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J. Willard Marriott founded and led the Marriott Corporation as CEO and Chairman from 1927 to 1972.
His business began as a single root beer stand in Washington, D.C., operated with his wife Alice.
The stand grew into the Hot Shoppes restaurant chain, and in 1957—soon after Marriott opened his first hotel—the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
Hot Shoppes went public in 1953.
The company rebranded as Marriott Corporation in 1967, reflecting its shift toward lodging.
In the 1960s, Marriott expanded beyond hotels into theme parks, launching Great America locations in California and Illinois.
His tenure faced controversy when Hot Shoppes restaurants discriminated against African American customers in the 1950s.
The company later desegregated its locations, though the incident damaged its reputation.
When Marriott died in 1972, he had transformed a modest root beer stand into a hospitality empire built on principles of service excellence and integrity.
Bill Marriott led Marriott International as CEO (1972-2012) and Chairman (1985-2022), transforming his father's company into a global hospitality corporation.
Key moves shaped this expansion: buying the Ritz-Carlton hotels in 1995 and creating Marriott Rewards, which became one of the industry's largest loyalty programs.
Marriott invested in digital systems to improve guest bookings and hotel operations while emphasizing employee satisfaction to drive customer service.
The company faced setbacks in the early 1990s when a real estate deal created heavy debt.
Labor groups also criticized Marriott's worker wages and resistance to unions.
When Marriott stepped down as CEO in 2012, the company operated 3,700 properties across 74 countries, generating $12 billion in annual revenue.
Arne Sorenson became Marriott International's first non-family CEO in 2012.
The company executed the $13.6 billion Starwood Hotels acquisition in 2016, adding Sheraton, Westin, and St. Regis brands.
Marriott became the world's largest hotel company under his tenure.
Sorenson championed diversity initiatives and spoke directly on LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and environmental sustainability.
His tenure faced a 2018 data breach exposing 500 million guests' information, and the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating impact on global hospitality.
He died in February 2021 after battling pancreatic cancer.
Anthony Capuano became Marriott International's CEO in February 2021 after Arne Sorenson's death.
He previously led global development, design, and operations as Group President.
Under Capuano's leadership, Marriott has:
His priorities center on three areas: stabilizing operations post-pandemic, accelerating digital innovation, and strengthening environmental commitments.
As a 25-year Marriott veteran who managed global property development, Capuano brings direct experience in hotel operations and expansion strategy to the CEO role.
Challenges remain: Recent data breaches and labor disputes require attention alongside core business growth.
The hospitality industry continues to evolve through market uncertainty, testing Capuano's ability to adapt.
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