In the US you will find a Marriott hotel by any corners, as well in all big cities… you will find surely one Marriott or even more than one! Marriott International is a big Company, which has grown a lot in the last decades. Moreover, few years ago it merged with another colossus of the hospitality industry.
By reading “Brief analysis about Marriott” get to know more about this great American chain.
The case study is helpful to understand how a company become a chain and which business strategies have been applied over the years.
History
The first business was a nine-seat beer stand in Washington D.C., founded in 1927 by J.W. Marriott. The beer stand grew up very fast, opening other stands and restaurants.
Later on, in 1937 Marriott started more F&B services and begun to work the flight companies, by proposing a catering service. After years of branch out on F&B markets, in 1957 J.W. Marriott expands the business to the hospitality industry by opening the fist Hotel in Virginia.
In the early 80s Marriott was already celebrating the opening of the hotel number 100 and in 1989 the hotels increased to 500.
Between 1990 and the early 2000s the company was acquiring other brands as Gaylords Hotels and Protea Hospitality.
In 2016 the company merged with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, becoming one of the largest Hotel companies in the world.
Today Marriott has 8700 properties around 139 countries, counting 30 brands.
Amazing, isn’t it?
Business and strategies
It’s interesting to briefly analyse the business developments and the related strategies.
Since the first opening, J.W. Marriott never stopped to expand the business.
There is a first phase, spreading on the F&B market. In fact, during the first years the business was not concerning restaurants only, but other services as catering for airlines, colleges and hospitals.
With the on-going growth, Marriott shares the first stock, entering in the trading world.
In the second phase, from 1957 to early 80s, the hospitality is the king. Many new hotels (many hundreds) in the USA and in other countries around the world too.
During these years, Marriott introduced the first loyal program, focusing on innovation and growth.
The third phase, which it lasts until today, represent Marriott as international hospitality leader. The chain is handling the new job structural organization, for the incredible growth, and the acquisitions of different companies and brands.
Leadership
The chain company, by now recorded as one of the largest in the world, has surely a very strong leadership, which has always been able to be conform to the progressively growth. The brilliant job done since the beginning, includes regular activities expanded in a proper way. The activities are not referring only to the developments of businesses, but to the improvement of the internal corporate establishment too.
The innovation has always been the key and J.W. Marriott demonstrated since the beginning to be an excellent business man, by investing timely on the right markets. The progressively growth has been incredibly fast and balanced. There was surely an accurate job done on the investment planning.
Another important point is concerning the corporate philosophy: the focus is on associates. Employees are the driving force and are in the middle of the Marriott values. If there is recognition, there will be a positive working atmosphere and a high guest’s satisfaction.
EXTERNAL RELATED LINK:
Full history of Marriott company: Our Story (marriott.com)
Written By
Knowess International
Knowess International helps business owners and department heads working in the hospitality and restaurant industries to develop the necessary skills with targeted consulting.
