Marriott International has moved swiftly to appoint a prominent figure to one of its fastest growing regions following the news that veteran Tim Sheldon is retiring from the role.
Hotel giant Marriott has announced that Brian King will take over the position of president of its Caribbean and Latin America region.
We find out more about this key appointment.
Turning over a new leaf
Following the recent news that Sheldon is stepping down from his role as president of Marriott’s Caribbean and Latin America region, the company has revealed that King will take over the post from January 2021. King will report to Craig Smith who is assuming the position of group president, international at the same time.
“The Caribbean and Latin America is one of Marriott’s fastest-growing regions and we’ll benefit greatly having Brian King at the helm as we continue to focus on meeting the needs of our guests, associates and owners,” said Smith.
“Brian is an exceptional leader who has worked across digital, brand, marketing, sales and operations at Marriott. He brings that depth of experience as well as a dedication to putting people first which has been a cornerstone of his career. I’m looking forward to working with Brian and to continuing to expand Marriott’s presence in this important region.”
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A long-serving Marriott man
King has been with Marriot for 27 years and served in a variety of positions, starting with his very first one as an hourly associate at Great America.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to be a partner in the ongoing success of the Caribbean and Latin America region,” he said. “To support the growing legacy of all the caring associates and innovative owners in this dynamic part of the globe is the greatest honour of my career. Having started on the front line serving our guests is a gift that keeps me grounded in our TakeCare culture and the drive for rapid innovation and strategic expansion.”
Currently, he holds the role of global officer leading 9,500 associates in Distribution, Revenue Strategy, Customer Engagement Centres (CEC), the Global Sales Organization (GSO) and Planning & Services.
Before taking on his current role, King gained experience in digital brand management and various operations roles around the Americas. He participated in integrating Protea Hotels and Delta Hotels into Marriott’s brand portfolio and led the global brand launch for the fun Moxy brand. During the consolidation of Marriott and Starwood, he also played a leading role in the integration of Starwood’s reservation, revenue management and digital platforms into Marriott’s systems.
A dynamic growth region
The Caribbean and Latin America is an important growth region for Marriott. The company currently operates 268 properties there, spread across 34 countries.
In August 2019, meanwhile, Marriott signed management contracts with hotel developers planning to construct seven new all-inclusive resorts in the region. The recent acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group also marked a decisive step forward for the group, adding seven new properties to its portfolio in Barbados.
Marriott International is based in Bethesda, Maryland and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,000 properties around the world.
