Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive of Marriott International, died on Monday at the age of 62, the company said on Tuesday. He was being treated for pancreatic cancer.
Mr. Sorenson was the first person outside the Marriott family to lead the company when he became chief executive in 2012 and was only the third to hold that position since Marriott’s founding in 1927.
During his tenure at the top, he led a worldwide expansion, including the $ 13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2015. The acquisition made Marriott the largest hotel operator on the planet, with more than 7,500 properties in 132 countries and territories and 30 brands, including Courtyard, Ritz-Carlton, Westin, W Hotels and Sheraton. The merger also created the largest travel loyalty program in the travel industry, Marriott Bonvoy, with more than 140 million members.
“Arne was an exceptional executive. But more than that, he was an exceptional human being, ”said JW Marriott Jr., the company’s president, in a statement. “Arne loved every aspect of this business and loved the time spent visiting our hotels and meeting associates around the world.”
“He had an incredible ability to predict where the hospitality industry was headed and to position Marriott for growth. But the roles he most liked were that of husband, father, brother and friend, ”added Marriott.
The coronavirus pandemic, which affected the hospitality industry, caused Marriott’s revenue to plummet. The drop in reserves had a more severe impact on the financial health of businesses than the 2008 economic crisis and the September 11 attacks, Sorenson said last year, and forced the chain to close hotels and lay off thousands of workers. “I have never had a more difficult time than this,” said Sorenson in a company video when he announced the layoffs in March.
In May 2019, the hotel chain announced that Sorenson had cancer and, earlier this month, said he would cut back on his schedule due to the more demanding treatment.
When Sorenson left full-time management, the company appointed two Marriott executives, Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano, to temporarily fill the position. The company expects to appoint a new chief executive within two weeks.
Mr. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996 and served in a variety of roles before becoming president and chief operating officer. He was elected to the Marriott board in 2011.
Mr. Sorenson spoke openly about environmental sustainability, human rights and diversity and inclusion. He served on the boards of Microsoft and the Special Olympics and was a curator at the Brookings Institution.
Born on October 13, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, Mr. Sorenson grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Prior to joining Marriott, he was a partner at the Latham & Watkins law firm in Washington.
Mr. Sorenson leaves his wife, Ruth, and four children.