A Big Day for U.S. Tourism

"The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work.” -- President Obama, January 19, 2012 Listen to Blog This year 1 billion people are expected to travel outside their own countries to see and experience the world. And for every 35 of those international visitors,...

Checking In as a Guest, Leaving as Family

Joy Bricker went public at the age of 79. She’s famous for being the 10-year guest at TownePlace Suites in Falls Church, Virginia. Ten years … in the same room! Now that’s loyalty and a lot of Rewards points. It also makes for a great media story. When Joy announced...

Two Focused Companies

Today it’s exciting to know that we can devote all of our attention to managing and franchising our lodging brands. With the spinoff of our timeshare unit, we’re now closer to a pure lodging company than we’ve ever been before. Which, in my opinion, is where we ought to be....

"Build It" said our Haitian Associates -- an Historic Announcement

Listen to Blog One of the best things Marriott can do to improve the lives of people and communities around the world is to open up a brand new hotel. Right away we create hundreds of new jobs, provide skill training and help improve the environment for doing business. That's...

The NFL & Courtyard - Two Power Brands

Listen To Blog Brian Orakpo stands 6’3” and 260 pounds. He came by headquarters to welcome Courtyard as the official sponsor of the NFL. I’ve been a longtime Redskins fan, in fact, since 1942. I’ve seen them win some Super Bowls and I’ve seen them struggle like they’re doing this...

Incredible India

India is truly an incredible country. There’s something old and something new everywhere you turn. It’s experiencing tremendous growth and our hotels are right in the middle of it. Most people’s impressions of India are not nearly as up to date as the changes taking place there. They may have...

The Art of Style at SpringHill Suites

In 1998, we launched a brand designed for the traveler looking for more space and a sense of style. That brand was SpringHill Suites. Now, we’ve taken it a step further. When you think of space and style, what comes to mind? To me, it’s art galleries. For the last...

Booking with Marriott While on the Move

In 1957, when we opened our very first hotel, the Marriott Twin Bridges, families were just starting to drive long distances on Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway. It was a great system and really changed America. Our Twin Bridges Motor Hotel was located outside Washington, D.C. and it featured a drive-through front...

A Virtual Lobby Tour

Listen to blog A lot has changed since we built our first hotel in 1957. I remember physically moving furniture to decide the right spot. We didn’t have a lot of choices on fabrics and designs. Now, we can design lobbies and rooms by using “virtual” showrooms. The hammer and...

Good Burgers and Good Business

Listen to blog I was raised on good hamburgers and I just love a good burger. It takes me back to my boyhood days and the fun of eating in one of my parents’ Hot Shoppes restaurants. When I travel out west, I try to pop into In-N-Out Burger, a...