Marriott Names Daniel Dubowski Chief Information Security Officer

Leadership Appointment and Mandate

Marriott International has appointed Daniel Dubowski as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, a company spokesperson confirmed. Mr. Dubowski will oversee information security across Marriott’s global operations, reporting directly to Naveen Manga, Marriott’s Chief Information Officer. He takes over the position from Arno Van Der Walt.

Mr. Dubowski’s appointment was publicly noted by Mr. Manga in a LinkedIn post on Monday, 17 August 2026. According to his professional profile, Mr. Dubowski previously held the same Chief Information Security Officer role at the car rental company Hertz.

Mr. Manga stated that Mr. Dubowski brings extensive background in leading cybersecurity and risk programmes across various sectors, including hospitality, travel, financial services, and healthcare. This background, Mr. Manga added, will be instrumental in reinforcing trust, resilience, and security throughout Marriott’s worldwide operations. Marriott declined to specify Mr. Dubowski’s direct responsibilities beyond this general mandate.

Strategic Technology Transformation

Mr. Dubowski's appointment aligns with Marriott's ongoing multiyear technology transformation, a strategic initiative focused on modernising its digital infrastructure. Marriott CIO Naveen Manga outlined aspects of this transformation during a virtual event in May 2026.

The programme involves deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance guest activities and to support hotel associates and owners. As part of this effort, Marriott is introducing a conversational search tool for travellers during the summer of 2026. Additionally, the company is testing automation solutions across its hotel operations to streamline processes.

Mr. Manga noted that Mr. Dubowski would assist in ensuring that this technological evolution incorporates "security by design and trust by design" as fundamental principles in all new developments. This emphasis underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures within the company's broader digital strategy.

Industry Implications and Future Outlook

The move by Marriott reflects a broader trend within the global hospitality sector, where digital transformation and data protection are paramount concerns. As hotel groups increasingly rely on advanced technologies like AI and automation to improve customer interaction and operational efficiency, the integrity of their information systems becomes critical.

The appointment of a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer with a comprehensive background in diverse industries demonstrates Marriott’s proactive stance on mitigating cyber risks.

For travellers, this focus on security means a continued emphasis on safeguarding personal data and transaction details, aiming to maintain confidence in digital booking and stay management tools.

The industry will observe how Marriott's "security by design" approach influences its technology rollouts and whether it sets a precedent for other major hotel chains in an era of heightened cyber threats.