Deborah Marriott Harrison on Marriott's culture of putting people first~ And my grandfather started it by making a sign he put over the kitchen doors in the Hot Shops that says, "If you take care of the employee, the employee will take care of the customer and the customer will come back again and again." And we really pride ourselves in taking care of our associates. Deborah Marriott Harrison, Global Cultural Ambassador Emeritus Marriott International (r) and host Andy Ockershausen (l) in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Our Town. And I'm so delighted to have in one of the most important people in representing the families and I could probably, the number one family in Washington was the Marriott family, and I'm so delighted to have Debbie Marriott Harrison on Our Town. Welcome to Our Town, Debbie. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Thank you Andy. I'm delighted to be here. Andy Ockershausen: Well, our relationship, my relationship personally goes back to Marriott for many, many years before you were born, probably. Because being a big part of Our Town growing up at WMAL and Channel 7 and the Washington Star is my background, and you know what the Star was like when you were growing up in Our Town and- Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yeah, my brothers used to deliver the paper. Andy Ockershausen: I say, right. It was Our Town. It was a small town. What's happened now has been an explosion. But thank you for remembering that there is a WMAL that was in Our Town and thank you for what you have done for the Marriott Corporation and particularly when you worked at ... your story was working at the Key Bridge Marriott? Marriott's First Two Hotels - Twin Bridges and Key Bridge Hotels - A Bit of Our Town History Deborah Harrison: Yes. Andy Ockershausen: How many years? Deborah Marriott Harrison: Oh, just one summer after I had finished my freshman year. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, you just did it in the summer time. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yes. I just did it for the summer and that was our second hotel and it is still our oldest hotel in our portfolio because the first hotel was the Twin Bridges Hotel. Andy Ockershausen: Do I remember that well. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yeah. Opened in 1957 near the 14th Street Bridge and we sold that in the late 80s and there's nothing on that lot right now. It's an empty lot. Andy Ockershausen: The Windjammer Club. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yes, The Windjammer Club. And- Andy Ockershausen: It was a bottle club I remember that well. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Sirloin and Saddle, the restaurant. Andy Ockershausen: Well, the motel opened up where it used to be a national airport and before national airport there was another field there- Deborah Harrison: Right. Hoover. Andy Ockershausen: Were Marriott had a catering business. Deborah Marriott Harrison: Yup. Hoover Field. And the Pentagon is, and the Pentagon is there now. Andy Ockershausen: And yeah. Right. And so that was the beginning of the catering business, but the hotel business, your grandfather opened that hotel, I remember it had a sign. It was the only sign I've ever seen on the 14th Street Bridge and the Washington signs, at the exit to get to the Marriott Hotel. Can you ... you were too young to know that. Deborah Marriott Harrison: I don't remember that. You're right. I don't remember. That's really neat. Andy Ockershausen: There was some political pressure to get that done. But it was done. The only motel that was highlighted on the bridge leaving town, was the Marriott Twin Bridges. And there were twin bridges and then Marriott got into the hotel business and then opened up in Rosslyn. Was that your next big hotel? Deborah Marriott Harrison: The next one, two years later was the one was Key Bridge in Rosslyn overlooking Georgetown and the river. Andy Ockershausen: And it was a real, a motor hotel. It was a small structure. Marriott Started Out in the Hotel Business with Motor Hotels
Deborah Marriott Harrison and host Andy Ockershausen have an easy conversation about the impact of the Marriott company on Our Town over the last 92 years. You’ll find the impact and Our Town history are interwined. Debbie and Andy also discuss how after 27 years of raising her family, along with her husband, she went back to work in the family business. Debbie and Andy’s conversation include:
• Marriott’s First Two Hotels – Twin Bridges and Key Bridge Hotels – A Bit of Our Town History
• Marriott Started with in the Hotel Business with Motor Hotels
• True Partners - J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Started with a Nine Stool Root Beer Stand
• How J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Came to Our Town and Hot Shops
• Marriott – One of the First Big Businesses in Our Town
• Growing the Hotel Business
• Marriott’s Philanthropy in Our Town
• Today Marriott Opens a Hotel Every 14 Hours Around the World
• Growing Up, Creating a Life with Family, and Having a Career in Our Town
• Marriott’s People First Culture
• Hot Shops Hot Fudge Cakes | Mighty Moe’s, Onion Rings and Orange Freezes | Pappy Parker Fried Chicken
• Marriott’s Old Commissary 13th and Rittenhouse
• J. Willard Marriott Instrumental in Land Acquisition for the Washington DC Temple Located in Silver Spring, Maryland
• J. Willard Marriott and President Eisenhower
• Home and Business Headquarters are Washington DC and Montgomery County
• Debbie Marriott Harrison – DC College Access Program Board Member
• Travelling and Favorite Activity – Interviewing Dad
• Restaurants – The View and Sirloin & Saddle
• Husband Ron Harrison – 37 Years with Company
• Bill Marriott Outfitted Kitchen at Boys and Girls Club Special Camp
The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:
https://ourtowndc.com/deborah-marriott-harrison-marriott-international/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors Attorney Mike Collins, The Eric Stewart Group, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill.