Marriott International
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA global hospitality company that manages, franchises, licenses, and operates hotels, resorts, residences, and timeshare properties through a large multi-brand portfolio.
Last updated October 19, 2026
Overview
Marriott International is an American multinational hospitality company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. It is one of the world's largest lodging businesses by room count and operates a portfolio spanning luxury hotels, premium full-service properties, select-service hotels, extended-stay lodging, branded residences, vacation ownership, and timeshare offerings. Marriott generally does not own most of the real estate in its system. Its business is built primarily around hotel management agreements, franchise contracts, licensing arrangements, reservation infrastructure, loyalty programs, and brand standards, with a comparatively small number of properties owned and managed directly. The company traces its origins to 1927, when J. Willard Marriott, Alice Marriott, and a business partner opened a root beer stand in Washington, DC. The business evolved into the Hot Shoppes restaurant chain, which expanded through drive-in service and became publicly traded in 1953. Marriott entered lodging in 1957 with the opening of the Twin Bridges Marriott Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The lodging operation gradually became the central growth engine, while the company also explored cruise lines, theme parks, senior living, distribution, and other businesses. Marriott Corporation was divided in 1993 into Marriott International, which focused on managing and franchising lodging brands, and Host Marriott Corporation, now Host Hotels & Resorts, which retained a major hotel real-estate ownership role. This asset-light structure enabled Marriott to expand more quickly while collecting management and franchise fees rather than funding the full construction and ownership cost of every property. Marriott introduced online reservations in 1995 and subsequently expanded its global reservation, sales, loyalty, and procurement systems. The company strengthened its luxury presence through its acquisition of interests in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company during the 1990s and expanded its brand portfolio through the purchase of Renaissance Hotels and the Ramada brand, although Ramada was later sold to Cendant. In 2015 Marriott acquired Delta Hotels. Its most consequential transaction was the 2016 acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, bringing brands such as Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, and Le Méridien into the Marriott system. The transaction made Marriott the world's largest hotel company at the time and substantially increased its non-US presence. Marriott's current portfolio includes brands positioned from luxury and upper upscale to midscale and longer-stay accommodation. Major names include Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, Westin, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Renaissance, Courtyard, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites, Element, Aloft, and Moxy. The company also operates Marriott Bonvoy, a global loyalty and travel platform connecting hotel stays with member benefits, points, co-branded cards, and travel experiences. In 2019 Marriott acquired Elegant Hotels in Barbados, and in 2023 it completed the acquisition of Mexican operator Hoteles City Express. The latter extended Marriott into the affordable-midscale segment through City Express by Marriott and related brands. Marriott reported a network of more than 9,000 properties and approximately 1.6 million rooms in 2023 reference materials; later company materials described a larger system of more than 9,300 properties and more than 1.7 million rooms across 144 countries and territories. Exact totals vary by reporting date and by whether properties under development are included. The company has also faced significant scrutiny. Its former Starwood reservation database suffered a major data breach disclosed in 2018, followed by regulatory action and investigations. Marriott has faced criticism over resort-fee disclosure, animal-welfare sourcing, alleged supplier and management-contract practices, labor-r…
History
Marriott's history began in 1927, when J. Willard Marriott, Alice Marriott, and a business partner opened a root beer stand in Washington, DC. The operation obtained permission to sell food, became known as Hot Shoppes, and expanded through restaurant and drive-in service. By the early 1930s the Marriotts operated several locations in the Washington area. Hot Shoppes became a public company in 1953 and was renamed Marriott Corporation in 1967. The company entered lodging in 1957 with the Marriott Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, followed by the Marriott Key Bridge Motor Hotel in 1959. Lodging became increasingly important, although Marriott also diversified into cruise operations and theme parks. It opened two Marriott's Great America parks in 1976 and sold them in 1984. The company later exited or spun off several non-core activities, including senior living and distribution operations. In 1993 Marriott Corporation split into Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation. Marriott International concentrated on hotel management, franchising, and brand development, while Host retained much of the real-estate ownership activity. This separation established the asset-light model that has defined Marriott's modern expansion. Marriott launched online reservations in 1995 and built a centralized distribution and reservation platform for its growing network. Marriott entered the Ritz-Carlton business during the 1990s, first acquiring a minority interest and later obtaining majority ownership. It also acquired Renaissance Hotels and the Ramada brand in 1997, later selling the Ramada rights to Cendant. The company continued expanding internationally and in 2015 acquired Delta Hotels. The 2016 Starwood acquisition was the company's most important strategic transaction. It added Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, and other brands, increased Marriott's exposure outside the United States, and created the largest hotel company in the world at that time. The integration expanded the brand portfolio and increased the importance of Marriott's loyalty and distribution systems. Marriott has faced operational, legal, regulatory, and reputational challenges. Hotels connected with the company were affected by terrorist attacks in 2003, 2008, and 2009. In 2014 the US Federal Communications Commission fined Marriott over interference with customer-operated Wi-Fi networks at the Gaylord Opryland resort in Nashville. The company later faced criticism over resort-fee disclosure and lawsuits concerning so-called drip pricing. It has also faced disputes involving supplier arrangements, management contracts, labor relations, animal-welfare sourcing, and alleged conduct toward a hotel owner in Poland. The Starwood database breach disclosed in 2018 became Marriott's most prominent corporate crisis. The company initially estimated that data associated with up to 500 million guests might have been exposed, later revising the estimate to fewer than 383 million. Regulators in the United Kingdom and Australia took action or required remediation. A separate incident involving approximately 5.2 million customers was identified in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott introduced enhanced cleaning, disinfection, room, and public-area protocols. Occupancy fell to a low level as travel restrictions reduced demand. Arne Sorenson, chief executive since 2012, died in February 2021 after an illness, and Anthony Capuano became chief executive shortly afterward. Marriott moved into a new Bethesda headquarters campus in 2022 and completed the acquisition of Hoteles City Express in 2023, extending its system into affordable midscale lodging. The company continues to expand mainly through managed and franchised properties across a multi-brand global network.
- 2023
Hoteles City Express acquisition completed
[1]The transaction brought Marriott into Mexico's affordable-midscale lodging segment through City Express by Marriott.
- 2021
Anthony Capuano becomes chief executive
[1]Anthony Capuano succeeded Arne Sorenson as president and chief executive after Sorenson's death.
- 2019
Elegant Hotels acquired
[1]Marriott acquired Elegant Hotels, an operator of seven hotels in Barbados.
- 2018
Starwood database breach disclosed
[1]Marriott disclosed unauthorized access to the former Starwood guest reservation database.
- 2016
Starwood acquisition closes
[1]The completed transaction added Starwood's major hotel brands and made Marriott the world's largest hotel company at that point.
- 2015
Delta Hotels acquired
[1]Marriott acquired Canadian hotel chain Delta Hotels, which had 38 hotels at the time.
- 1997
Renaissance and Ramada brands acquired
[1]Marriott acquired Renaissance Hotels and the Ramada brand from related entities of Chow Tai Fook Group and New World Development.
- 1995
Online reservations introduced
[1]Marriott became an early major hotel company to offer online reservations.
- 1993
Marriott International is formed
[1]Marriott Corporation separated its lodging management and franchising business from its hotel real-estate ownership business.
- 1957
First Marriott hotel opens
[1]The company opened its first hotel, the Marriott Motor Hotel, in Arlington, Virginia.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A broad, asset-light global hospitality platform covering luxury, premium, select-service, midscale, extended-stay, residential, and vacation-ownership segments.
Premium full-service hotels
Marriott Hotels
The flagship Marriott brand offers full-service hotels aimed primarily at business and leisure travelers. Properties commonly combine guest rooms with restaurants, meeting facilities, fitness amenities, and business-oriented services. The brand serves as a broad premium platform within Marriott's system and is present in major cities, airports, convention destinations, and resort markets.
Luxury hotels and resorts
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton is Marriott's luxury hotel brand, positioned around highly personalized service, upscale design, premium dining, and destination-oriented resorts. The brand operates through management and franchise relationships and is supported by Marriott's global reservation and loyalty infrastructure while maintaining distinct luxury standards.
Luxury hotels and resorts
JW Marriott
JW Marriott targets affluent leisure and business travelers with upscale urban hotels and resorts. Its properties emphasize refined accommodation, wellness, food and beverage, meeting space, and service. The brand includes large destination properties such as the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai and operates in major international markets.
Upper-upscale full-service hotels
Sheraton
Sheraton is a large international full-service brand acquired through Starwood. It traditionally serves business, group, and leisure demand in city centers, commercial districts, and resort locations. Its scale, meeting facilities, and broad geographic coverage make it an important conversion and franchise platform within Marriott's portfolio.
Premium wellness-oriented hotels
Westin
Westin is positioned around wellness, rest, and a health-conscious travel experience. Its hotels commonly emphasize sleep quality, fitness, nutritious food, and restorative design alongside full-service accommodation. The brand serves upscale business and leisure travelers and joined Marriott through the Starwood acquisition.
Luxury hotels and resorts
St. Regis
St. Regis is a luxury brand associated with high-touch service, distinctive rituals, premium dining, and prestigious urban or resort locations. It addresses affluent leisure and business customers and operates as part of Marriott's luxury collection following the Starwood acquisition.
Luxury lifestyle hotels
W Hotels
W Hotels is a design-led lifestyle brand aimed at travelers seeking contemporary interiors, nightlife, dining, music, and social experiences. Its properties generally combine luxury accommodation with an energetic public-space concept and are located in major cities and resort destinations.
Select-service hotels
Courtyard by Marriott
Courtyard is a globally distributed select-service brand serving business and leisure travelers who want standardized accommodation with practical food, workspace, fitness, and meeting amenities. It is particularly common near offices, airports, highways, and secondary urban markets and is a major franchise and managed-hotel platform.
Extended-stay hotels
Residence Inn
Residence Inn provides extended-stay accommodation, generally with larger rooms or suites, kitchen facilities, breakfast, workspace, and residential amenities. It is designed for guests staying for several nights or longer, including relocating employees, project workers, medical travelers, and long-duration leisure guests.
Affordable-midscale hotels · 2023
City Express by Marriott
City Express by Marriott represents Marriott's entry into the affordable-midscale segment through its acquisition of Hoteles City Express. The family of brands is focused mainly on practical, standardized accommodation in Mexico and other Latin American markets, broadening Marriott's reach beyond its traditional premium and upscale emphasis.
Loyalty and travel platform
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott's loyalty and travel ecosystem. Members earn and redeem points through stays across participating brands and may receive tier benefits, upgrades, member pricing, and access to travel-related experiences. The program supports direct customer relationships, cross-brand demand, and Marriott's distribution strategy.
Controversies
2023
Poland hotel-management investigation
A criminal investigation in Poland concerned allegations by the owner of a Warsaw hotel that Marriott acted fraudulently or unethically during the pandemic, including disputes over maintenance, alternative use of the property, and payments. The allegations were not established here as final findings.
2021
Resort-fee disclosure criticism
Marriott faced investigation and class-action litigation concerning resort fees that were not clearly included in advertised room prices and whose included services were alleged to be insufficiently disclosed.
2020
Separate customer-information breach
Marriott reported the theft of contact information involving approximately 5.2 million customers in a separate security incident.
2020
Lawsuit alleges racial discrimination at Marriott hotel
A lawsuit filed against Marriott International alleged racial discrimination at the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Downtown-Convention Center. According to the report, Felicia Gonzales claimed that White guests at the hotel were not required to sign a no-party policy while she was required to do so. The report presents the allegation as made in the lawsuit and does not establish any determination or outcome in the matter.
2018
Starwood guest-data breach
Unauthorized access to the former Starwood reservation database exposed or potentially exposed guest information. The incident led to investigations, lawsuits, cybersecurity remediation, and regulatory action in multiple jurisdictions.
2014
Wi-Fi interference at Gaylord Opryland
The US Federal Communications Commission fined Marriott $600,000 after finding that a Wi-Fi monitoring system at the Gaylord Opryland Resort interfered with customer-owned wireless networks. The incident generated criticism of network practices and convention Wi-Fi charges.
Animal-welfare and cage-free egg criticism
Marriott has faced criticism from animal-welfare advocates over the use of eggs from caged hens and delays in meeting stated cage-free sourcing objectives in global operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Commitment to Clean
Global
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott introduced enhanced cleanliness and health protocols, including electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, additional room disinfecting materials, and changes to public-area furniture and spacing.
Outcome. The program supported reopening and communicated revised operating standards during a period of sharply reduced hotel demand.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire Hoteles City ExpressM&ABackground
Marriott wanted to broaden its presence in Mexico and enter the affordable-midscale segment.
Action taken
Marriott completed the acquisition of Hoteles City Express and brought the City Express family into its brand system.
Aftermath
The deal expanded Marriott's addressable market and created City Express by Marriott offerings in Latin America.
2020
Adopt enhanced pandemic operating standardsStrategyBackground
COVID-19 reduced travel demand and created heightened expectations for hotel hygiene and physical distancing.
Action taken
Marriott introduced additional disinfection procedures, electrostatic spraying, room supplies, and public-space adjustments.
Aftermath
The standards became part of the company's response to reopening and guest confidence during the pandemic.
2016
Acquire Starwood Hotels & ResortsM&ABackground
Marriott sought greater scale, a larger international footprint, and a broader collection of luxury and lifestyle brands.
Action taken
After a competing bid from an Anbang-led consortium, Marriott raised its offer and completed the Starwood acquisition on September 23, 2016.
Aftermath
The transaction added Starwood's brands and created the largest hotel company in the world at the time, while also producing significant integration and cybersecurity challenges.
Acquisition consideration. $13.6 billion revised offer (2016)
1993
Separate lodging management from hotel ownershipStrategyBackground
Marriott Corporation sought to distinguish its hotel operating and brand-development activities from the capital-intensive business of owning lodging real estate.
Action taken
It created Marriott International for management, franchising, and licensing and Host Marriott Corporation for hotel ownership.
Aftermath
The separation established the asset-light structure that supported Marriott's later global expansion.
Recent events
- 2023
Marriott expands into affordable midscale lodging[1]
M&A · Product launch
The company completed its acquisition of Mexican hotel operator Hoteles City Express and introduced City Express by Marriott brands.
- 2022
Marriott moves into new Bethesda headquarters[1]
Other
Employees began moving into Marriott's new headquarters campus in Bethesda, Maryland, with the building officially opened later that year.
- 2022
Marriott Bonvoy appoints Shu Qi as its first Asia-Pacific brand ambassador[5]
Campaign
Marriott Bonvoy launched the second phase of its “Power of Travel” campaign in China and introduced actor Shu Qi as its first Asia-Pacific brand ambassador.
- 2021
Marriott appoints Anthony Capuano as chief executive officer[6]
Leadership change
Following the death of Arne Sorenson, Marriott appointed Anthony Capuano as CEO and Stephanie Linnartz as president.
- 2016
Marriott completes Starwood acquisition[1]
M&A
Marriott closed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts after regulatory approvals, adding major brands and creating the world's largest hotel company by properties and rooms at the time.
- 1999
The last Hot Shoppes restaurant closes[7]
Other
The final Hot Shoppes location, in the Marlow Heights Shopping Center, closed after the corporate split.
- 1993
Marriott Corporation is divided into two companies[7]
M&A
The historical corporation was separated into Marriott International, which took the lodging and vacation businesses, and Host Marriott Corporation, which retained other activities.
- 1990
Marriott sells Roy Rogers restaurant chain[7]
M&A
Marriott sold Roy Rogers to Hardee's in a cash transaction, further reducing its restaurant holdings.
- 1988
Marriott purchases Wag's restaurants[7]
M&A
Marriott acquired all 91 Wag's restaurants from Walgreens, but later dissolved the chain.
- 1987
Marriott sells Big Boy franchise rights[7]
M&A
The company sold Big Boy franchise rights to Elias Brothers while retaining a number of company-owned Bob's Big Boy restaurants.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources20 sources
- 1Marriott Internationalen.wikipedia.org
- 2Marriott official websitemarriott.com
- 3Lawsuit alleges racial discrimination at Marriott hotelrollingout.com
- 4Marriott discloses Starwood guest-reservation database incidentzh.wikipedia.org
- 5Marriott Bonvoy appoints Shu Qi as its first Asia-Pacific brand ambassadormarriott.com.cn
- 6Marriott appoints Anthony Capuano as chief executive officerttgchina.com
- 7最后一家Hot Shoppes餐厅关闭en.wikipedia.org
- 8万豪国际与滴滴出行签署战略合作 携手探索创新服务体验prnasia.com
- 9CrowdStrike Announces Winners of Customer Excellence Awards at User Conference Fal.Con UNITE 2019ibtimes.com.au
- 10Marriott acquires Elegant as it seeks to grow all-inclusive offeringbreakingtravelnews.com
- 11Marriott acquires Elegant Hotels Group - LATTE Australialatteluxurynews.com
- 12Marriott Acquires Elegant Hotels in Barbados, Boosting All-Inclusive Offeringtravelmarketreport.com
- 13Marriott acquires W New York – Union Square in $206m dealbreakingtravelnews.com
- 14Marriott Appoints LP Giobbi as Music Director for W Hotels - North Americaasiatraveltips.com
- 15Marriott completes acquisition of Elegant Hotels Grouptraveldailymedia.com
- 16Marriott International acquires Elegant Hotels Groupftnnews.com
- 17Marriott International Completes Acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group for £100.8 Millionhotelnewsresource.com
- 18Marriott International Signs Landmark Agreement with FICO Corporation for Seven Hotels in Thailand - Hospitality Netnews.google.com
- 19Marriott launches new Eat Around Town dining rewards program - The Points Guythepointsguy.com
- 20United announces London bag delivery service and extra Newark-Heathrow flightbusinesstraveller.com
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