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Conversations From the Corner Office
COMPANY HISTORY
Marriott International Inc.
Marriott International Inc. got its start in 1927 when John Willard Marriott opened a small root beer stand in Washington, D.C. The story goes he got the idea on a hot summer day while visiting the nation's capital and seeing thirsty tourists throng sidewalk lemonade vendors.
The stand eventually gave rise to a chain of restaurants called the Hot Shoppes, one of which was the first drive-in restaurant east of the Mississippi.
By 1939, the company had moved into catering and food service, landing government contracts at the Treasury Department and defense plant cafeterias. The company is even credited with pioneering in-flight airline food service, making heat-and-serve meals for Eastern, American, and Capital Airlines.
Soon after President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched construction of the modern interstate highway system, Hot Shoppes decided to expand beyond food service and cater to the sleeping needs of motorists. In 1957, it opened the Twin Bridges "motor hotel" in Arlington, Va.
At the time, John Willard's oldest son, Bill, was the company's vice president in charge of restaurant food service. But when he saw the Twin Bridges struggling with low occupancy rates, he asked his dad to take over its management.
Bill Marriott was able to turn around the fortunes of the Twin Bridges by broadening its target market beyond motorists. He converted a basement storeroom into a conference space and boosted occupancy with meeting and convention business. With the success of the Twin Bridges, the company began opening more hotels.
Today, Marriott International is considered the world's largest lodging corporation with nearly 3,000 properties in 67 countries.
RELATED LINKS
CHAIRMAN AND CEO BILL MARRIOTT
Marriott International Inc. history
WEBSITE: Marriott International Inc.
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