Ouch, That Feels Good!

The impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry has been absolutely unprecedented and vaccinations are an important part of a return to normalcy. I was delighted to get my first dose of a vaccine last week and want to encourage Marriott International associates – and everyone – to also get vaccinated. Here’s the message I sent this morning to our managed associates in the United States and Canada. Hope for health and recovery is on the horizon!

Last week, I got my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. On April 6, the state of Maryland opened eligibility for everyone over 16 years old. I went online at midnight and was able to register for the shot at a local pharmacy. The four days between securing the appointment and getting the shot seemed long and I felt like I was a kid counting down the days to the end of school.

Once I arrived at the pharmacy, the process was professional and smooth. No one likes getting shots, but this was easy and painless. I left with my vaccination card in hand, an appointment for my second dose and a heightened sense of optimism about the future of travel. Including the 15-minute wait time post-shot to monitor for any reactions, the entire process took 25 minutes.

Here’s a photo of me from that day. The smile you see is one of excitement and relief.

We’ve talked a lot about the impact of the pandemic professionally – the toll it has taken on our business, on our hotels and on our associates. There is also a personal toll and each of us has felt that impact as we have navigated this year of fear. Too many people have suffered the loss of a loved one due to this virus. Many others were ravaged by this disease but were fortunate to survive.

At Marriott, we believe in the power of global vaccination efforts to help bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. While we are not mandating that our associates get vaccinated, we are strongly encouraging you to consider it. Our top priority is the health and well-being of our associates. Accordingly, we are taking steps to help make it easier for our associates to get vaccinated: by providing educational resources on the benefits of vaccinations; by directing leaders across the company to allow for schedule flexibility for vaccination appointments; and by providing a financial benefit to our U.S. and Canadian managed associates who get vaccinated.

Vaccinations are going to save lives. They’re also going to allow us to start living life again. I can tell you that walking out of the pharmacy on Friday afternoon, I felt in control of my health for the first time since the pandemic began. I knew I was doing something that would not only protect me but would also contribute to defeating this pandemic for the larger community.

As important as vaccinations are – they are just one part of the effort to end COVID-19. We need to follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and continue to wear masks, practice good hygiene and remain physically distant, particularly in indoor settings. This is not just personal advice – it’s consistent with how we are operating at our hotels for the safety of our associates and guests.

If you haven’t gotten a vaccination yet, please consider getting one if you are able and willing to (I recognize that due to personal reasons, not everyone will get a vaccine). It’s worth the wait. While COVID-19 deaths are down, infections and hospitalizations are both up in the United States. It’s up to all of us to play a part in helping to bring an end to the pandemic.

Thank you for all you are doing to keep our guests and each other safe.