Arne M. Sorenson is president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Inc. In his role, Mr. Sorenson presides over one of the world’s largest hospitality companies and some of the most iconic brands in travel.
Mr. Sorenson led the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016, resulting in a dramatic expansion of Marriott’s ability to provide unparalleled guest experiences around the world. The company now has more than 7,400 properties across 134 countries and territories and 30 brands. The merger also created the industry’s largest travel program, Marriott Bonvoy, which has more than 140 million members.
An outspoken corporate leader, he has advocated for environmental sustainability, human rights and diversity and inclusion.
Mr. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996 and held a number of positions before serving as president and chief operating officer. He was elected to Marriott’s Board of Directors in 2011. He became chief executive officer in 2012, making history as the first person to hold the post without the Marriott family name.
Mr. Sorenson is active on multiple boards. He joined the Microsoft board of directors in November 2017. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Business Roundtable, the board of trustees for The Brookings Institution and the board of directors for Special Olympics and Warrior-Scholar Project.
Mr. Sorenson is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and the University of Minnesota Law School. Before joining Marriott, he was a partner with the law firm Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C. Mr. Sorenson’s LinkedIn blog, which has more than 770,000 followers, can be found here.