Marriott and Proposition 8?
 

I've read on some political blogs that Bill Marriott and JW Marriott supported Proposition 8, but can't find any confirmation. If they did, I would prefer to stay elsewhere. If they didn't I want to be able to set the record straight when I can.

Does anyone have any idea whether the Marriott's of hotel chain fame were behind any Yes on 8 activities?

What does the politics of Prop 8 have to do with Marriott Rewards? And what does Bill and J.W. Marriott's political, religious, and/or social beliefs matter if it has no bearing on the management of the Marriott Properties?

Please leave politics out of FT. We all have opinions on Prop 8, but it has no business on FT.

Of course there is a forum specificially for politics on FT now (and it is also now open to anyone and everyone.)

JW Marriott Jr is Chairman and CEO of Marriott. If he has publicly endorsed a campaign to remove from a minority group their currently existing civil rights then this would quite reasonbly be a matter of concern to customers of the corporation he manages - and to so inquire is not to "bring politics" into FT.

If the CEO of a major travel corporation advocated a ban on inter-racial marriage, or some other kind of less "socially acceptable" form of dicrimination then this would rightly result in a widespread boycott, and surely nobody would be arguing that discussion of such a thing did not belog on FT.

Since there are Marriott experts on this forum, the OP was looking to our knowledge of the organization and whether something the hotel management chose to represent was against something that was important to them. This was a very valid post and not grandstanding or turning this into a political post.

That said, once more information is obtained (whether the Marriott management did or did not support an issue), then OMNI or another forum would probably be best to get into the detail of whether their move (or lack thereof) was something that would make you want to continue or promote more business.

To answer the original question... Not sure, but considered similar queries in regards to places I stay and eat while visiting Park City and SLC.

I disagree. If that were requisite then this thread, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=811549, and others would have been moved long ago. As long as the topic stays Marriott centric, I would see it staying in the MR forum. However, if it deviated to a general discussion about Prop 8, then that would be reason for change of venue IMO.

I mean really, we are adults, and am sure that this subject could be discussed in a rational manner. Anyway it can't get much more emotional than the Standard Award Redemption Inflation thread. ;) So many important issues to discuss, and to think some people want to focus on trivial things like the economy, war in Iraq, terrorism, and family issues. Of course if the economy improves Marriott sells more hotel rooms, if the soldiers come home from Iraq they can go on vacation and stay at Marriott properties, and if the terrorists are squashed then those last holdouts will finally book a vacation at Marriott and feel safe to travel. See how I segwayed Marriott into the discussion. :D

While I would like to know the answer to the OP's inquiry, it would not affect my stay pattern.

I would also like a clear answer to this question, and believe it is a valid question to ask in this forum.

If Marriott supported prop 8 I may just make Plat Premier next year.

I can assure you the company did not take a position on this issue

Bill has never had an issue of setting his personal beliefs aside to do what is right for the stakeholders of the company as a good CEO should do (please do not read into this statement, I dont know what his personal beliefs are in this instance)

Have anyone who would like a clear answer considered calling Bill Marriott & asking? Clear question would probably be answered from the horse's mouth.

FWIW - a # of Marriott properties are owned by franchisees, not all of whom (and probably the majority aren't) are Mormons.

Cheers.

Which is not to say that Marriott does not earn significant revenue from those franchised properties, and that an effective boycott might not motivated them to reflag their properties to another chain just as soon as they could get themselves out of their existing franchise contract.

Just saying...

I call BS on this. I supported (and still support) prop 8 and do not feel that my civil rights were removed (read that as how you will). Also last time I checked, marriage was a privilege and not a right (read as you must get and can be denied a marriage license).

Anyhow, if this is to truely be a "knowledge" only thread maybe we should try to avoid loaded words.

Good question
 

Still an answer would be interesting. Everyone could take what they personally want from that and do acordingly!

We are not here publicizing our view of whether or not Prop 8 should have passed, but only asking a question of Marriott's position on the issue.

and to NWA-PLAT, does this mean that you will no longer use Google for searches or buy any Apple products for their corporate position.

Lets just stick to the question of whether or not the CEO of Marriott supported Proposition 8 financially. From a quick search of SFGate's prop 8 donors, I could not find anything with the Marriott name out of Utah.

This thread reminds me of one of the many reasons, why I love my country... CANADA. :)