Company Overview

Marriott International, formerly Hot Shoppes Inc., began in 1927 as a nine-seat root beer stand in Washington, D.C., run by J. Willard Marriott and his wife. It has become the number-one lodging company in the world. The company went public in 1953, entered the hotel business in 1957 with the opening of the Twin Bridges Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, acquired the Big Boy restaurant chain in 1967, and founded the Roy Rogers restaurant chain in 1968. Ritz-Carlton, ExecuStay, and Fairfield Inn are among the company’s brands. In 1983, the company entered the moderately priced hotel market by opening the first Courtyard by Marriott. Marriott now has almost 2,800 properties, including senior-living communities, time-share resorts, conference centers, and executive apartments.