Marriott International
Encyclopedia
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotel
s and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott
, the company is now led by son J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. Today, Marriott International has about 3,150 lodging properties located in the United States and 68 other countries and territories.
Marriott was founded by J. Willard Marriott
in 1927 when he and his wife opened a root beer
stand in Washington D.C.. As a Mormon missionary in the sweltering, humid summers in Washington D.C, Marriott was convinced that what the city needed was a such a place to get a cool drink. They later expanded their enterprises into a chain of restaurant
s and hotel
s.
The Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia is Marriott International’s longest operating hotel, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. Their son and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. has led the company to spectacular worldwide growth. Today, Marriott International has about 3,400 lodging properties located in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Edwin D. Fuller
is the current President and Managing Director of International Lodging for Marriott International.
Marriott International was formed in 1992 when Marriott Corporation split into two companies, Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation.
In 2002 Marriott International began a major restructuring by spinning off many Senior Living Services Communities (which is now part of Sunrise Senior Living
) and Marriott Distribution Services, so that it could focus on hotel ownership and management. The changes were completed in 2003.
In April 1995, Marriott International acquired a 49% interest in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
. Marriott International believed that it could increase sales and profit margins at the Ritz, a troubled chain with a significant number of properties either losing money or barely breaking even. The cost of Marriott's initial investment was estimated to be about $200 million in cash and assumed debt. The next year, Marriott spent $331 million to take over the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta and buy a majority interest in two properties owned by William Johnson, a real estate developer who had purchased the Ritz-Carlton Boston
in 1983 and expanded his Ritz holdings over the next twenty years.
The Ritz began expansion into the lucrative timeshare market among other new initiatives made financially possible by the deep pockets of Marriott, which also lent its own in-house expertise in certain areas. There were other benefits for Ritz-Carlton flowing from its relationship with Marriott, such as being able to take advantage of the parent company's reservation system and buying power. The partnership was solidified in 1998 when Marriott boosted its interest in Ritz-Carlton to 99 percent. By 1999 revenues from the 35 hotels it operated around the world totaled about $1.4 billion.
The Marriott World Trade Center was indirectly destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks
, and 2003 saw the Marriott Hotel bombing
.
Marriott International owned Ramada International Hotels & Resorts
until its sale on September 15, 2004 to Cendant
.
It is the first hotel chain to serve food that is completely free of trans fat
s at all of its North America
n properties.
In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush
.
On July 19, 2006, Marriott announced that all lodging buildings they operate in the United States and Canada would become non-smoking
beginning September 2006. "The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas."
There was a bombing at the Islamabad Marriott
in 2008 and at the Jakarta Marriott
in 2009.
On November 11, 2010, Announced plans to add over 600 hotel properties by 2015, the bulk of the additions will be in the emerging markets of India, where it plans to have 100 hotel properties and other countries include China and Southeast Asia.
On January 21, 2011, Marriott said that pornography would not be included in the entertainment offered at new hotels, which will use an internet-based video on demand
system.
from 1976 until 1984. The parks were located in Gurnee, Illinois
, Santa Clara, California
and a proposed but never-built location in the Washington, DC area, and were themed celebrating American history. The American-themed areas under Marriott's tenure of ownership included "Carousel Plaza" (the first section beyond the main gates); small-town-themed "Hometown Square"; "The Great Midwest Livestock Exposition At County Fair" with a Turn of the Century rural-fair theme; "Yankee Harbor", inspired by a 19th century New England port; "Yukon Territory," resembling a Canadian/Alaskan logging camp; and the French Quarter-modeled "Orleans Place". At opening, both parks were laid out nearly identically.
In 1984, Marriott disposed of its theme park division; both parks were sold and today are associated with national theme park chains. The Gurnee location was sold to Six Flags
Theme Parks where it operates today as Six Flags Great America
. The Santa Clara location was sold to the City of Santa Clara, who retained the underlying property and sold the park to Kings Entertainment Company, renamed Paramount Parks
in 1993. From 1993 to 2006, the Santa Clara location was known as Paramount's Great America. In 2006, Paramount Parks was acquired by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company; the Santa Clara park operates today as California's Great America. In the years after their sale, the layouts of the parks have diverged substantially.
, a loyalty (“rewards”) program that allows members to earn points or airline miles for their stays at participating Marriott brand hotels, in addition to other membership benefits.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott
J. Willard Marriott
John Willard Marriott was an American entrepreneur and businessman. He was the founder of the Marriott Corporation , the parent company of one of the world's largest hospitality, hotel chains, and food services companies. The Marriott company rose from a small root beer stand in Washington D.C...
, the company is now led by son J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. Today, Marriott International has about 3,150 lodging properties located in the United States and 68 other countries and territories.
History
J. Willard Marriott
John Willard Marriott was an American entrepreneur and businessman. He was the founder of the Marriott Corporation , the parent company of one of the world's largest hospitality, hotel chains, and food services companies. The Marriott company rose from a small root beer stand in Washington D.C...
in 1927 when he and his wife opened a root beer
Root beer
Root beer is a carbonated, sweetened beverage, originally made using the root of a sassafras plant as the primary flavor. Root beer, popularized in North America, comes in two forms: alcoholic and soft drink. The historical root beer was analogous to small beer in that the process provided a drink...
stand in Washington D.C.. As a Mormon missionary in the sweltering, humid summers in Washington D.C, Marriott was convinced that what the city needed was a such a place to get a cool drink. They later expanded their enterprises into a chain of restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s.
The Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia is Marriott International’s longest operating hotel, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. Their son and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. has led the company to spectacular worldwide growth. Today, Marriott International has about 3,400 lodging properties located in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Edwin D. Fuller
Edwin D. Fuller
Edwin D. "Ed" Fuller is the President and Managing Director of International Lodging for Marriott International, a position he has held since 1991. He is a published author and considered a leading authority in the global hospitality industry...
is the current President and Managing Director of International Lodging for Marriott International.
Marriott International was formed in 1992 when Marriott Corporation split into two companies, Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation.
In 2002 Marriott International began a major restructuring by spinning off many Senior Living Services Communities (which is now part of Sunrise Senior Living
Sunrise Senior Living
Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. is a senior living company based in Tysons Corner, unincorporated Fairfax County, northern Virginia, which operates over 300 Sunrise locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sunrise specializes in Alzheimer's care, Assisted living and Skilled nursing...
) and Marriott Distribution Services, so that it could focus on hotel ownership and management. The changes were completed in 2003.
In April 1995, Marriott International acquired a 49% interest in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is the parent company to the luxury hotel chain, Ritz-Carlton Hotels. The hotel company is a subsidiary of Marriott International...
. Marriott International believed that it could increase sales and profit margins at the Ritz, a troubled chain with a significant number of properties either losing money or barely breaking even. The cost of Marriott's initial investment was estimated to be about $200 million in cash and assumed debt. The next year, Marriott spent $331 million to take over the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta and buy a majority interest in two properties owned by William Johnson, a real estate developer who had purchased the Ritz-Carlton Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1983 and expanded his Ritz holdings over the next twenty years.
The Ritz began expansion into the lucrative timeshare market among other new initiatives made financially possible by the deep pockets of Marriott, which also lent its own in-house expertise in certain areas. There were other benefits for Ritz-Carlton flowing from its relationship with Marriott, such as being able to take advantage of the parent company's reservation system and buying power. The partnership was solidified in 1998 when Marriott boosted its interest in Ritz-Carlton to 99 percent. By 1999 revenues from the 35 hotels it operated around the world totaled about $1.4 billion.
The Marriott World Trade Center was indirectly destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, and 2003 saw the Marriott Hotel bombing
2003 Marriott Hotel bombing
The 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on 5 August 2003 in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, Indonesia. A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel, killing twelve people and injuring 150. All those killed were Indonesian with the exception of one Dutch...
.
Marriott International owned Ramada International Hotels & Resorts
Ramada
Ramada is a hotel chain owned and operated by Wyndham Worldwide.- History :The lodging chain was founded in 1953 by longtime Chicago restaurateur Marion W...
until its sale on September 15, 2004 to Cendant
Cendant
Cendant Corporation was a New York-based provider of business and consumer services, primarily within the real estate and travel industries. In 2005 and 2006, Cendant broke up and spun off or sold its constituent businesses...
.
It is the first hotel chain to serve food that is completely free of trans fat
Trans fat
Trans fat is the common name for unsaturated fat with trans-isomer fatty acid. Because the term refers to the configuration of a double carbon-carbon bond, trans fats are sometimes monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, but never saturated....
s at all of its North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n properties.
In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
On July 19, 2006, Marriott announced that all lodging buildings they operate in the United States and Canada would become non-smoking
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
beginning September 2006. "The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas."
There was a bombing at the Islamabad Marriott
Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing
The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred during the night of 20 September 2008, when a dump truck filled with explosives detonated in front of the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, killing at least 54 people, injuring at least 266 and leaving a 60 ft wide, 20 ft ...
in 2008 and at the Jakarta Marriott
2009 Jakarta bombings
At around 7:50 am local time on 17 July 2009, the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, were hit by separate bombings five minutes apart. Three of the seven victims who were killed were Australians, two from The Netherlands, and one each from New Zealand and Indonesia. More...
in 2009.
On November 11, 2010, Announced plans to add over 600 hotel properties by 2015, the bulk of the additions will be in the emerging markets of India, where it plans to have 100 hotel properties and other countries include China and Southeast Asia.
On January 21, 2011, Marriott said that pornography would not be included in the entertainment offered at new hotels, which will use an internet-based video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
system.
Full Service Lodging
- Marriott Hotels & ResortsMarriott Hotels & ResortsMarriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International's flagship brand of full service hotels and resorts. The company, based in Washington D.C., is repeatedly included on the Forbes Best Companies to Work for list, and was voted the 4th best company to work for in the UK by The Times in 2009.As of...
- JW Marriott Hotels & ResortsJW Marriott HotelsJW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, namesake of John Willard Marriott, Founder, Chairman & CEO of is a luxury hotel chain. Found in major cities as well as vacation destinations world-wide, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts are becoming known in the hospitality industry for their practical approach to luxury...
- Renaissance HotelsRenaissance HotelsRenaissance Hotels is a worldwide brand of hotels and resorts. The brand is owned by Marriott International and many Renaissance Hotels are managed by Marriott; however, some are operated under a franchise license. Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites cater to an upmarket segment of the traveling...
- Ritz-CarltonRitz-CarltonThe Ritz-Carlton is a brand of luxury hotels and resorts with 75 properties located in major cities and resorts in 24 countries worldwide...
- BULGARI Hotels & ResortsBulgariBulgari is an Italian jeweler and luxury goods retailer which has been owned by the French firm LVMH since October 2011. The trademark is usually written "BVLGARI" in the classical Latin alphabet , and is derived from the surname of the company's Greek founder, Sotirio Voulgaris...
- Autograph Collection Hotels & Resorts
- EDITION Hotels
- Marriott Conference Centers
Select service lodging
- Courtyard by MarriottCourtyard by MarriottCourtyard by Marriott is a brand of hotels owned by Marriott International. Courtyard by Marriott is designed for business travelers but also accommodates to families. Its rooms feature large desks, couches, free broadband Internet access, and "big" breakfasts. The majority of locations have...
- Fairfield Inn by MarriottFairfield Inn by MarriottFairfield Inn by Marriott is a lower cost brand of hotels that are franchised by Marriott International. The intended use is for guests requiring simply a place to sleep with fewer amenities. This allows Marriott to offer lower prices than would otherwise be possible...
- SpringHill Suites by MarriottSpringHill SuitesSpringHill Suites is part of the Marriott International family of hotels.In 1998, Marriott International announced plans to convert Fairfield Suites to SpringHill Suites by Marriott. By doing so, Marriott hoped to capture a share in the upper moderate-priced all-suite lodging segment of the hotel...
- AC Hotels by Marriott
Extended stay lodging
- Marriott ExecuStayMarriott ExecuStayMarriott ExecuStay, a division of the Marriott International hotel chain, is a provider of temporary, furnished, corporate relocation and insurance housing solutions for stays of 30 days or longer...
- Residence Inn by MarriottResidence Inn by MarriottResidence Inn by Marriott is a brand of extended stay hotels. The chain was launched in 1975 in Wichita, Kansas by Jack DeBoer, and acquired by Marriott International in 1987. As of April 2005, there were over 450 Residence Inn hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The brand's slogan...
- TownePlace Suites by MarriottTownePlace SuitesTownePlace Suites, a division of the Marriott International hotel chain, is an extended-stay hotel chain generally catering to a more mid-priced market than its more upscale sister brand, Residence Inn, also operated by Marriott International.-History:...
- Marriott Executive Apartments
Timeshare
- Marriott Vacation Club InternationalMarriott Vacation Club InternationalMarriott Vacation Club is the premier timeshare brand of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, the world’s leading pure-play public timeshare company. The brand boasts more than 50 Marriott Vacation Club properties throughout the United States, Caribbean, Europe and Asia and more than 400,000...
(MVCI) - Marriott Grand Residence Club
- The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton
- The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club
Great America Parks
Marriott also developed three and ultimately opened two theme parks entitled Marriott's Great AmericaMarriott's Great America
There are two amusement parks formerly known as Marriott's Great America:*Six Flags Great America, located in Gurnee, Illinois*Great America , located in Santa Clara, California...
from 1976 until 1984. The parks were located in Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
, Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
and a proposed but never-built location in the Washington, DC area, and were themed celebrating American history. The American-themed areas under Marriott's tenure of ownership included "Carousel Plaza" (the first section beyond the main gates); small-town-themed "Hometown Square"; "The Great Midwest Livestock Exposition At County Fair" with a Turn of the Century rural-fair theme; "Yankee Harbor", inspired by a 19th century New England port; "Yukon Territory," resembling a Canadian/Alaskan logging camp; and the French Quarter-modeled "Orleans Place". At opening, both parks were laid out nearly identically.
In 1984, Marriott disposed of its theme park division; both parks were sold and today are associated with national theme park chains. The Gurnee location was sold to Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
Theme Parks where it operates today as Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
. The Santa Clara location was sold to the City of Santa Clara, who retained the underlying property and sold the park to Kings Entertainment Company, renamed Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
in 1993. From 1993 to 2006, the Santa Clara location was known as Paramount's Great America. In 2006, Paramount Parks was acquired by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company; the Santa Clara park operates today as California's Great America. In the years after their sale, the layouts of the parks have diverged substantially.
Marriott Rewards
Marriott International also offers Marriott RewardsMarriott Rewards
Marriott Rewards is the loyalty program offered by Marriott International, Inc. It allows members to earn reward points or airline miles by staying at participating Marriott brand hotels, in addition to other membership benefits...
, a loyalty (“rewards”) program that allows members to earn points or airline miles for their stays at participating Marriott brand hotels, in addition to other membership benefits.