Marriott International has outlined its political activity policies with high transparency and clear oversight. The company details its political contributions through various channels including its Political Action Committee (MARPAC), 501(c)(4) organization contributions, state and local contributions, and ballot measure contributions. Additionally, senior leadership, notably the Executive Vice President and Chief Global Communications & Public Affairs Officer, is charged with managing and approving all political contributions. These measures aim to ensure compliance with legal requirements while providing clear public disclosure.

Marriott International faced allegations of using vulnerable migrant workers as strike breakers in California amidst labour rights violations. In its response, the company reiterated its support for freedom of association and collective bargaining per its Human Rights Policy, while deferring responsibility to third‐party franchise operators.

The Anaheim Marriott, part of Marriott International, was fined $12.5 million by California's labor commissioner for failing to rehire 28 long-serving employees laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, violating worker-recall rights laws.

On October 8, 2024, the Anaheim Marriott—operated by Marriott International—was cited for failing to rehire long‑serving employees in accordance with California's worker recall law, resulting in estimated damages of $12.5 million. The violation involved bypassing seniority rights by hiring new or agency staff instead of these laid‐off workers.

Marriott International published its Modern Slavery Statement detailing a wide range of initiatives from 2022, including extensive human trafficking awareness training, donation of enhanced training materials to the hospitality industry, rigorous due diligence for suppliers, and responsible sourcing practices to combat labor exploitation and modern slavery.

Marriott International, through one of its Residence Inn properties, hosted a conference featuring white nationalist Nick Fuentes. During the event, Fuentes expressed extremist views, including praise for Hitler and hateful rhetoric against marginalized groups. The incident raised significant concerns about the venue's vetting practices and its impact on vulnerable communities.

On January 10, 2021, Marriott announced that its Political Action Committee (PAC) would cease donating to politicians who challenged the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election results. This decision marks a significant stance against supporting figures linked to anti-democratic actions.

On September 27, 2017, Marriott International's CEO Arne Sorenson publicly addressed criticism over the company's decision to host the Act for America conference—a meeting organized by a group designated as anti-Muslim by the SPLC. While Sorenson emphasized that U.S. hotels cannot legally discriminate on who they accommodate, the decision has raised concerns about the company's role in providing a platform for hate-driven ideologies.