Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences – L.A. LIVE serve the community through year-round partnerships that address urgent local needs, from homelessness and food insecurity to children’s health and environmental stewardship. The properties were selected as the winner of this year’s Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service for their sustained, values-led commitment to “generously giving of our time, energy and resources” in ways that strengthen the lives of neighbors, associates, and guests.

The properties’ community engagement is guided by a planning committee that brings together hourly associates and hotel leadership to build a monthly calendar of initiatives aligned to Marriott’s Serve 360 coordinates, with senior leaders actively championing participation throughout the year.

• Nurture Our World: The team prioritizes children and families through hands-on support for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, including participating in “Companies for Kids”, volunteer days that bring simple moments of comfort to patients, caregivers, and staff. Associates also strengthen community resiliency through ongoing volunteer shifts with the L.A. Food Bank, assembling food boxes for families facing food insecurity. When the Los Angeles wildfires impacted local communities in 2025, the team responded by assembling hygiene kits with handwritten notes and donating event space to host the Los Angeles Unified School District graduation celebration for unhoused students.
• Sustain Responsible Operations: Environmental stewardship is supported through initiatives such as beach clean-ups in Marina del Rey and ongoing recycling and sustainability efforts. The properties also participate in Clean the World, an initiative that helps hotels divert discarded soap from landfills and repurpose it into new bars for communities in need.
• Empower Through Opportunity: The properties invest in future talent through hospitality exposure and education by hosting student tours, career-learning experiences, and supporting local partners focused on youth stability and growth.
• Welcome All and Advance Human Rights: The team advances opportunity for all through partnerships and advocacy, including support for scholarship initiatives that reduce financial barriers for students pursuing higher education.

In 2025, the properties recorded 6,135 volunteer hours from 905 volunteers and raised nearly $90,000 in combined cash and in-kind donations, reflecting a culture where service is prioritized and sustained across the organization.