Thread: Mariott CEO Calls for Amnesty and Sober Immig. Discussion

Marriott CEO Calls for 'Sober' Discussion of Immigration Reform in Presidential Campaign
Bill Marriott Says Employers Need Workable Employment Verification System
January 17, 2008: 03:10 PM EST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Citing the need for comprehensive immigration reform, J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. today expressed hope that the presidential campaigns would "move to a sober discussion of immigration reform."

"We need to cool the rhetoric and work together to come up with a federal solution," he said. Marriott, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Inc. , said that complying with a myriad of local immigration laws is impractical for any national employer. "With expected growth, the hospitality industry alone will need an additional 300,000 workers in the next several years.

"We need immigrant workers in our economy and we need to create a workable verification system so that employers like us know that they're hiring people who are authorized to work," he said.

Marriott pointed to one of the most successful employee programs at his company, "Sed de Saber," which is Spanish for "thirst for knowledge." He said hundreds of employees are using the system to learn critical English language skills because they want to be productive workers and hope someday to realize their dream to become Americans.

Marriott also cited the importance of removing the barriers to global travel. "We need to make our visa and entry systems more efficient and customer-friendly because we're losing a tremendous opportunity to bring visitors to the U.S.," he said.

Marriott acknowledged progress made by the government in securing a new China travel agreement signed last month that will facilitate Chinese group travel to the U.S., while saying there were opportunities for continued improvement.

"The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department need to make better use of technology to process people more efficiently and share information amongst different agencies to eliminate bureaucracy, delay and duplication.

"And our industry needs to do our part -- so we're working with congress to get the funding DHS and State need to increase their staffing, get better technology, improve their infrastructure and enhance customer service," said Marriott.

"Bottom line, travel is trade. It's also our best form of public diplomacy. Here in the United States we need to put out the welcome mat at our borders, airports and embassies around the world. Security must be a priority. But appropriate security processes must allow an open exchange of people, ideas, services and products," he said.

To view a video of the speech, visit www.marriottnewsroom.com and click on the news release. The link will be available beginning approximately 7 p.m. eastern time, today, January 17.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a leading lodging company with more than 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE(R). The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR(R) Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
http://money.cnn.com:80/news/newsfeeds/ ... 2008-1.htm

guess I will not be frequenting Merriot on my trips... I take this crap personal

I can't imagine what Bill Marriott's motivation is for wanting "comprehensive immigration reform". Didn't that die in the Senate twice this year???

So one of America's Elites, the Mariott CEO, calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (code word for Amnesty). What a surprise. This would be another of the elitists that live in a mansion behind a secure gated fence with a manned gatehouse in a neighborhood in which the only IAs are landscapers, gardners, gatehouse attendents, cooks, nannies and pool boys. It would be one of the elitists who the only use they have for IAs is to exploit them for bigger and fatter profits as they dump them onto the backs of taxpayers to provide for. Remember, the CEOs pay very little taxes as they are either negated by their shell games or covered by the companies they run.

Mr. Marriot, who are the guest and who are the workers? Which is buttering your bread?

Dixie

The hospitality industry is one of most penetrated and dependent upon a large pool of largely illegal labor. Mr. Marriott seems quite willing to ignore existing laws on the matter. I wonder... if I stay in a Marriott and 'forget to pay the bill' if he'll be so careless in following up on that rule too???
Somehow, I doubt it.

Marriott will be one Hotel chain I'll be sure to go out of my way, WAY out of my way, to avoid in the future!

"We need to cool the rhetoric and work together to come up with a federal solution," he said. Marriott, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Inc. , said that complying with a myriad of local immigration laws is impractical for any national employer.

Too bad, does it cut into your HUGE profits?

Go open Marriots in Mexico and deal with the Mexican government and the drug cartels--tell them they are having a negative impact on business.

Which presidental canidate is Marriott contributing funds to?

Fences make good neighbors.

Bill Mariott, Jr. Gets Slimed!!!

Unfortunately its a doctored photo but we can only hope!!!

zeezil said:
"So one of America's Elites, the Mariott CEO, calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (code word for Amnesty). What a surprise. This would be another of the elitists that live in a mansion behind a secure gated fence with a manned gatehouse in a neighborhood in which the only IAs are landscapers, gardners, gatehouse attendents, cooks, nannies and pool boys. "
Right on the money zeezil--everybody I have met (with the exception of members of religious assistance organizations), have something financial to gain from the illegals. The churches want them to fill their empty pews on Sunday.
How many Americans would become bellhops if they could make a good salary at it?? Pick a job and pay a good salary and there will be very few jobs Americans will not do. Low labor costs equal higher profits. Higher profits equal a bigger yacht, personal airplane, higher walls around the estate, etc.

"We need to cool the rhetoric and work together to come up with a federal solution," he said. Marriott, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Inc. , said that complying with a myriad of local immigration laws is impractical for any national employer. "With expected growth, the hospitality industry alone will need an additional 300,000 workers in the next several years.

IN OTHER WORDS, HE WANTS AMNESTY. Everytime the Federal Government steps in to FINALLY do it's job, they get critized for enforcing the law and deporting illegal immigrants.
If Marriott really feels they are going to need an additional "300,000 workers" in the hospitility industry, we have them right here, and they are American citizens.
What I want to know is, if Americans keep on losing jobs to illegal aliens, who is going to stay in your hotels Mr. Marriott? You might just have to start laying off people the way our economy is going. And MOST OF THE BLAME, is due to TRADE POLICIES, AND ILLEGAL ALIENS.