(MENAFN- Marriott) Amman, Jordan — 03/12/2025
The Jordan Marriott Hotels Cluster is pleased to share that Philip Papadopoulos, Area General Manager for the Jordan Marriott Hotels Cluster, has been honored with the Stephen G. Marriott Award for Distinguished Leadership, presented by the Marriott Worldwide Business Council, in recognition of his exceptional service as Guidance Team Leader for the Middle East & Africa Business Councils.
The award was presented by Debbie Marriott Harrison, Member of the Board of Directors and Global Cultural Ambassador Emeritus, and Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President for Community Engagement and Business Councils.
Over 40 Years of Transformative Leadership with Marriott International
Philip joined Marriott in 1985, progressing from Food & Beverage leadership roles to senior sales positions before becoming General Manager of the Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa in 2002, later stepping into the role of Area General Manager for Jordan Cluster.
His Jordan journey began with the opening of the Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, where he created one of the country’s earliest large-scale community hiring programs, training hundreds of young women and men from rural areas and introducing them to careers in hospitality.

Leader of One of Marriott’s Most Awarded Business Councils
Philip led the Jordan Business Council from 2005 until 2022 making it one of the most awarded Small Business Councils in Marriott globally, with more than 17 council awards, including Business Council Chair of the Year (2011).
Under his chairmanship, the Jordan Business Council achieved:
•Over 524 community initiatives
•5,501 volunteers and 98,845 volunteer hours
•More than USD 2.1 million in cash and in-kind support from 2014–2020
These efforts supported King Hussein Cancer Foundation, Flying Doctors of America, orphans, youth development, refugees, and national charities.

A Deep Humanitarian Footprint
Philip raised more than USD 835,000 for various charities since 2015, with a significant portion dedicated to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, Al-Aman Fund, and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, as well as other meaningful charities supporting orphans, the elderly, and communities in need. His generosity and commitment have been repeatedly recognized by the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, which honored him for his “immense generosity” and “unwavering support” in letters of appreciation issued in 2017 and 2021.
Alongside this, his leadership empowered:
•Local hiring, with over 70% of Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa associates coming from nearby communities where employment opportunities are essential for improving livelihoods.
•Youth vocational programs benefiting more than 2,000 students (USAID endorsement)
•Support for more than 14,000 refugees through Flying Doctors medical missions
•Female leadership development across Jordan Marriott Hotels

Regional Leadership Impact
In 2022, Philip was appointed Guidance Team Leader for the Middle East & Africa Business Councils, responsible for steering strategy, governance, and mentorship across 11 councils — a recognition of his integrity, fairness, and long-standing influence. Under his leadership, Marriott International hotels across the Middle East & Africa region united in a remarkable display of solidarity through the 2023 “Day for Life” initiative, successfully raising USD 447,127 to support earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

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