24/04/2026
Before Marriott was a hotel company, it was a restaurant empire. And before that — a single root beer counter inside a bakery on 14th Street in Washington DC.
John Marriott bought an A&W franchise in 1927. Two weeks later, he married Alice Sheets — a classmate whose stepfather was a US Senator. That gave him a wife, a business partner, and serious connections — all at once.
When cold weather killed root beer sales, they broke A&W rules and added hot food — tamales, corn, chili. No other franchisee had dared to do that. They renamed it Hot Shoppes and built the first drive-in restaurant on the East Coast.
By 1937, Hot Shoppes was packing meals for Eastern, United, and Capital Airlines — the first company ever to deliver food to commercial flights.
In 1953, they went public. Investors bought every share in hours.
In 1957 — first hotel. Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Right on the Potomac, views of the Capitol, steps from the Pentagon and the airport.
By 1969 — first international property in Acapulco. By 1972 — first hotel company to enter the cruise business with Greek operator Sun Line.
At the time of John’s death in 1985: 143 hotels, 1,400 restaurants, two theme parks.
Then his son restructured everything — sold the restaurants, split the company in two, and went all-in on hotels. Ritz-Carlton joined in 1995. Starwood — Sheraton, W, St. Regis, Westin, Le Méridien — in 2016.
Today: 7,000+ hotels. 1.4 million rooms. First place in the world.
And one thing that never changed: in every single room across this massive network — a Book of Mormon in the nightstand.
🏨 Want to stay at any Marriott brand — Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W, Bulgari — with perks you won’t get booking direct?
Room upgrades, late checkout, welcome amenities, and a dedicated travel advisor who actually picks up the phone.
DM us «MARRIOTT» or tap the link in bio.
