(Bloomberg) -- In this first episode, Alex Sherman and Bloomberg's managing editor for global M&A Jeff McCracken discuss why Marriott International Inc.'s $12.2 billion purchase of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is just the tip of the iceberg in hotel consolidation. They also speak with University of Michigan Law School professor Erik Gordon, who explains why transaction volume this year is on a record-setting pace, even though most deals ultimately fail to create value. Hint: It's all about ego.

<p>(Bloomberg) -- In this first episode, Alex Sherman and Bloomberg's managing editor for global M&amp;A Jeff McCracken discuss why Marriott International Inc.'s $12.2 billion purchase of Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts Worldwide Inc. is just the tip of the iceberg in hotel consolidation. They also speak with University of Michigan Law School professor Erik Gordon, who explains why transaction volume this year is on a record-setting pace, even though most deals ultimately fail to create value. Hint: It's all about ego.</p>

Bloomberg M&A reporters, joined by outside experts and members of Bloomberg's Deals team, examines the week's biggest deals and highlights M&A trends most under scrutiny by Wall Street. He'll talk to reporters who broke Bloomberg's major scoops and interview investors, executives, lawyers and bankers for an inside peek into what's going on inside corporate boardrooms and what it's like working with the world's largest companies and richest people.

Bloomberg M&A reporter Alex Sherman examines the week's biggest deals and highlights M&A trends most under scrutiny by Wall Street.

Deal of the Week

Episode 1: Ego Drives Dealmaking

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/eb13d95f-1fba-4111-847d-ae39005c4cfc/transcript