The very first JW Marriott hotel opened right here in Washington, D.C. way back in 1984. And this year marks our 25th anniversary of the JW Marriott brand. We never envisioned making it a separate brand. We really just wanted to honor my dad who started the company in 1927.
It was a terrific opening. My dad was so touched as he quoted from the old cowboy song, "It's a Long, Long Way Awinding" from his early boyhood days in Utah herding sheep.
He couldn't believe he was standing in such a beautiful hotel that still today remains one of the brand's flagship hotels.
Since this D.C. hotel first opened its doors in February of 1984, the JW Marriott brand has experienced tremendous growth and success. We currently have 43 hotels from this brand in 20 countries around the world - and we're continuing to expand at a very rapid pace. By the end of 2013 we expect to grow to 68 hotels and expand into countries, like Colombia and Libya.
This growth is a true testament to the brand's strength and the level of customer service it provides. In fact, in 2008, the JW Marriott brand was named one of Business Week magazine's top 25 Customer Service Champions.
I want to thank all of our wonderful JW Marriott associates for providing our guests with top notch service for the past quarter century and wish the brand a happy 25th anniversary.
I'm Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the move.
Celebrating 25 Years for JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts





I went to the US for a business trip and i wanted to stay in a hotel which is value for money and importantly maintains quality and high standards. I was quite impressed with this chain and hence made sure to stay in either Marriot or one of its associate hotels. I Stayed in the US for 4 weeks and stayed in your chain of hotels for arround 12 days. The experience was very good and on my next visit (not sure when) i will defenitely stay in one of your hotels. The only not so very good experience that i have is that once i was charged twice for one day and i am still trying to get it reversed and i hope i get it done with out much trouble. Fingers crossed.
Posted by: Abanis Nayak | 03/28/2009 at 04:14 PM
Happy 25th anniversary and Congrats to Managment and staff. Excellent brand to promote.
Posted by: Mitchell Morel | 03/28/2009 at 12:39 AM
March 26, 2009
My family enjoys staying at the Marriott also. Through out the 7 years of their travels I have always heard good comments.
Posted by: Nancy Morales | 03/26/2009 at 01:55 AM
I stayed at the J.W. and the hotel was great and people great. Even the people in D.C. were always happy to give the CORRECT directions. I used to love eating at Bob's big boy in Los Angeles. My favorite was their tuna salad. I THINK I MIGHT OWE YOU A COUPLE OF BUCKS THEIR.
hum.....Los Angeles California Bob's big boy / Marriott and the Dollhouse any coincidence or 1 and the same ?
Posted by: Nancy Morales | 03/26/2009 at 01:45 AM
I don't remember staying to any other hotel but Marriott's Brand. I have stayed in at the JW Desert Ridge, Residence Inn in Mesa AZ, El Paso, & San Antonio,TX, Livonia, MI, Anaheim, CA and San Diego, CA and all our experience was just wonderful, from the staff to the properties are awesome. I also always recommend Marriott brand to my customers. I also experience dining at the JW Camelback INN, Scottsdale AZ food is authentic and service is heaven! Good Manager specially Regina Rosales Working at the R Restaurant.
Posted by: Irma Jakubowski | 03/25/2009 at 09:28 AM
Mr. Marriott, I have stayed at the JW Marriott (Penn. Ave) in DC many times for a conference. You cannot beat this great hotel's location. The staff there is always so warm and professional, welcoming our group back each year. I look forward to another stay there this summer.
Thank you again!
Posted by: Laura Pond | 03/25/2009 at 04:20 AM
I had the pleasure for staying at the first brand new JW Marriott Hotel in Canada last week. (The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort and Spa.) It was a fabulous experience. Thank You!
Posted by: Jason Goulding | 03/24/2009 at 05:36 AM
I blogged today about our stay in Fishkill, NY, first time in a Residence Inn and can I say I'm impressed and will look for other Residence Inn's for our future stays. I linked to your blog.
Margaret
Posted by: Margaret Hall-Diggs | 03/23/2009 at 05:53 AM
That's the American dream your father witnessed. Sheep Herder in Utah to owning one of the most recognized nice hotels in the world.
Posted by: Web Site Traffic | 03/20/2009 at 02:51 PM
JW is a great brand and they're fine properties always. We paricularly enjoyed the Ihilani in Oahu. We stayed in the suite your prefer Bill with a fantastic balcony. Very nice. Keep up the great work! Thanks to you and all of the super Marriott team!
Posted by: Don Workman | 03/18/2009 at 03:36 PM
Happy 25th. Congrats.
Ed
Posted by: Ed | 03/18/2009 at 02:25 PM
Mr. Marriott
I had the honer of working for Marriott corp. in the mid 1970's and into the 80's as an assistant manager in Cleveland with Big Boy Restaurants. As a member of Big Boy Easts management team I was in awe of Marriott's professionalism,its buisness ethics, and the way it took care of its employees. In this current ecconimic downturn I believe it is in the best interests' of our buisness community to Lead the Way, not follow the lead of our ego driven politicions. I believe Marriott has the industry as well as the buisness community connections to help get our country back on solid footing and headed in the right direction. I believe just as Congress saw the distructive possibilities of a president wielding unlimited power and being re elected at will, so now our Congress has become that destructive force that they wanted to prevent the President from becoming. Congress's solution to the problem was passing term limit legislation limiting the President to Two terms. Congress on the other hand has no such limitations. When one of our western coastal states passed Term Limits on its Federal Senate and House Reps. they flaunted the will of the people and had the law declared Unconstitional decause their constituants would not recieve, according to them, fair representation in Congress. I was disappointed when I heard that you and others in the Service Industry wrote a letter asking the current Administration to not be so harsh on Buisness doing Buisness, their need to have Meetings, Seminars,ect in resort locations. It Is None of The Governments Buisness. They are overstepping their purpose in this world. I believe it is time for the buisness community,ALL BUISNESSES, to band together and bring about a grass roots effort to get term limits passed for all elected officials, Local,County,State,and Federal. Each and every tenical of elected official must be defeated. Term Limits Will Not eleminate our government corruption and arrogance but it will, I brlieve, curb some of the abbusive attitude with which Politicians punish the buisness community and limits its growth, over taxing, over regulating, overseeing. They are elected by us, they serve us, Buisness employees us, who is more important to the well being of our economy?
Thank you for your time
Wayne B. Newkirk
Posted by: Wayne B. Newkirk | 03/17/2009 at 12:58 PM
Hello,
Happy Birthday to JW Marriott D.C., two years older than me, I'm 26! Used to work in Portugal at The Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort as and F&B Server and later as Operational Assistant at The Lisbon Marriott. Currently in Portugal There are only Three Units from Marriott, those two refered above and The Vila Sol Renaissance. Heard rumors about a project in Comibra, in the center of Portugal. But knowing a little about this land, I think it would be great to have a Marriott in Porto. While Lisbon is the Financial Heart of Portugal, Porto means Busyness, therefor a great pole of Industry. And that means there's a huge market for Events, Conferences and Hospitality Industry.
Happy Birthday D.C.
Happy Birthday Marriott!
Best Regards
Christian Löffler.
Posted by: Christian Löffler | 03/17/2009 at 12:27 PM
My wife and I are staying at the JW in DC the 9th of April thru the 12th! Really looking forward to this trip and after your comments even more!!
Posted by: Ernie Denogeon | 03/17/2009 at 10:47 AM