If you’re looking to jumpstart your hospitality career, you’ve most likely have heard about Marriott’s Voyage Program. Okay, we know it’s the best of its kind. Well, it’s truly one of a kind.
To get all your burning questions about the program answered, we tapped two experts for the U.S. and Canada Voyage Program:
- Sarah D’Angelo, Director, Talent Acquisition + University Recruitment
- Michael Wiszowaty, Senior Manager, University Relations + Recruiting
Keep in mind that some of these answers are specific to U.S. and Canada.
When did Marriott Voyage Program start? How long has it been around?
Sarah: Marriott has had a management training program for a long time and has been through many iterations. Voyage grew out of all of that in 2012. We realized that the training program we were providing was not sufficient; we needed to give students a true training and onboarding experience that would help grow them into great leaders.
Is Voyage an internship? If not, how is it different?
Sarah: It’s important to note: Voyage is NOT an internship. As a Voyager, you’re a manager — in most cases, you will have people that you supervise on a daily basis. You’ll perform management tasks and be seen as a leader on property. We like to say it’s the bridge between college and the “real world” — your first true job once you’ve graduated.
Is this a global program? Can I be a Voyager in French wine country if I currently live in Idaho?
Sarah: Voyage is offered in over 50 countries. However, it’s important to note that in order to work in ANY country, you require work authorization there. (We do not sponsor work visas for the Voyage Program here in the U.S.) We recommend that you always start Voyage where you already have that work authorization, which is likely your “home” country.
Who is eligible to be a Voyager?
Sarah: All Voyagers must have work authorization in the country for which they’re applying AND either be a current senior who graduates with a bachelor’s degree prior to the program starting or be a recent graduate who has received their bachelor’s degree within the past 24 months. It’s a small window to qualify for Voyage, because it is truly meant to be an entry-level leadership position.
How long is the Marriott Voyage Program?
Sarah: The Voyage Program is typically 12 months in the U.S. (though it can run longer) and Canada and can be up to 18 months internationally.
How much does the Marriott Voyage Program pay?
Sarah: It varies based on the location and discipline you choose, but no one makes less than $46,800 annually. You can make up to $78,500 if you are in NYC and in accounting.
What type of schedule can a Voyager anticipate?
Sarah: Typically, Voyagers are scheduled for 40-hour work weeks, but can sometimes work a little more or a little less than that depending on the hotel’s business demand. Because hotels are a 24/7 operation, most Voyagers can expect to work weekends and holidays—it’s just the nature of our business.
What types of benefits do Marriott Voyagers receive?
Sarah: As full-time Marriott associates, you’re eligible for all the same benefits as any other full-time associate. What’s more: we offer a relocation bonus to assist you in relocating to your city of choice, help you find roommates before day one, and for certain departments, provide sign-on bonuses (looking at you, Culinary and Engineering).
Are there remote Voyage roles or all in-person?
Sarah: The heart of our business is hotel operations—hotels can’t function without great customer service and a strong housekeeping team, which requires associates to be in person to make it work. Therefore, 99% of all Voyage roles are in-person. One exception currently is a Sales Voyager, but Sales Voyagers make up 1% of all our Voyage hires, making them incredibly competitive. Getting your foot in the door with Marriott is just the first part of your journey; once part of our team, you can easily change departments in the future. (Don’t believe us? Here’s just one of the many stories of hotel internal mobility.)
When does the Marriott Voyage Program officially start?
Sarah: We have start dates in January, February, June, July, and a small handful in September. A new Voyager is eligible to start their position following graduation. For example, if you graduate in May, you could start in either June or July, depending on any summer vacation plans.
How many recent grads get hired every year as Voyagers?
Michael: In the 2024-25 academic calendar, we received 9,000+ applications and hired 375+ Voyagers.
Is it only for hospitality majors?
Michael: No way. Disciplines can include Rooms Operations, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Event Management, Accounting & Finance, Culinary, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Revenue Management, Sales, Housekeeping, and Banquets.
Sarah: For culinarians, we are seeking students who have a culinary arts degree, or have significant experience “working the line” if their degree is in another field of study. Culinary Voyagers can expect to be working in the kitchen, so having proper knife skills and training is a must. For facilities management engineers (we use the term “engineer” to describe the people who keep the hotel in working order, anything from lightbulbs to fire alarms), we are seeking students who have previous experience or a degree in facilities management — being able to fix an HVAC system or a water main break will come in handy! For accountants, we are seeking students who are accounting majors or accounting minors. While we do accept other majors, those who don’t have an accounting background may not be interested in the Accounting & Finance Voyage Program since it is managerial accounting based.
What happens over the course of the Program?
Michael: During your Voyage, you will be able to immerse yourself in the operations of your specific discipline and in other disciplines through mini-departmental rotations. Though you will be able to have some hands-on in multiple departments, this is not a rotational training program as you will be spending 95% of your time in your specific discipline. To supplement your hands-on development, you are assigned the Voyage curriculum which allows you to learn specific discipline and departmental training. In addition, as a Voyager, you have formal monthly rap sessions with your Property Coach (direct manager) and formal quarterly rap sessions with your Property Champion (executive hotel member). These rap sessions help ensure that you have both the support and knowledge in your program to be successful in your new Marriott career!
→ Voyage Applications Are Open! Apply for Marriott’s Prestigious Leadership Development Program
