Tony Capuano , president and CEO of Marriott International , at left , spoke with Mitch Patel , president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group , during the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference .
HUNTER CONFERENCE
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A DEATH THRUST MARRIOTT ’ S CEO INTO THE TOP ROLE . IT WASN ’ T WITHOUT MERIT .
By DAVID EISEN
ATLANTA — Tony Capuano knew he had huge shoes to fill when he was named president and CEO of Marriott International . It was almost unfair : He was following in the footsteps of a legend in the hotel industry , Arne Sorenson , who passed away at the age of 62 in 2021 . It wasn ’ t Capuano ’ s time , and he admits it , calling it a “ battlefield promotion .” But it doesn ’ t mean he didn ’ t earn it .
Capuano recently spoke at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference , interviewed by Mitch Patel , president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group , who , at one point during the discussion , and because of the setting in SEC country , compared Bill Marriott and Sorenson to Bear Bryant and Nick Saban , college coaching luminaries of
14 hotelsmag . com May / June 2024