Marriott CEO's stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion sparks intense reaction, inbox flooded with 40,000 emails
Will Hild, Consumers' Research executive director, addresses corporations rebranding their DEI agendas on 'The Bottom Line.'
A top executive from the hotel industry has received an avalanche of positive support from colleagues following his firm stand on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters.
During the Great Place to Work for All Summit, Marriott CEO and President Anthony Capuano discussed cultural and workplace shifts on DEI and shared his response to a surge of encouraging emails from coworkers.
"The day the [DEI] executive order came out, I met with our senior leadership team. I said, given our industry-leading position, we ought to ensure alignment, not only philosophically, but also on what words we use, what language we employ. We needed to discuss this with the board a little bit," Capuano stated on stage.
"The next morning, I did a media breakfast, followed by six one-on-one media interviews, and finally, the CEO panel. And during all these interactions, the first question was always about Marriott's stance on DEI," he continued.
Companies Revise DEI Policies in 2025
In 2025, President Trump signed several executive orders that altered the federal government's approach to DEI, affecting corporate policies as well.
Top American brands and companies, like Amazon, Meta, McDonald's, Boeing, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Lowe's, Nissan, Toyota, Walmart, and others, have revised their DEI initiatives in response to these political changes.
When asked to clarify Marriott's position on DEI, Capuano insisted, "We welcome all guests to our hotels and create opportunities for all. These will never change, no matter what words we use."
A Shift in the Political Landscape
In 2025, Trump issued Executive Order 14151 on his first day in office, dismantling federal offices dedicated to DEI. This move, along with subsequent executive orders, removed federal incentives for private-sector DEI compliance while also creating uncertainty about legal exposure due to ongoing litigation.
Additionally, Trump's Education Department threatened to withhold funding from schools and universities with DEI programs, and he revoked Executive Order 11246, which barred federal contractors from discriminatory hiring practices, removing a key motivator for corporate DEI compliance.
The broader political climate surrounding DEI may also influence corporate behavior. Trump's Administration aimed to dismantle the Education Department and reframe DEI as "discriminatory," fostering criticism of corporate DEI programs.
In the wake of these policy changes, companies are likely to tread cautiously to avoid potential legal repercussions and negative publicity. This shift may lead them to reassess their DEI initiatives or present them in a more neutral light.
- In response to the political changes of 2025, many top American brands, including Amazon, Meta, and Walmart, have revised their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following revisions in federal government policies.
- Marriott's CEO and President, Anthony Capuano, stated that Marriott welcomes all guests to their hotels, creating opportunities for all, regardless of the words used to express the corporate stance on DEI.
- During the Great Place to Work for All Summit, Capuano discussed the importance of alignment among leadership on DEI matters and the need for consensus with the board to maintain the company's industry-leading position.
- After taking a firm stand on DEI, Capuano received an overwhelming number of positive emails from colleagues in the hotel industry, highlighting support for his leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the business sector.
- In 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14151 on his first day in office, dismantling federal offices dedicated to DEI, and subsequent executive orders removed federal incentives for private-sector DEI compliance while creating uncertainty about legal exposure due to ongoing litigation.
- Companies may now tread cautiously due to potential legal repercussions and negative publicity, leading them to reassess their DEI initiatives or present them in a more neutral light in the face of political changes.
- The political landscape surrounding DEI may also influence corporate behavior, as Trump's Administration aimed to dismantle the Education Department and frame DEI as discriminatory, fostering criticism of corporate DEI programs.
