April 27, 2026
National Restaurant Association Names Richard “Dick” Marriott as 2026 Legends Award Recipient
Marriott to be recognized at 2026 IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards for lifetime of service to the restaurant and foodservice industry
Washington, D.C. – The National Restaurant Association today announced Richard “Dick” E. Marriott as the recipient of its 2026 Legends Award, honoring his lifetime contributions to the restaurant and hospitality industry and his enduring leadership within the Association. The award will be presented at the Gold & Silver Plate Awards, hosted by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, on May 16, in Chicago.
Richard “Dick” Marriott has been a steadfast leader and advocate for America’s restaurant industry for more than six decades. He began his career in the hospitality industry at an early age, working as a teen in his parents’ Hot Shoppes restaurants, officially joining the company as a restaurant manager in 1965. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Host Hotels & Resorts and Chairman of First Media Corporation.
Marriott served as Chair of the National Restaurant Association Board in 1992 and has remained deeply engaged in advancing the Association’s mission to protect and promote the industry. He is the namesake and driving force behind the Richard E. Marriott Golf Invitational, a cornerstone fundraising event benefiting the Restaurant Advocacy Fund—the restaurant industry’s only national fund dedicated to advocacy at the state and local levels of government. The event has raised nearly $9 million in critical funding to support restaurant advocacy across the country.
Marriott believes the hospitality industry offers a wide range of jobs and opportunities, and he is committed to supporting education and training for young people—especially those with disabilities. He was instrumental in establishing the Bridges from School to Work program in 1989, a non-profit with the mission of transforming the lives of youth with disabilities through the power of a job—often in the hospitality industry—and has served continuously as its chairman. The Marriott Foundation, which he also chairs, helped launch the creation of the J. Willard Marriott School of Hospitality at the University of Utah in 2025. He has a strong commitment to organizations and institutions that help people live healthy lives and the communities that support both the Host Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International associates, guests and business endeavors.
“Dick Marriott embodies what it means to be a true legend of our industry—someone whose leadership, generosity, and commitment have made restaurants better places to work for everyone who depends on them,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Through decades of service to the National Restaurant Association and his unwavering support of the Restaurant Advocacy Fund, Dick has helped create a stronger policy environment where restaurants can thrive and people can build meaningful careers. His impact reaches far beyond any single role or moment, and we are proud to honor him with the 2026 Legends Award.”
Selected by the National Restaurant Association Governance Committee, the Legends Award is presented to an individual demonstrating a lifetime of dedication to the restaurant and hospitality industry. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of service, integrity, and commitment to advancing the industry.
Marriott will be honored during the IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards, which have celebrated excellence in foodservice since 1954. The awards recognize restaurant and foodservice leaders whose careers have shaped the future of the industry.
Richard “Dick” Marriott has been a steadfast leader and advocate for America’s restaurant industry for more than six decades. He began his career in the hospitality industry at an early age, working as a teen in his parents’ Hot Shoppes restaurants, officially joining the company as a restaurant manager in 1965. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Host Hotels & Resorts and Chairman of First Media Corporation.
Marriott served as Chair of the National Restaurant Association Board in 1992 and has remained deeply engaged in advancing the Association’s mission to protect and promote the industry. He is the namesake and driving force behind the Richard E. Marriott Golf Invitational, a cornerstone fundraising event benefiting the Restaurant Advocacy Fund—the restaurant industry’s only national fund dedicated to advocacy at the state and local levels of government. The event has raised nearly $9 million in critical funding to support restaurant advocacy across the country.
Marriott believes the hospitality industry offers a wide range of jobs and opportunities, and he is committed to supporting education and training for young people—especially those with disabilities. He was instrumental in establishing the Bridges from School to Work program in 1989, a non-profit with the mission of transforming the lives of youth with disabilities through the power of a job—often in the hospitality industry—and has served continuously as its chairman. The Marriott Foundation, which he also chairs, helped launch the creation of the J. Willard Marriott School of Hospitality at the University of Utah in 2025. He has a strong commitment to organizations and institutions that help people live healthy lives and the communities that support both the Host Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International associates, guests and business endeavors.
“Dick Marriott embodies what it means to be a true legend of our industry—someone whose leadership, generosity, and commitment have made restaurants better places to work for everyone who depends on them,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Through decades of service to the National Restaurant Association and his unwavering support of the Restaurant Advocacy Fund, Dick has helped create a stronger policy environment where restaurants can thrive and people can build meaningful careers. His impact reaches far beyond any single role or moment, and we are proud to honor him with the 2026 Legends Award.”
Selected by the National Restaurant Association Governance Committee, the Legends Award is presented to an individual demonstrating a lifetime of dedication to the restaurant and hospitality industry. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of service, integrity, and commitment to advancing the industry.
Marriott will be honored during the IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards, which have celebrated excellence in foodservice since 1954. The awards recognize restaurant and foodservice leaders whose careers have shaped the future of the industry.
About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.7 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find @WeRRestaurants on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.