Marriott International is an American multinational company that operates, franchises, and licenses lodging including hotel, residential, and timeshare properties. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The company was founded by J. Willard Marriott and his wife Alice Marriott.
Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world by the number of available rooms. It has 30 brands with 7,642 properties containing 1,423,044 rooms in 131 countries and territories. Of these 7,642 properties, 2,149 are operated by Marriott, and 5,493 are operated by others pursuant to franchise agreements. The company also operates 20 hotel reservation centers.
Marriott International, Inc. was formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into two companies: Marriott International, Inc., which franchises and manages properties, and Host Marriott Corporation (now Host Hotels & Resorts), which owns properties.
It all began with an A&W root beer stand. Founder J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, got their young business off the ground by quenching people’s thirst during Washington D.C.’s hot, muggy summers. Good food and good service at a fair price became a guiding principle for Hot Shoppes restaurants–and for Marriott International as it grew.
1927: Newlyweds J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, along with business partner Hugh Colton, open the first A&W root beer franchise in Washington, D.C.
1927: The Marriotts add hot food items to their menu–a first for A&W franchises–and the name “Hot Shoppes” is born.
1928: The Marriotts open two more Hot Shoppes, including the East Coast’s first drive-in restaurant.
1937: In-flight airline catering debuts when Hot Shoppes begins delivery of boxed lunches to passengers at Hoover Airport, south of Washington, D.C.
1953: Hot Shoppes, Inc. stock becomes public at $10.25/share and sells out in two hours of trading.
Marriott made a historic shift into the hotel business in 1957. The world’s first motor hotel opened in Arlington, Virginia, under the management of J. Willard Marriott’s son, Bill. Over the next 25 years, Marriott became a diverse global enterprise, and Bill Marriott became a visionary CEO whose leadership transformed the hospitality industry.
1959: Key Bridge Marriott opens. Two-year-old Debbie Marriott, Bill and Donna’s daughter, snips the ribbon.
1969: Marriott opens its first international hotel in Acapulco, Mexico.
1972: Marriott partners with Sun Line, becoming the first lodging company to enter the cruise business.
1972: J.W. Marriott, Jr. is named Chief Executive Officer of Marriott.
1983: Marriott debuts lodging for business travelers with the first Courtyard hotel.
1984: The first JW Marriott, named in honor of founder J. Willard Marriott, opens in downtown Washington, D.C.
1985: J. Willard Marriott, Sr. passes away, and J.W. Marriott, Jr. is elected Chairman of the Board.
One company, many brands–that’s the innovative model that Marriott began building in the late 1980s. From pioneering the extended-stay business to launching distinctive brands geared toward the business traveler to increasing its presence overseas, Marriott International broke new ground in its quest to become the #1 hospitality company in the world.
1987: With the opening of the first Fairfield Inn and Marriott Suites hotels, Marriott becomes the first lodging company to offer a portfolio of brands.
1987: Marriott acquires Residence Inn and pioneers the extended-stay lodging business.
1988: Marriott opens its 500th hotel in Warsaw, Poland, the first western-managed hotel in Eastern Europe.
1995: Marriott brings a historic brand into its portfolio when it acquires a 49% interest in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
1997: Marriott acquires Renaissance Hotel Group, doubling Marriott’s presence overseas.
1997: Marriott launches TownePlace Suites.
1998: Marriott launches SpringHill Suites by Marriott.
1999: Marriott acquires ExecuStay corporate housing company.
2000: Marriott International co-founder Alice Sheets Marriott passes at the age of 92.
2004: The first Bulgari Hotels & Resorts property opens in Milan, Italy.
2008: Bill Marriott and Ian Schrager officially announce the EDITION brand.
2009: Marriott launches Autograph Collection, a new brand of upscale and luxury independent hotels.
2011: AC Hotels by Marriott brand formally launches.
Today we are on a mission to shape the future of travel through technology and innovation. From mobile check-in and lobby Greatrooms to transforming the meeting experience with our Red Coat Direct app, we are making travel more brilliant for our guests.
2012: Arne Sorenson becomes President and CEO of Marriott International.
2012: Marriott acquires Gaylord Hotels Brand adding five hotels and approximately 2 million square feet of meeting and event space.
2013: Marriott debuts MOXY HOTELS – The new brand is the company’s first entry into the economy tier, three-star hospitality segment in Europe.
2013: Design-focused AC Hotels by Marriott brand is imported into the Americas.
2014: Marriott nearly doubles distribution in Africa to more than 23,000 rooms with its acquisition of Protea Hotels’ Brands.
2015: Marriott International acquires Delta Hotels and Resorts®; Becomes the Largest Full-Service Hotelier in Canada.
2016: Marriott International acquires Starwood Hotels & Resorts, creating the world’s largest hotel company with 5,700+ properties offering more than 1.1 million rooms across 30 brands in over 110 countries.
2021: Anthony Capuano becomes Chief Executive Officer and Stephanie Linnartz becomes President of Marriott International.
Although the pandemic challenged Marriott International over the last year, putting people first remains our top priority. We invite you to learn more about the measures we’ve taken to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our associates. It’s because of them we’ve proven to be a resilient force with a rich 94-year history.
Our founders, J.W. and Alice Marriott, started with a small idea: a root beer stand. From there, it grew into a small hotel business, and then another, bigger one. Together they created something that changed their future—and maybe yours. A great career is about seizing new opportunities, building meaningful relationships and being a force of good in the world.
Our mission is to delight and surprise our guests at every encounter. This starts by treating our associates like family, and fostering an environment built around creativity, teamwork and collaboration.
At Marriott International Residences, associates have the unique opportunity to make a lasting impression and help residents enjoy an elevated lifestyle on an everyday basis.
Our corporate associates help define the company’s path and direct the business and operations to ensure we remain the world’s leading hospitality company.
Our Voyage program accelerates the training of university students and recent graduates by exposing them to several functions within our global hotel network and providing mentors to personalize their learning experience.
