Death of Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson shocks hotel industry, leads to touching tributes
The death of Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer left the hotel industry in shock this week, sparking touching tributes from former employees, friends and even competitors.
“I am deeply saddened by the heartbreaking news of Arne Sorenson’s passing,” Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta said in a Facebook post. “He was an incredibly respected man, a leader in hospitality, and a devoted husband, father and friend.”
Sorenson “unexpectedly passed away” Monday at the age of 62, the hotel giant said in a statement.
The Tokyo-born executive became the company’s third CEO — and first without the Marriott last name — in 2012. Four years later, he led Marriott’s $13-billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, turning the company into the world’s largest hotel chain.
Those who worked with Sorenson over the years praised him as a compassionate leader who cared about his employees as well as social issues.
“Arne was a visionary leader driven by passion for his people, the millions of associates around the world who worked for and with him and by a desire to spread a love for travel,” read a joint statement by Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and Mark Hoplamazian, the group’s board chairman.
“He was an icon in our industry, dedicated to improving the lodging experience for the guests we serve and the people who serve them,” they wrote, adding that Sorenson’s impact on the lives of the people who knew him is “profound.”
His death came just days after he announced he would temporarily reduce his schedule to focus on treating his cancer. In the Feb. 2 announcement, Sorenson said he was optimistic about his treatment and vowed to remain engaged in the business as much as possible.
Gregory Miller, a former longtime Marriott employee, said he was “gutted” by the news.
“I consider Arne’s legacy to Marriott and the hospitality industry as immeasurable,” he told CNBC. “Perhaps one of Arne’s greatest legacies is his principled and gracious leadership, an ‘esprit de corps,’ that I feel has been ingrained by Marriott’s global associates today and certainly for generations to come.”
Several journalists who covered Sorenson described him as unusually accessible.
“The passing of Arne Sorenson is about as shocking of a way to start the work week,” Sean McCracken, of Hotel News Now, tweeted after the announcement. “Truly a titan of the industry and an incredibly easy person to talk to/interact with.”
Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who was on Marriott’s board and knew Sorenson, also shared a message on Twitter.
“With the sudden passing of Marriott International CEO Arne Sorensen, the world’s largest hotel company loses a leader of vision and achievement,” he wrote. “But Arne was not only a brilliant executive, he was also a fundamentally good person. Arne cared intensely about the many thousands of his colleagues around the world. I will miss his counsel, his warmth and his genuine friendship.”
Marriott’s board expects to appoint a new CEO within the next two weeks.