KENNESAW, GA—Maurice Orton “Bus” Ryan, a retired SVP at Marriott and former AH&LA chairman has died. He was 84.
Before embarking on a career in hospitality, Ryan attended Cornell University, graduating with a degree in hotel administration and later attended the executive graduate program at Stanford University. Upon college graduation, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received the rank of first lieutenant.
He married his wife, Carmen, in 1956 and they moved to New York City, where he began his hotel career at the Statler Hilton in Sales and Convention Service.
After four years with Hilton, Bus joined hospitality pioneers Bill Marriott Sr., and Jr., when they only had two properties and were growing the Marriott brand, according to his family. In October 1965, after serving with the Marriotts for five years, he moved to Atlanta to open and become GM of their sixth Marriott hotel. In 1969, Ryan became the first regional VP for Marriott Hotels. During this time, Ryan and his regional team opened 32 Marriott hotels and resorts in the U.S., Bermuda and Mexico. He was grateful to witness Bill Marriott Jr.’s success in building Marriott International to now be the world’s largest hotel management company, his family shared.
After 28 years, Ryan retired as a SVP with the brand. In 1993, he was elected chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA). Ryan served on numerous boards, including AAA, Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association (which named him the 1988 Hotelier of the Year), Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Central Atlanta Progress, Georgia Business Council, American Hotel Foundation and the Board of Governors at Congressional Country Club.