Who Owns Element Hotels?

What does Marriott International own?
Marriott International owns over 30 hotel brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard, Fairfield, Residence Inn, Moxy, and City Express by Marriott. The company operates approximately 9,500 properties in 140-plus countries and territories. However, Marriott owns very few of the physical hotel buildings. Approximately 99% of properties are managed or franchised for third-party owners. Marriott also owns the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program with over 230 million members.

Is Marriott International publicly traded?
Yes, Marriott International, Inc. is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker MAR. The company has been publicly traded since 1953. The Marriott family retains a significant but non-controlling ownership stake. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. The company has a single-class share structure with one vote per share.

Who founded Marriott International?
Marriott was founded by J. Willard Marriott and his wife Alice Marriott, who opened a root beer stand in Washington, D.C. in 1927. The company entered the hotel business in 1957 with the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. J. Willard Marriott handed leadership to his son Bill Marriott in 1972. Marriott International was created in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into Marriott International (hotels) and Host Marriott (real estate).

Where is Marriott International headquartered?
Marriott International is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, near Washington, D.C. The company's global headquarters is located at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. The company operates approximately 9,500 properties in 140-plus countries and territories worldwide.

How many hotels does Marriott operate?
As of 2025, Marriott operates approximately 9,500 properties with over 1.7 million rooms across 140-plus countries and territories. The company has a development pipeline of approximately 3,800 properties and 590,000 rooms, representing significant future growth. Over half of the development pipeline is in international markets.

What is Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott International's loyalty program, with over 230 million members as of 2025. The program was formed in 2019 by merging Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) following the 2016 Starwood acquisition. Members earn points on stays at Marriott properties, which can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, and other benefits. The program also includes co-branded credit cards with JPMorgan Chase and American Express.

Who is the CEO of Marriott International?
Anthony Capuano is the President and CEO of Marriott International, a position he has held since February 2021. He succeeded Arne Sorenson, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in February 2021. Capuano had been with Marriott for over 25 years before becoming CEO. The board of directors is chaired by David Marriott, grandson of founder J. Willard Marriott.