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Gaylord Hotels

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Marriott International, Inc.
Company typePublic
IndustryHospitality
PredecessorMarriott Corporation (hospitality segment)
FoundedApril 5, 1927; 99 years ago (1927-04-05) in Washington, D.C., United States
FounderJ. Willard Marriott, Alice Marriott
Headquarters
Bethesda, Maryland
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Anthony Capuano (CEO), David Marriott (Chairman)
ProductsHotels, residential units, timeshare properties
Number of employees
(not specified)
ParentNone
Websitewww.marriott.com

Marriott International, Inc. is a global American corporation specializing in the operation, franchising, and licensing of lodging brands, encompassing hotels, residential units, and timeshare properties. As of 2023, the company manages a portfolio exceeding 37 hotel and timeshare brands, with more than 9,000 locations and a total of 1,597,380 rooms worldwide. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Marriott International emerged as the successor to the hospitality segment of the original Marriott Corporation, established by its founders J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott.

With its broad brand assortment and international reach, Marriott holds a prominent position within the hospitality sector, employing its business framework to enhance revenue streams and expand its market presence across a variety of customer segments.

Profile

Globally recognized as the largest hotel chain by room availability, Marriott International operates 36 distinct brands comprising 9,361 properties that offer a combined total of 1,706,331 rooms across 144 countries. Among these properties, 1,981 are managed without ownership by Marriott; 7,192 are franchised and overseen by independent operators; and 51 locations are both owned and directly managed by the company. Additionally, Marriott manages 20 hotel reservation centers worldwide.

The company's current form was established in 1993 following the division of Marriott Corporation into two entities: Marriott International focusing on franchising and management services, and Host Marriott Corporation (now known as Host Hotels & Resorts), which concentrated on property ownership. Reflecting the founders' affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, guest rooms often include copies of the Book of Mormon alongside traditional Bibles.

Founding and early years

Marriott’s origins trace back to 1927 when entrepreneur John Willard Marriott and his wife Alice launched a root beer stand in Washington, D.C. After completing his studies at The University of Utah and identifying a market opportunity for year-round dining options, Marriott expanded into Hot Shoppes restaurants. The introduction of innovations such as drive-in service fueled rapid expansion; by 1932, seven Hot Shoppes locations operated within the D.C. metropolitan area. Hot Shoppes, Inc. went public in 1953 through an initial public offering.

The company's first hotel venture was the Marriott Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, inaugurated in 1957 with rates starting at $9 per night plus $1 for each additional guest. Its second hotel debuted in 1959 and continued operations until its closure in 2021, marking one of Marriott’s longest-standing properties. In 1967, reflecting a shift towards broader hospitality services, Hot Shoppes was renamed Marriott Corporation.

As part of its diversification strategy during the early years, Marriott acquired Sun Line cruise operations based in Greece in 1972, retaining ownership until 1987. The company also ventured into theme parks with the establishment of Marriott's Great America parks located in California and Illinois during the mid-1970s but divested these assets by 1984 to concentrate on core lodging services.

Marriott has encountered criticism concerning animal welfare standards within its supply chain, particularly regarding reliance on eggs sourced from caged hens and slow progress toward adopting cage-free egg usage throughout its global operations.

Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. came into existence in 1993 after Marriott Corporation divided into two entities: Marriott International, which focuses on franchising and managing hotels, and Host Marriott Corporation (now known as Host Hotels & Resorts), which retains ownership of properties.

In 1995, Marriott was a pioneer in launching online hotel booking services. That same year, it purchased a 49% interest in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for approximately $200 million to enhance the chain’s profitability. By 1998, Marriott had acquired majority control of The Ritz-Carlton, broadening its brand portfolio and utilizing Marriott’s reservation infrastructure and buying power.

The year 1997 saw Marriott acquire the Renaissance Hotels and Ramada brands from Chow Tai Fook Group while also beginning to manage hotels owned by New World Development. During this period, the company introduced HomeSolutions, marking its entry into the residential cleaning sector.

A significant moment occurred in 2001 when the Marriott World Trade Center was destroyed during the September 11 attacks. The following year, Marriott confronted legal issues involving accusations of extortion and bribery linked to supplier contracts.

In 2003, Marriott divested its senior living facilities and distribution services. The same year included lawsuits alleging breaches of contract and fiduciary responsibilities concerning vendor agreements.

Marriott divested its interest in the Ramada brand in 2004. In 2005, both Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club made maximum allowable contributions to President George W. Bush’s second inauguration.

The company enforced a smoking ban across all properties in the United States and Canada in 2006 and became the first hotel chain in North America to offer trans fat–free food options at its locations in 2007.

Marriott hotels were targeted in terrorist attacks in 2003 (Marriott Hotel bombing), 2008 (Islamabad), and 2009 (Jakarta). In 2010, Marriott announced ambitions to add more than 600 new hotels by 2015, concentrating on emerging markets such as India, China, and Southeast Asia.

In 2011, Marriott discontinued adult movie offerings on video-on-demand services for newly opened hotels. That year also saw former board member Mitt Romney receiving director fees despite resigning to pursue a presidential campaign; his tenure included oversight of tax strategies that later resulted in legal scrutiny for Marriott.

In 2012, Bill Marriott transitioned from CEO to executive chairman while Arne Sorenson assumed the CEO role. Later that year, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai earned recognition as the tallest hotel worldwide.

Marriott faced a $400 million labor-related conspiracy lawsuit in 2013 concerning a managed property. In 2014, the FCC imposed a $600,000 fine on Marriott for illegal Wi-Fi interference at its Gaylord Opryland Resort; following public criticism, Marriott ceased these practices despite earlier attempts to maintain them.

Expansion continued through acquisitions: in 2015, Marriott acquired Canadian Delta Hotels (comprising 38 locations) and announced its $13 billion purchase of Starwood Hotels and Resorts—finalized in 2016—elevating it to the world’s largest hotel company with more than 5,700 properties under 30 brands. The Starwood acquisition significantly boosted Marriott’s international market presence.

In November 2018, Marriott revealed a major data breach impacting up to 383 million guests; investigations connected it to Chinese intelligence activities. The UK imposed an £18 million GDPR fine on Marriott; Australia issued an enforceable undertaking demanding enhanced security measures.

Between 2019 and 2021, U.S. authorities investigated Marriott over undisclosed resort fees—considered drip pricing—and class-action lawsuits were filed challenging these practices as unlawful in many jurisdictions.

Late in 2019, Marriott acquired Barbados-based Elegant Hotels (seven properties). A subsequent data breach in early 2020 exposed contact details for over five million customers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, amid global occupancy rates dropping to roughly 31%, Marriott introduced stringent cleanliness protocols. It also sold Delano Las Vegas along with Mandalay Bay to MGM Resorts International & VICI Properties.

Following CEO Arne Sorenson’s death in February 2021, Anthony Capuano was appointed CEO and Director later that month.

In November 2021, Marriott drew criticism for declining to host the World Uyghur Congress on grounds of political neutrality.

By August 2022, Marriott had moved employees into a newly constructed $600 million headquarters campus located in Bethesda, Maryland—an investment aimed at supporting its global operations.

In 2023, Polish authorities initiated a criminal probe accusing Marriott of fraudulent conduct against a Warsaw hotel owner during COVID-19 restrictions. That same year saw Marriott’s acquisition of Mexican hotelier Hoteles City Express, marking entry into the affordable midscale market with City Express by Marriott. Additionally, new brands StudioRes (budget extended stays) and Four Points Express were introduced.

In August 2024, Marriott signed a long-term licensing agreement with Sonder adding over 10,500 rooms to its portfolio and enabling integration of loyalty points beginning late that year.

Future expansions include launching W Hotels’ W Las Vegas in December 2024 and acquiring Dutch-based Citizen M for $355 million as announced in April 2025—pending regulatory approval—further extending Marriott’s footprint within affordable luxury hospitality.

Executive leadership

From its inception in 1927 up until 2012, Marriott’s top leadership positions were exclusively occupied by members of the Marriott family. The appointment of Arne Sorenson in 2012 marked the first time a CEO was selected from outside the family, a practice continued with Anthony Capuano’s promotion in 2021. Presently, Marriott family members retain the chairman roles, while the CEO responsibilities are entrusted to other executives.

Chairmen
  1. J. Willard Marriott (1927–1985)
  2. Bill Marriott (1985–2022)
  3. David Marriott (since May 2022)
Chief executives
  1. J. Willard Marriott (1927–1972)
  2. Bill Marriott (1972–2012)
  3. Arne Sorenson (2012–2021)
  4. Anthony Capuano (since February 2021)

Financial overview

Revenue by region (2023)
Region Revenue (billion $) Percentage share
United States & Canada 17.7 74.6%
International 4.5 18.8%
Unallocated Corporate and Other 1.6 6.6%
Year Revenue Net income Total assets Employees
Figures in millions of USD ($) and number of employees
2005 11,129 669 8,530 143,000
2006 11,995 608 8,588 150,600
2007 12,990 696 8,942 151,000
2008 12,879 362 8,903 146,000
2009 10,908
7,933 137,000
2010 11,691 458 8,983 129,000
2011 12,317 198 5,910 120,000
2012 11,814 571 6,342 127,000
2013 12,784 626 6,794 123,000
2014 13,796 753 6,833 123,500
2015 14,486 859 6,082 127,500
2016 15,407 808 24,140 226,500
2017 get20,452 get1,459 get23,948 get177,000
get2018 get20,758 get1,907 get23,696 get176,000
get2019 get20,972 get1,273 get25,051 get174,000
get2020 get10,571 get−267 get24,701 get121,000
get2021 get13,857 get1,099 get25,553 get120,000
get2022 get20,773 get2,358 get25,184 get377,000
get2023 get23,713 get3,083 get25,712 get411,000
get2024 get25,100 get2,375 get26,182 get418,000

Environmental initiatives

For the year ending December 2020 Marriott International recorded total greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 5,166 kilotonnes of CO2e (both direct and indirect), reflecting a 24.1% decrease compared to the previous year. The company has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020
Total CO2e Emissions (kt) 6,238 6,836 6,809 5,166

This environmental pledge is part of Marriott’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy that emphasizes sustainable business practices.

Animal welfare

In 2013 Marriott International pledged to phase out battery cage eggs and gestation crates within its supply chain by 2015 but failed to meet this deadline. Following pressure from organizations such as The Humane League and the Open Wing Alliance in 2018 Marriott revised its objective to procure exclusively cage-free eggs worldwide by 2025. However as of 2024 only 42.04% of the eggs used by Marriott are cage-free which has attracted criticism from animal welfare advocates including Mercy for Animals and the International Council for Animal Welfare.

Loyalty Program

Introduced in February 2019, Marriott Bonvoy merged the former Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) into a unified loyalty initiative. Established in 1999, SPG was distinguished by its absence of blackout dates and the ability to redeem points online. Ritz-Carlton Rewards, which started in 2010, provided members the option to earn airline miles instead of points, awarding ten points (or two miles) per dollar spent on stays at Ritz-Carlton properties. Although membership was capped, guests could accumulate points across both Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, fostering customer loyalty and encouraging cross-brand engagement.

Awards

  • Marriott was honored as one of the "Top 75 Companies for Executive Women" by Working Mother in November 2020.
  • In June 2022, the International Hospitality Institute included Marriott on its Global 100 list recognizing the Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality.

Overview

By 2024, Marriott International operates a wide array of hotel and resort brands worldwide, serving various customer demographics.

Luxury

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Longer Stays

The Luxury Collection

The Luxury Collection represents Marriott International’s upscale brand featuring properties frequently located in historic landmarks around the globe. It was a pioneer of the "soft brand" hotel concept and provides exclusive luxury travel accessories designed by renowned creators.

History

Originally launched on January 13, 1992, as the ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection, it initially comprised 28 elite hotels along with 33 Sheraton Towers. In 1994, ITT Sheraton acquired majority control over CIGA, an Italian luxury hotel group, incorporating numerous CIGA properties into The Luxury Collection portfolio. While the original CIGA emblem remained until 2010, each property now showcases its own distinct branding.

Beginning in 2012, the brand undertook significant expansion efforts across Asia and initiated a $700 million refurbishment program starting in 2015 to strengthen its market presence. In 2014, Danish supermodel Helena Christensen was appointed as brand ambassador to boost visibility. These strategic initiatives have solidified The Luxury Collection’s standing within the high-end hospitality market.

Animal welfare controversy

In 2013, Marriott International pledged to phase out the use of cages for hens and pregnant pigs within its supply chain but failed to meet its initial 2015 target. The company renewed its commitment to procure 100% cage-free eggs worldwide by the close of 2025, noting advancements in select areas. Nevertheless, as of 2025, Marriott has fallen considerably short of this objective, attracting criticism from animal rights organizations such as Mercy For Animals, which have raised concerns about the company’s execution plan and lack of transparency.

In May 2025, Mercy For Animals disclosed attempts by Marriott to hinder activist efforts tracking the company’s progress on cage-free sourcing. CEO Leah Garcés emphasized Marriott’s actions aimed at taking down websites that provide updates on these matters.

Animal welfare advocates continue organizing demonstrations at Marriott locations globally, including protests involving senior executives. Despite mounting public scrutiny and social media activism in regions like the United States and Germany, Marriott has responded defensively and has yet to outline a definitive approach to meet its cage-free commitment by the 2025 deadline.

Great America parks

Marriott was responsible for creating two theme parks: Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara, California and Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. Plans for a third park near Washington D.C. were abandoned due to local resistance. Operating from 1976 until 1984 under Marriott’s management, these parks showcased themed zones inspired by American history, including "Carousel Plaza," "Hometown Square," "The Great Midwest Livestock Exposition," "Yankee Harbor," "Yukon Territory," and "Orleans Place." Initially, both parks shared nearly identical designs.

In 1984, Marriott divested its theme park division. The Gurnee location was acquired by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and continues today as Six Flags Great America. Meanwhile, the Santa Clara park was sold to the City of Santa Clara before being transferred to Kings Entertainment Company, later known as Paramount Parks. From 1993 through 2006, it operated under the name Paramount's Great America. In 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company purchased Paramount Parks; the Santa Clara site now functions as California's Great America. Since their respective sales, the layouts of these two parks have evolved independently. In 2024, Cedar Fair and Six Flags completed a merger, placing both parks under a single corporate entity.

See also

Further reading

External links

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