Who Owns Your Hotel? Marriott, Hilton, and the Hospitality Brand Ownership Guide

30 Hotel Brands, One Corporate Parent

The next time you book a hotel, consider this: Marriott International operates over 30 distinct hotel brands. Hilton operates 22. IHG operates 19. The hotel industry is one of the most brand-heavy sectors in the consumer economy, with a few corporate parents controlling the vast majority of rooms worldwide.

That "boutique" hotel you booked for its unique character? It may be a Marriott property. The budget hotel near the airport? Also Marriott. The luxury resort for your anniversary? Marriott again. Understanding hotel brand ownership helps travelers see past the branding to the corporate reality.

The Big Three Hotel Companies

Marriott International (30+ Brands)

Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland Rooms worldwide: ~1.7 million across 9,000+ properties Revenue: ~$24 billion

Marriott became the world's largest hotel company through its $13.6 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016. The combined portfolio spans every price point:

The surprise: Moxy (budget-boutique targeting younger travelers) and The Ritz-Carlton (ultra-luxury) share the same corporate parent. A $89/night Moxy room and a $1,200/night Ritz-Carlton suite both generate revenue for Marriott International.

Hilton Worldwide (22 Brands)

Headquarters: McLean, Virginia Rooms worldwide: ~1.2 million across 7,800+ properties Revenue: ~$11 billion

• Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Signia by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Canopy by Hilton, Tapestry Collection, Curio Collection

• Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Spark by Hilton, Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites

Hampton by Hilton (budget) and Waldorf Astoria (ultra-luxury) are corporate siblings. Hampton is one of the most widely recognized hotel brands in America, while Waldorf Astoria is synonymous with luxury hospitality.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (19 Brands)

Headquarters: Denham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom Rooms worldwide: ~950,000 across 6,400+ properties

• InterContinental: Luxury global brand
• Kimpton: Boutique lifestyle hotels
• Hotel Indigo: Neighborhood-inspired boutique
• Crowne Plaza: Upper-upscale business hotels
• Holiday Inn: The world's most recognized hotel brand
• Holiday Inn Express: Limited-service value
• Staybridge Suites: Extended stay
• Candlewood Suites: Economy extended stay

The ownership twist: IHG is a British company. Holiday Inn, perhaps the most "American" hotel brand in the world, is owned by a corporation headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Other Major Hotel Owners

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (25+ Brands)

Hyatt significantly expanded through its $2.7 billion acquisition of Apple Leisure Group (2021) and $2.3 billion acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality (2018, adding Thompson, Alila, and Joie de Vivre brands).

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (24 Brands)

The world's largest hotel company by number of properties (approximately 9,200), focusing on economy and midscale:

• Wyndham: Upper midscale
• Ramada: Midscale
• Days Inn: Economy
• Super 8: Budget
• La Quinta: Midscale
• Microtel: Budget
• Howard Johnson: Economy
• Travelodge: Budget

Wyndham operates more hotels than Marriott but generates far less revenue because its properties are concentrated in economy segments with lower room rates.

Accor (40+ Brands, France)

• Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel (luxury)
• Pullman, Swissotel, MGallery (premium)
• Novotel, Mercure (midscale)
• ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget (economy)

Choice Hotels International (22 Brands)

• Cambria Hotels, Radisson Blu (upscale)
• Radisson, Country Inn & Suites (upper midscale)
• Comfort Inn, Quality Inn (midscale)
• Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge (economy)

Choice acquired Radisson Hotels Americas in 2022 for $675 million, adding the Radisson brand family to its portfolio.

The Franchise Model

A critical fact about hotel ownership: most hotel companies do not own the buildings. They operate as brand franchisors:

• The hotel company (Marriott, Hilton, IHG) owns the brand name, reservation system, loyalty program, and quality standards
• The hotel owner (a real estate investor, private equity fund, or local developer) owns the physical building
• The management company (sometimes the brand, sometimes a third party) operates the day-to-day hotel

This means when you stay at a Marriott Courtyard, Marriott International may not own or manage the property. A local real estate investor owns the building and pays Marriott a franchise fee for the brand name and reservation system access.

This franchise-heavy model is why hotel companies can operate thousands of properties without owning billions in real estate.

What Hotel Ownership Means for Travelers

Loyalty programs span brands. Marriott Bonvoy works across all 30+ Marriott brands. Hilton Honors works across all 22 Hilton brands. Choosing a hotel within the same corporate family lets you earn and redeem points more efficiently.

Quality varies within a parent. Marriott owning both Ritz-Carlton and Fairfield does not mean they offer the same experience. Each brand has distinct quality standards, amenities, and price points.

"Independent" hotels may not be. Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio (Marriott), Tapestry Collection (Hilton), and Curio Collection (Hilton) are designed to look like independent boutique hotels while providing the benefits of a major chain's loyalty program and reservation system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the biggest hotel company?

Marriott International is the largest by number of rooms (~1.7 million). Wyndham Hotels is the largest by number of properties (~9,200), though its properties are smaller and more budget-oriented.

Does Marriott own Ritz-Carlton?

Yes. Marriott International has owned The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company since 1998. Ritz-Carlton operates as a luxury brand within the Marriott portfolio.

Is Holiday Inn American?

Holiday Inn was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1952 and is one of the most American-associated hotel brands. However, it is now owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts, a British company headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Do hotel companies own their buildings?

Most do not. Major hotel companies primarily operate as brand franchisors. The physical hotel buildings are typically owned by real estate investors, developers, or REITs who pay franchise fees for the brand name.

The Bottom Line

The hotel industry operates through brand proliferation: a few corporate parents create dozens of distinct brands to capture every traveler segment from budget to ultra-luxury. Understanding who owns which hotel brands helps travelers maximize loyalty programs, set quality expectations, and see through the branding to the corporate structure underneath.

Explore brand ownership across all categories on WhoBrands or browse companies.

Sources

1. Marriott International. "Our Brands." marriott.com 2. Hilton. "Our Brands." hilton.com 3. IHG. "Our Brands." ihg.com 4. STR (CoStar). "Global Hotel Census." 2025.

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: February 3, 2026.