well today: Put People First, Purse Excellence, Embrace Change, Act with Integrity, and Serve Our World. As I write those words, I can reflect on different times in my career when I have either experienced these values firsthand or towards a fellow associate or guest. Marriott is truly dedicated to its people and delivering hospitality on a global scale.
Courtesy of Marcus F.
Do you remember a moment when you felt supported at Marriott?
I’ve honestly felt supported throughout my career with Marriott. A moment that stands out to me is when my entire room service staff called out sick during a snowstorm and my executive team, including the General Manager, jumped in and helped me deliver orders. This stands out to me the most because when it comes down to it, everyone at Marriott is willing to step up and help each other out no matter what.
What is something that has made you feel like a part of a community at Marriott?
Participating in TakeCare really makes me feel like I’m part of a community within Marriott. While on-property, we often participated in beach clean ups, 5k walks or volunteering within the local community. Above property, there is a focus group that meets weekly on mental wellness and meditation. This has allowed me to build relationships and be part of a community of like-minded individuals. It’s also a great way to connect with other colleagues who might be going through similar situations or have similar interests while working at Marriott.
Courtesy of Marcus F.
Do you have any tips for candidates facing a Marriott interview?
They want to hear about your experiences, the challenges you have faced, and how you have been able to overcome them. My advice for candidates is to be prepared to think on your feet and be prepared to answer questions posed in both behavioral and technical terms. My experience was that Marriott staff were genuinely interested in my background and experiences, and I felt that my story resonated with them. Lastly, don’t forget to be yourself and have fun!
How have you used the Marriott Explore Rate?
I often use Explore Rate when traveling with my family wherever we go. It is hard for me to stay at a hotel that is not affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, I know that is weird, but it is true. We love to stay at multiple locations within a city, especially when traveling internationally. I also find great value in the 20-30% discount in our outlets and retail. I often frequent the local full-service hotels in my area to watch a sporting event, use the spa, or dine in the outlets. The Marriott product sells itself, with the Explore Rate it is an even better value.
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