Marriott chief Arne Sorenson received the award earlier in Berlin

Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive of Marriott International, has been awarded the International Hotel Investment Forum Lifetime Achievement Award.

The presentation was made during the 20th IHIF, currently being staged at the InterContinental Berlin, Germany.

Following the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Marriott International in September 2016, Sorenson became leader of the largest lodging company in the world.

He is also the first person in the nearly 90-year history of the company to lead Marriott who is not a member of the Marriott family.

Following the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award earlier, Sorenson shared experience of the acquisition of Starwood and the future of Marriott.

Marriott has been described as a company that maintains family values and a degree of humility.

Sorenson’s creation of the company’s Global Sustainability Council and his chairmanship of Marriott’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council demonstrate his personal commitment to maintaining this guiding philosophy. 

Additionally, Sorenson serves as vice chair of the United States president’s Export Council.

He is the immediate past board chair for Brand USA and continues as a member of the board. 

And, among other affiliations, he is on the stewardship board of the World Economic Forum System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Mobility.

Tess Pearson, event director, Questex Media Group, host of IHIF, commented: “Arne Sorenson is a uniquely inspirational leader and true friend of IHIF.

“He has navigated Marriott through extremely challenging economic times and led the recent acquisition of Starwood to create the largest hotel company in the world.

“Providing leadership that is both reassuring and assertive is a skill only achieved by a few and Arne consistently demonstrates this in the management of the company and to Marriott associates around the world.

“We are thrilled to be able to honour all of his achievements.”