It all began in 1927 with an A&W root beer stand. Founder J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, got their young business off the ground by quenching people’s thirst during Washington D.C.’s hot, muggy summers. Good food and good service at a fair price became a guiding principle for Hot Shoppes restaurants--and for Marriott International as it grew…

Today Marriott is a true brand leader. Offering the most powerful portfolio in the industry, its 30 brands and 7,000+ properties across 131 countries and territories give people more ways to connect, experience and expand their world. Marriott collection consists of the Luxury, Premium, Select, Longer Stays and Collections segments. It includes such brands as St. Regis, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, W Hotels, Sheraton and many others.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is an independently operated division of Marriott International, Bethesda, Md. With an unshakeable credo and corporate philosophy of un-wavering commitment to service, both in its hotels and in its communities, The Ritz-Carlton has been recognized with numerous awards for being the gold standard of hospitality.

Ritz-Carlton was established in 1983 with the purchase of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston and the rights to the name Ritz-Carlton. The management company has grown from one hotel to 97 hotels & resorts worldwide with plans for further expansion in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

There are 97 Ritz-Carlton hotels & resorts worldwide in 30 countries and territories: Aruba, Austria, Bahrain, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United States.

Another renowned division of Marriott is Starwood. One of the world’s largest hotel and leisure companies, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. operates a portfolio of 10 renowned brands, a partnership with Design HotelsTM and the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty program. Starwood’s properties transcend its history as a corporation, reaching back to legendary hotels such as Hotel Danieli, a 14th century palace in Venice; St. Regis New York, a pinnacle of luxury opened during the Gilded Age in 1904; and The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing, the first international hotel brand in China in 1985.

With a first mover advantage in markets around the globe, the Starwood network celebrates its distinct brands while building on its collective, systemwide strength. Starwood’s life as a public company began with the acquisition of a REIT in 1994; the company transformed over the past two decades with the addition of Westin®, ITT Sheraton, and Le Méridien® portfolios.

UPDATED: MARCH 24, 2020