If you’re new here, or thinking about joining us, Associate Appreciation Week, or AAW, is a moment each year when Marriott properties around the world pause to celebrate the people behind the experiences. It’s not a set program or a corporate template. It’s global and local, personal and for all, sometimes unexpected and, above all, fun!
Scroll through this year’s LinkedIn posts and you start to see a pattern. Not in the activities themselves, but in the feeling behind them.
In Penang, associates marked the week with energy that spilled across every photo. In Myanmar, teammates shared moments tied to the theme “Begin. Belong. Become.”, grounding the week in something bigger than a single celebration.
Across properties, the thread is the same. Pride in the team. Joy in the everyday. A sense of belonging that feels earned, not staged.
At Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, the team leaned into play. “Making pizza looks way easier when you’re just eating it!” they joked, sharing snapshots of associates in full chef mode, flour included. It’s messy, it’s human, and exactly the kind of memory people carry with them long after the week ends.
In Bilaspur, the tone was pure celebration. “Together, We Made It AAWsome!” the team wrote, describing a week full of energy, laughter, and team spirit that felt “one for the books.”
Meanwhile in Malaysia, the team at the Aloft was having “good vibes, laughter, team spirit, and unforgettable memories.”
In the Philippines, associates at the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan had a blast honoring this year’s theme: Begin. Belong. Become with all kinds of indoor and outdoor fun activities for the team.
“Every associate plays an important role in what we do, and together, we continue to grow stronger. Daghang salamat (Thank you very much) , team, for all the hard work, heart, and dedication you bring every single day. So proud to be part of this family.” Dottie V. Wurgler, General Manager of both properties, shared on Linkedin.
Meanwhile in Brussels, associates “worked hard” on team building, sharing breakfasts and tapas alfresco, creating their own escape game, and hosting a karaoke session that probably went on a little longer than planned.
In this year’s note to associates, President & CEO Tony Capuano puts it simply: “Across Marriott International, teams came together to celebrate just how special it is to belong to this company. These moments remind us that our success is made possible because of our people, our culture, and how we show up for one another.”
That’s what AAW does best. It turns culture into something you can actually see. Different languages, different traditions, different ways of celebrating. One shared feeling.
Wherever you are in the world, appreciation looks a lot like this.
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