Dude, so check this out. I was trying to book a hotel for my super-chill, totally epic road trip from coast to coast, right? And I'm scrolling through all the options, seeing "Marriott" pop up everywhere—like, seriously, every city has one. And my brain just kinda short-circuited. I was like, "Wait, how long has this crew been in the game? They're everywhere! Are they like, older than my grandpa's favorite vinyl records?" It got me thinking, because most places this huge and this famous gotta have some crazy old-school history. I figured it was time to dig into the archives, the whole enchilada, to figure out the real deal. Turns out, this whole empire didn't start with, like, a fancy five-star hotel with a rooftop pool. Nope. It was way more humble. This story is a total wild ride.
Step 1: 🤯 The Big Reveal: When Did This Madness Start?
Let's just drop the bomb right away, so you don't gotta wait around all day. The Marriott story, as in the company founded by J. Willard Marriott and his main squeeze, Alice S. Marriott, kicks off in 1927.
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| How Many Years Has Marriott Been In Business |
1.1 It wasn't even a hotel! Say what?!
Yeah, you heard that right, bro. 1927. But it wasn't some swanky lobby they were opening. Nah. The very first little operation was a simple A&W Root Beer stand in Washington, D.C. Can you even imagine? The whole global giant of hotels started as a nine-stool spot selling root beer on a hot D.C. street. Talk about a glow-up!
J. Willard Marriott had just come from Utah, and he saw the insane D.C. summer heat and was like, "Dude, these people need cold drinks, stat." He had the vision, but let's be real, his wife, Alice S. Marriott, was the real MVP. She figured out that root beer alone wouldn't cut it once the weather got cold. So, what did she do? She started adding food to the menu! Things like chili and hot tamales. That's some serious street smarts right there. That little stand became known as The Hot Shoppe. They were hustlers!
1.2 The Name Change and Going Public
The Hot Shoppe thing really took off. It expanded into a chain of restaurants, and they even pioneered the drive-in concept on the East Coast. Imagine getting car-side service back then—total luxury! They incorporated the business as Hot Shoppes, Inc. in 1929. Then, in 1953, they went public. That's when you know you've got a bona fide success story on your hands. The stock sold out super fast. It was like they had the Midas touch, but for chili and frosty mugs of A&W.
QuickTip: Return to sections that felt unclear.
Step 2: 🏨 Making the Jump to the Hotel Game
So, The Hot Shoppe was crushing it in the restaurant and catering world for like, three decades. They were doing airline catering and managing cafeterias during WWII. But J. Willard Marriott had bigger plans. He saw a new opportunity, especially with all those sweet new highways popping up and everyone taking road trips.
2.1 The OG Marriott Hotel
The year they finally broke into the hotel business? That was 1957. They opened their first legit hotel (though they called it a motor hotel, which is basically a swankier motel for cars) in Arlington, Virginia. It was called the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel.
This place was a big deal. It had 370 rooms and, naturally, it had an adjacent Hot Shoppe restaurant. They knew their brand! Plus, their son, J.W. 'Bill' Marriott, Jr., was right there, fresh out of college, leading the charge for this new hotel venture. That's a true family biz, and Bill Jr. is the one who would really take the company to the next level—a total legend in the hospitality space.
2.2 Rebranding for the Big Time
The restaurant name, "Hot Shoppes, Inc.," felt a little small-time once they were building these massive hotels. So, in 1967, they changed the corporate name to Marriott Corporation. Finally! The name we all know and love (and sometimes complain about when the WiFi is slow, let's be honest). This change reflected their new, diverse portfolio, which by then included hotels, restaurants, and catering. They were really flexing their muscles.
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
Step 3: 💥 The Great Split and Global Domination
The Marriott Corporation kept expanding, getting into timeshares, retirement communities, and even opening a couple of theme parks (which they later sold—a little detour, but hey, you gotta try things!). But in the early 90s, the company made a massive, strategic, and frankly baller move to solidify its future.
3.1 The 1993 Corporate Divorce
In 1993, Marriott Corporation split into two separate and distinct public companies. It was like a corporate divorce that totally made sense.
One company was named Host Marriott Corporation (now Host Hotels & Resorts). This company got to keep the actual real estate—the land and the buildings. Basically, they own the joint.
The second company, the one we all think of today, became Marriott International, Inc. This company focuses on managing and franchising the hotels. They run the show, handle the brand, and make sure your shampoo is always full. This is the official birth of the modern Marriott International.
This "asset-light" strategy was smart as heck, like seriously genius. It meant Marriott International didn't have to sink tons of cash into buying land and construction. They could focus on growing the brand, opening more doors, and expanding worldwide way faster.
3.2 Acquiring All the Brands, Period
QuickTip: Check if a section answers your question.
Since the split, Marriott International has been on an absolute tear, acquiring a ton of other luxury and awesome brands. It's like they're playing Monopoly for real, but with hotels.
They snagged a big stake in The Ritz-Carlton in 1995. Now that's a fancy-pants brand!
They grabbed Renaissance Hotels in 1997.
But the biggest mic-drop moment, the one that made everyone go, "Whoa, they're not messing around," was the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016. That move officially made them the largest hotel company in the world. They got brands like Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, and Le Méridien. That's a fat portfolio!
So, how long has Marriott been in business? If you count from the humble root beer stand (and you totally should, it's the DNA!), it's been since 1927. That's a long, long, long time, approaching a century of hospitality. From nine stools to over 8,700 properties across over 30 brands globally. That, my friends, is what you call a come-up.
FAQ Questions and Answers
How was Marriott's very first business a root beer stand?
The founders, J. Willard and Alice Marriott, moved to Washington, D.C., and noticed the super hot summers. They figured people would pay good money for a cold A&W root beer, so they bought the franchise rights and opened a stand in 1927. Alice later added hot food to keep the business going in the cooler months, rebranding it as "The Hot Shoppe." It was a simple, smart move based on local weather!
Who were the main people that started the Marriott company?
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
The company was founded by J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice S. Marriott. J. Willard was the visionary businessman, and Alice was essential with her menu planning and administrative skills. Their son, J.W. 'Bill' Marriott, Jr., later became the CEO and Chairman and is credited with driving the company's massive expansion into the global hotel powerhouse it is today.
What year did Marriott open their first actual hotel?
Marriott opened its first actual hotel, the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel, in 1957 in Arlington, Virginia. This was thirty years after the root beer stand first opened its doors! It was a major pivot from their successful Hot Shoppes restaurant and catering business into the lodging industry.
What was the big corporate split in Marriott history?
The big corporate split happened in 1993. The original company, Marriott Corporation, split into two entities for tax and strategic reasons: Marriott International, Inc. (which manages and franchises the hotels) and Host Marriott Corporation (which owns the hotel real estate). This allowed Marriott International to focus on global brand growth without the burden of owning all the properties.
How did Marriott become the world's largest hotel company?
Marriott became the world's largest hotel company primarily through a massive strategic acquisition. In 2016, they successfully purchased Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. This deal instantly added famous brands like Westin, Sheraton, and St. Regis to their portfolio, giving them the largest number of hotels and rooms globally.
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