In celebration of the strong women at Marriott International and beyond.

Today International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world, a day we honor all the strong and courageous women in our lives both on a personal and professional level. Today we celebrate the incredible strides women around the world have made in creating a more inclusive and equitable society. But just like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the like, our recognition and appreciation should not last a mere single day, but every day.

This year more than ever, women deserve recognition for their strength in getting through what was seemingly one of the most challenging years for everyone due to the pandemic. As we continue to navigate through uncertain waters, we must also remember to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality.

At Marriott International we remain focused on our people-first culture – giving our associates opportunities to grow and succeed is part of our DNA and we continue to break barriers and advocate for equal opportunities to continue building a company that future generations can be proud of.

I am inspired by the courage of the women at Marriott International and I am proud to be working hand in hand with all of you. Amongst the many women working for our company, today I would like to share the stories of some of these strong women working in Asia Pacific. Each of them has a unique story to share and I hope that you will find their stories and advice as inspiring as I did.

Variya Lulitanond 

Who are you and what do you do at Marriott International?

My name is Variya Lulitanond and I am the Area Director of Marketing for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. My key responsibilities include marketing activities supporting the goals of maximizing revenue and driving Marriott Bonvoy member activations. These activations include rooms, food & beverage campaigns, and different partnerships. In addition, I am also responsible for building brand awareness through public relations activities and support our hotels to drive their optimum revenue performance through key marketing strategies.

What inspired your career in the hospitality industry?

The travel industry has always been an inspiration to me. I enjoy traveling to different places around the world, experiencing different hotels, dining in unique locations and more. There is so much more to travel than just the destination – it’s the culture, people and localized experiences that really make my travel experiences so memorable. The hospitality industry is ever changing and the more I experience the more I am inspired and motivated to be creative in my job. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

My advice would be to stay driven, be open to learn more and expand your knowledge on different topics that may impact what you do.

Ranju Alex

Who are you and what do you do at Marriott International?

My name is Ranju Alex and I have been a part of the hospitality industry for the past 27 years. I joined the industry at a time when there was a lot of taboo in our society about women working in hotels . I opted to swim against the tide and have been enjoying every step of this journey. As Market Vice President for West India, I am responsible for the overall performance of all the hotels in my market, managing owners and different stake holders, uplifting the culture of our company, managing talent, representing our company in industry forums and leading our efforts towards diversity and inclusion. It sounds like a very extensive role but the one aspect that helps me immensely is that I have a lot of role models within the company that I look up to, learn from and can lean on. The journey has been and continues to be very exhilarating!

What inspired your career in the hospitality industry?

I was studying to become an engineer when the notion of doing something different started forming in my mind. A career in hotels and specially for women was not the most sought-after option in our society back then. I had to fight several battles to convince my folks to let me pursue this career. It has been twenty-seven years since, and today I am glad I had the conviction to stand up for my own choice of career because I come to work with a spring in my step every day!

What advice do you have for women to succeed in their career?

My advice to other women will always be “There is no shortcut to perseverance and hard work. You have not come this far to be average …… so go and grab your share of the sunshine.”

Marie Browne

Who are you and what do you do at Marriott International?

My name is Marie Browne, I’m Irish born but have lived around the world since I left college. I am now the Cluster General Manager of the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort and the soon to open Aloft Bali Kuta. Being a General Manager is almost like running your own business. You are responsible for sales and marketing, setting rate strategy and positioning, the guest experience from arrival to checkout, ensuring the financial health of the business, and not forgetting the wellbeing and growth of our associates. It is a diverse job where you wear many hats throughout the day.

What inspired your career in the hospitality industry?

My parents ran their own business for 40 years and they always talked about how important it was to take good care of people, provide the best products and services, and to connect with people. These are lessons I have brought with me throughout my career. When I was young, my family and I used to vacation in the South of Ireland where stayed at the same guest house every year and the family who owned it took great care of us. I really liked the idea of taking care of people and helping them to enjoy their time with their family while experiencing the location or destination.

What advice do you have for women to succeed in their career?

There are three things I tell my team and mentees; first, don’t limit yourself. Set high goals for yourself and ask for help to achieve them. Second, don’t get too comfortable. Women tend to stay in jobs longer than they should, whether out of a sense of loyalty or comfort with a team or a leader. This can stall your career and send the wrong message to your leaders about your career aspirations. Third, never stop investing in yourself. If you want to grow in your career you need to continue to develop yourself; acquire news skills, learn about a different discipline, and enhance your qualifications. 

Mandy Goh

Who are you and what do you do at Marriott International?

My name is Mandy Goh and I am the first ever female executive Chef at The St. Regis Langkawi. In my role I oversee kitchen operations and dedicate a lot of time in creating innovative menus and memorable dining experiences for our guests at the hotel's different F&B venues. These include renowned and award-winning specialty over-water restaurant, Kayuputi, L’Orangerie, the beachside restaurant Pantai Grill and an all-time favorite Gourmand Deli.

What inspired your career in the hospitality industry?

The diversity, access to various cultures and endless opportunities that the industry offers with the space to showcase creativity, is what inspired me the most and has remained my key motivation throughout the years. In the span of my career I’ve had the honor to work beside colleagues from all corners of the world which allowed me to exchange ideas with renowned chefs who use different techniques and infuse their personal experiences from their home-countries in the dishes they have to offer. This opportunity of interaction has not only enrichened my skills but it has also expanded my knowledge and elevated my passion for the craft.

What advice do you have for women to succeed in their career?

Competency is important—you have to be a master in your subject matter. Take initiative, possess a voracious curiosity, learn quickly, and listen to what is being said and sometimes, more importantly, to what isn’t being said. Do not give up, stay focused on your vision and keep your eyes on the prize - your hard work will pay off. With time and commitment, you will look back on life and be glad that you never gave up.

Uplifting women is a year-round endeavor that we remain committed to and I encourage you to do the same.

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