The University of Utah recently announced a $25 million gift from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation to create J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute. The program is designed to help students across diverse disciplines to develop hospitality-influenced leadership skills.
“The Marriott Foundation sees this as an investment in the next generation of hospitality leaders who will continue Bill Marriott’s legacy of excellence, integrity and service,” says a Marriott spokesperson.
“This isn’t just about creating a talent pipeline for the hospitality industry. The institute aims to elevate hospitality as a leadership philosophy across the global economy. The foundation envisions students from all academic backgrounds gaining the relationship-centered mindset needed to excel in today’s experience economy, where exceptional service and human connection create meaningful differentiation.”
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According to a press release, J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute will serve as a multidisciplinary hub, integrating hospitality practices into academic fields outside of the industry, such as business, healthcare, design, technology and engineering.
The institute aims to go beyond traditional classrooms, offering programs like global internships and leadership development, as well as on-campus hospitality training and industry-backed projects and access to initiatives like The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. Inaugural Executive Director Marc Brown will oversee the Marriott Foundation project.
“The University is taking a thoughtful, phased approach to implementation. Initial planning is underway, and we’ll engage with stakeholders across campus and industry partners to refine the programming strategy,” the spokesperson says.
A start date on the initiative has not been announced.
