CEF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Global VP, Sustainability & Supplier Diversity
Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Denise graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Science in Geography with an emphasis on human impacts on the environment. Denise became involved with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, implementing environmental education programs around the world. A decade later, Cousteau’s program took her to the Cayman Islands then eventually to Washington, DC as a member of Marriott International’s global operations team. Denise and her team lead the strategy, program implementation, and reporting for both sustainability and supplier diversity for Marriott’s 8000+ hotels around the world. Naguib currently serves as Chair of the Board for WEConnect International, the global organization supporting women businesses around the world. She is also on the Boards of The Ocean Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, and Sheridan School.
VP, Finance
Matt brings deep financial understanding and operational expertise having worked for Marriott for 24 years leading Finance and Project Management teams across Operations, Brand, Design, and Information Technology. For the past three years, Matt has supported Marriott’s efforts to establish, activate, and advance the company’s Science-based Target and sustainability efforts at 8500+ hotels around the globe. In his current role, he leads the financial analysis, business case development, and investment recommendations in support of Marriott’s SBT. He holds a BA in Economics from Dickinson College and a MS in Financial Management from the University of Maryland.
VP of Engineering & Facilities, Global/US + CAN
Rob is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategy and operations of Engineering & Facilities for both the Americas and the global market. Rob has been with Marriott for over 39 years, starting his career in hospitality as an Engineer at the Denver West Marriott in 1983. As the Vice President of Engineering & Facilities, Global/US+CAN since 2010, Rob has been instrumental in implementing several invative and strategic programs to improve building and operating efficiencies. He has also been involved in design review, planning, and opening of many Marriott hotels. Rob is a member of several professional organizations, including the World Future Society, AEE, ASHRAE, BOMI, and NFPA
CEFNext
Senior Director, Sustainability & ESG Reporting
With a background in hospitality and facility operations, Claire joined the hotel industry to further its environmental responsibilities. Working at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, and as the property's Sustainability Champion, her passion for sustainability led her to Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Global Citizenship team, where she embedded corporate responsibility programs throughout the organization. Post the acquisition of Starwood by Marriott International, Claire joined Marriott's sustainability team where she provides strategic direction, planning and execution of the company's sustainability platforms globally. Dedicated to the goal of improving sustainability within hotel operations, Claire received her degree in hotel management from Cornell University and is a certified LEED Green Associate. In her free time, Claire raises awareness and funding for Alzheimer's research and enjoys far-flung travel destinations to embrace new cultures and better understand our global challenges.
Highlights
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL — Announced it has verified its 2030 and 2050 targets with SBTi. Marriott committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2% and certain Scope 3 emissions by 27.5% by 2030 (2019 baseline), and committed to reach net zero emissions across the value chain by 2050. It is also aiming for 22% of its suppliers (by emissions) covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, and upstream transportation and distribution to have science-based targets by 2028. (April 2024)
Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP) — HARP will work to accelerate sustainable performance within the hospitality industry. It will enhance collaboration between hospitality organizations and trading partners to build transparency and scale positive impact across their value chains. HARP addresses key challenges faced by supplier sustainability programs including accelerating suppliers’ performance improvement curve, and scaling up visibility by strengthening supplier engagement rate. HARP will work with EcoVadis for its rating methodology and improvement platform. CEF member Marriott International is one of the eight founding members.
NEW CORPORATE COMMITMENTS TO HIRE REFUGEES — 46 companies that are part of the Tent Partnership for Refugees committed to hire 22,725 refugees in full time positions in the U.S., helping to advance the economic and social integration of refugees across the country. This is the most significant set of business commitments in support of refugees on record. CEF member commitments include: Amazon will hire at least 5,000 refugees; Hyatt will hire 500; Marriott International, 1,500; and PepsiCo, 500, all over a three year period. The complete list of commitments is here. (Sept 2022)
More than 100 large companies and investors made a business case to the U.S. Congress and the Biden Administration last week for ambitious federal action on climate. The collective effort, called LEAD on Climate 2022 and organized by sustainability nonprofit Ceres, attracted participants—including CEF members Amazon, HP Inc, Marriott International, Microsoft, Netflix, PepsiCo, Siemens, and Unilever—that count a total of $1.6 trillion in annual revenue and $4.6 trillion in assets under management, and more than 3 million employees across all 50 states. Through two days of virtual meetings, they asked lawmakers and administration officials to (May 2022):
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
—
Is
developing a Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality as a cohesive framework for companies to drive regenerative impact across the sector, with support from the
World Travel & Tourism Council. The alliance, a group of hospitality companies comprising 30% of the sector, includes CEF members
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, Marriott International, and
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
CEF member
Ecolab is an alliance partner. (Nov 2021)
MORE »
A new, first-of-its-kind
Hotel Waste Measurement Methodology was issued for the hotel industry to collect data and measure and report on waste. The methodology was developed by
World Wildlife Fund
and sustainability consulting group
Greenview along with an industry working group including
Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts,
and Marriott International.
(Sept 2021)
MORE »
Marriott's CEO Arne Sorensen joined others on the Board of Directors of the Business Roundtable to create a special committee to advance racial equity and justice solutions. (June 2020)
Marriott International announced plans to replace single-use plastic shower toiletry bottles with larger, pump-topped bottles across its global properties. The company has already implemented these larger bottles at about 1,000 properties in North America, and expects most of its other hotels to make the switch by December 2020. (Sep 2019)
Marriott International announced that it has now trained 500,000 hotel workers to identify the signs of human trafficking in its hotels and how to respond if they do. The company has a mandatory human trafficking awareness training program for on-property staff in both managed and franchised properties. (Feb 2019)
laura@corporateecoforum.com | (617) 921-2307
Amy O’Meara, Executive Director
amy@corporateecoforum.com | (857) 222-8270
Mike Rama, Deputy Director
mike@corporateecoforum.com | (607) 287-9236
Margaret Zamoyta, Program Lead
margaret@corporateecoforum.com I (917) 678-4161
MR Rangaswami, Founder