AC Hotels by Marriott, formerly named AC Hoteles C. A., is a midscale hotel chain owned by Marriott International serving business and leisure travelers. As of June 30, 2020, it had 170 hotels with 25,811 rooms in addition to 135 hotels with 23,172 rooms in the pipeline.[4]
History
In 1997, Antonio Catalán founded AC Hoteles C. A. after selling his 35% share in NH Hotel Group.[1]
In 2005, business austerity measures resulted in conference cancellations and widespread bans on business trips for several years. The downturn forced AC to team with a major Spanish rival in 2009 in a management deal that cut costs at both chains. The chain rebranded after a needed, but undisclosed, investment by Marriott. A new joint company assumed the management, but property ownerships remained with existing parties.[2][5]