Name: Mary Beth Jones
Position: Senior Vice President of HR Operations
Location: Marriott HQ in Bethesda, Maryland

Mary Beth has always been moved by Marriott’s famous company culture — it’s what inspired her to join the company as her first job out of college.

Fast forward 37 years and about a dozen internal transfers and promotions later, and Mary Beth is still finding herself inspired by the people, and more specifically, the way that associates support and lift up one another.

The culture “came to life” for the Senior Vice President of HR Operations following her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

“I had so many Marriott associates rooting for me, whether that be giving me tips from their cancer journey, a hug when I needed it most or a heartfelt note,” Mary Beth recalls. “I felt the love, each and every day.”

Mary Beth’s passion for people is a clear common theme throughout her tenure. While the HR leader has worked across a remarkable number of critical initiatives in the nearly four decades she’s been with the company — from the Starwood integration to the global pandemic response and recovery and much more — Mary Beth says it’s the relationships she’s made along the way that bring her the most pride.

As of early 2025, Mary Beth’s impressive and influential Marriott journey is moving onto its next phase; the leader is officially retiring from her position and joining the accolades of Marriott alumni.

Learn more about Mary Beth’s impact and journey, in her own words, below.

Give us an overview of your time at Marriott – how did it start, what is your role now, and what twists and turns did your career take during your tenure?

Across my 37 years with Marriott, I have had the opportunity to work in seven different disciplines (sales, revenue management, learning and development, to name a few) across 12 different jobs. My first role with Marriott was in Global Tech for the Residence Inn brand, training associates on the Property Management System and installing the hardware and software. Being on property every week gave me the perfect opportunity to understand the business and what makes the cash register ring. Today, I am the SVP, HR Operations which has allowed me to continue to connect with our associates and bring our culture to life.

In your opinion, how has the company culture evolved in your time here? What do you think contributed to that change?

Our company culture continues to be at the center of everything we do, and it is honestly the reason that I decided to take a job with Marriott after graduating from college and stay with this company for 37 years. I have always been impressed with the people and their genuine care for the work and for each other. This really came to life for me after I was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. I had so many Marriott associates rooting for me, whether that be giving me tips from their cancer journey, a hug when I needed it most or a heartfelt note – I felt the love, each and every day.

How did you ensure that opportunities for professional growth were accessible to all associates?

The ability to grow associates has always been a passion for me. I feel like I foster a mindset of continuous learning by celebrating professional growth and encouraging associates to seek out new opportunities, whether these be promotions or lateral moves. These opportunities contribute to a more engaged, diverse, and high-performing team. In addition, I completely subscribe to Marriott’s three “C’s” of leadership (being curious, courageous and connected). Being a leader is not about the title you have but how you show up.

In what ways did you encourage collaboration and teamwork across different teams and departments?

Encouraging collaboration and teamwork involves creating an environment where open communication, trust, and shared goals are a priority. Before making important decisions, I feel it is critical that everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts. In my mind, this leads to much better decisions as everyone has unique skills and perspectives.

How did you support and mentor emerging leaders?

Being a mentor to emerging leaders has been an important tenant of my career as I have found so much value in developing relationships with others. Being a mentor means being approachable and offering guidance but allowing leaders to grow independently. I have so many amazing mentor relationships at Marriott and within the Penn State Hospitality Management program. In fact, in 2023, I was honored to receive the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society Alumni Industry Achievement Award for my work at Marriott and at Penn State.

Reflecting on your time at Marriott, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the incredible relationships that I created while achieving common goals for the company. Projects such as the Starwood integration, launching Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee program, our response and recovery during the pandemic, and so many others were game changing and the power of collaboration, shared vision, and collective effort led to exceptional outcomes. Getting to know people on a personal level and developing these relationships has been deeply rewarding. Many of these will continue into my retirement, which also led me to join then Marriott Alumni Network.