Marriott International

In May 1927, Marriott International starts as an A&W Root Beer franchise in Washington, D.C. Founders J. Willard and Alice Sheets Marriott initially focus on quenching people's thirst during the hot summers in the city.

After Hugh Colton moved back to Utah in 1928, J.W. and Alice Marriott took over and focused on growing their Hot Shoppes business. This marked a significant turning point for the Marriotts as they continued to expand their enterprise.

In 1937, J.W. Marriott decided to expand his business by delivering food to airlines at Hoover Airport after visiting his Hot Shoppe near the airport. The in-flight airline catering division remained a part of the company until 1989.

In 1956, J. Willard Marriott experimented with propeller-side service at the 14th Street Bridge Hot Shoppe in Washington, D.C. This innovative approach aimed to provide convenient service to customers.

On January 16, 1957, Marriott International opened its first hotel, the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, marking the company's entry into the hospitality industry.

In 1959, the Marriotts expanded their hotel business by opening the Key Bridge Motor Hotel in Rosslyn, Virginia. Company founder J.W. Marriott was assisted by his granddaughter, Debbie Marriott, and actress Dina Merrill during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In 1964, J.W. Marriott, Jr. assumed leadership of Marriott Corporation, eventually transforming it into a global hospitality giant with over 8,000 properties worldwide.

In 1966, Marriott's airline catering division, In-Flite, acquires a flight kitchen in Caracas, Venezuela, to serve various airlines at Maiquetia Airport.

In 1967, Hot Shoppes, Inc. was renamed as the Marriott Corporation, signifying a shift in the company's focus and expansion beyond the restaurant business.

In 1968, J.W. and Alice Marriott, accompanied by their son J.W. Marriott, Jr., explored the grounds of the recently purchased Camelback Inn in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1969, Marriott opened its 11th hotel, which was the company's first international property called The Paraiso in Acapulco Bay, Mexico.

In 1975, Marriott expanded its business by opening its first hotel in Europe, specifically in Amsterdam.

In 1976, Marriott established two Great America theme parks in Gurnee, Illinois, and Santa Clara, California. These parks were later sold in 1984.

In 1977, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary and also initiated the construction of a new headquarters building.

In 1979, the Marriott Corporation relocated to its new headquarters located in Bethesda, Maryland, marking a significant milestone for the company.

In 1981, the 100th Marriott hotel, the Maui Marriott Resort, opens in Hawaii. J.W. Marriott and Bill Marriott, Jr. celebrate the milestone with a special ribbon cutting ceremony.

In 1982, the Cairo Marriott Hotel and Omar Al Khayyam Casino became the first of Marriott's African hotels. The central section of the hotel was originally the Gezirah Palace, constructed in 1869.

Marriott introduces a new hotel brand called Courtyard by Marriott in 1983, catering specifically to business travelers and designed by business travelers. The brand initially opens a few locations in the Atlanta, Georgia area before expanding nationwide.

In 1984, the first JW Marriott Hotel was inaugurated in Washington, D.C., with Bill Marriott, Jr. dedicating it to his father, the founder of the company, who had seen the project completed before his passing.

In 1987, Marriott acquired Residence Inn, a hotel chain founded in 1975 in Kansas, marking its expansion into the extended stay market.

In 1989, the Warsaw Marriott, Marriott's 500th hotel, commences operations in Poland. It stands as the initial western-managed hotel in Eastern Europe and the tallest in Warsaw.

Marriott Corporation split into two companies in 1993, leading to the formation of Marriott International, Inc. which focuses on franchising and managing properties.

In 1995, Marriott purchased a 49% stake in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, adding an iconic luxury brand to its portfolio.

Marriott International, Inc. was founded in 1996. It has since become a leading player in the global hospitality sector.

In 1997, Marriott acquired the upscale lodging company Renaissance Hotel Group, expanding its presence in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Australia.

In 1998, Marriott acquired an additional 49% of The Ritz-Carlton, almost reaching full ownership of the luxury brand.

In 1999, the last Hot Shoppe, which opened more than 72 years ago, closed in Marlow Heights, Maryland. The company founders' sons, Bill Marriott, Jr. and Richard Marriott, were involved in the closing activities.

The Marriott World Trade Center was destroyed during the tragic events of the September 11 attacks in 2001, leaving a significant impact on the company.

In 2002, CTF Hotel Holdings Inc. filed a lawsuit against Marriott, alleging that Marriott engaged in extortion and bribery by overpaying for audio-visual services and accepting bribes from suppliers. Marriott had to return 1.7 million dollars to CTF Hotel.

In 2007, Marriott International announces its collaboration with hotelier Ian Schrager and creates EDITION Hotels, a new lifestyle luxury boutique hotel brand.

The Ritz-Carlton was integrated into Marriott in 2008, expanding the company's luxury offerings.

In 2009, Marriott introduced Autograph Collection, a new line of high-end independent hotels.

In 2013, Moxy Hotels was introduced as a trendy and budget-friendly brand under the Marriott umbrella, catering specifically to millennial travelers.

Marriott announced the acquisition of Starwood for $13 billion, creating the world's largest hotel company after a bidding war with Anbang Insurance Group.

In 2016, Marriott International completed the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, becoming the largest hotel company in the world. A celebration took place in New York City’s Time Square.

Marriott's Americas IT team is currently integrating the entire Starwood portfolio in North America and Canada into the existing Marriott organization, impacting over 125 properties.

Marriott disclosed a data breach affecting former Starwood brands, leading to investigations and fines for GDPR violations.

Marriott Bonvoy was formed in February 2019 through the merger of Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. It is Marriott's loyalty program.

President and CEO Arne Sorenson passed away from pancreatic cancer, leading to a leadership change within Marriott.

In August 2022, employees started moving into the company's new 21-story headquarters building on Wisconsin Avenue, ahead of the official opening on September 21. The building was part of a $600 million downtown Bethesda campus.

On May 1, 2023, Marriott completed the acquisition of Mexican hotelier Hoteles City Express, marking its entry into the affordable midscale-segment under City Express by Marriott brands.