Marriott Hotels remain a family run business with family values as they approach their 100 year anniversary. Their culture is what makes Marriott a great place to work, they live by the founding belief of "Putting People First" and Bill Marriott's belief from day one was that if you take care of your associates, they will take care of the customer, and the customer will keep coming back. This is the company's most important and enduring principle. Their culture ensures that everyone is treated with respect and in a fair manner. In keeping with this long-established policy, all candidates will be considered for employment, promotion or training on the basis of qualifications, without regard to race, colour, age, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability. Culture provides their people meaning, purpose and guidance and acts like a magnet, drawing high calibre people to the company and keeping them on-board. Marriott nourishes its culture and celebrates their people through associate recognition programmes such as: length of service awards, 'The Willard Marriott Award of Excellence', the 'Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service,' to name a few.