Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     We, the  undersigned  directors of Sodexho  Marriott  Services,  Inc.  (the
"Corporation"), do hereby constitute and appoint Robert A. Stern and Joan Rector
McGlockton, or either or both of them, with full power of substitution, our true
and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  to do any and all acts and things in
our names and our  behalf in our  capacities  as  directors  for the  purpose of
executing and filing,  on behalf of the Corporation,  a Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended  September 1, 2000,  including  any exhibits  thereto and any and all
amendments thereto; and we hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and
agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this
Power of Attorney or a counterpart,  all of which together shall  constitute one
and the same instrument to be effective as of October 17, 2000.






                                                      

/s/ WILLIAM J. SHAW                                      /s/ PIERRE BELLON
- ------------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
William J. Shaw, Director                                Pierre Bellon, Director

/s/ BERNARD CARTON                                       /s/ EDOUARD DE ROYERE
- ------------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Bernard Carton, Director                                 Edouard de Royere, Director

/s/ JOHN W. MARRIOTT III                                 /s/ MICHEL LANDEL
- ------------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
John W. Marriott III, Director                           Michel Landel, Director

/s/ DANIEL J. ALTOBELLO
- ------------------------------------------------
Daniel J. Altobello, Director