Is Fairfield owned by Marriott?

Yes. Fairfield by Marriott is a wholly owned brand created by Marriott International in 1987. Properties are nearly all franchised to third-party owners, but Marriott owns the brand, sets standards, and operates the reservation platform.

Is Fairfield publicly traded?

No. Fairfield is a brand, not a listed company. Its owner, Marriott International, trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker MAR.

When was Fairfield founded?

Marriott launched Fairfield Inn in 1987. The brand was named after Fairfield Farm, the Marriott family's Virginia retreat, and was positioned as the company's economy offering below the then-new Courtyard brand.

Who founded Fairfield?

Marriott International developed Fairfield internally as its entry into the economy hotel segment. It was not an acquisition.

What is Fairfield's market position?

Fairfield is an economy select-service brand with approximately 1,300 properties, the broadest geographic coverage in the Marriott portfolio. It competes with Hampton by Hilton, Holiday Inn Express, and Comfort Inn at budget-to-mid-range rates.

What is the difference between Fairfield and Courtyard?

Fairfield is Marriott's economy select-service brand with a simple room-plus-breakfast format, while Courtyard is positioned slightly higher with a Bistro restaurant and more public space. Both sit in the select-service tier, with Fairfield covering smaller markets and lower price points.

Travel & Hospitality

Who Owns Fairfield by Marriott?

Fairfield by Marriott is an economy select-service hotel brand owned by Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR). Marriott launched Fairfield Inn in 1987, naming it after the Marriott family farm in Virginia. The brand operates approximately 1,300 hotels worldwide, providing consistent, value-priced accommodation primarily in North America and Asia.

Parent Company

Marriott International

Founded

1987

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Fairfield by Marriott Timeline

1927

Marriott International

Parent company established in Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Company Founded

1987

Fairfield by Marriott

Founded by Marriott International (internal development)

Founded

budgetmass marketGlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Fairfield by Marriott?

Parent Company: Marriott International
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: MAR

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Fairfield by Marriott	Marriott International	Wholly owned

History of Fairfield by Marriott

Founded: 1987
Founders: Marriott International (internal development)

Marriott launched Fairfield Inn in 1987, naming the brand after Fairfield Farm, the Marriott family's Virginia retreat. The first properties offered a simple promise: a clean, consistent room, free breakfast, and friendly service at budget prices, positioned below the three-year-old Courtyard brand.

The economy segment was contested territory in the late 1980s, with Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Comfort Inn all competing for the same travelers. Fairfield's differentiator was the Marriott operational reputation applied to a leaner format: smaller rooms, limited public space, and no restaurant beyond the breakfast offering.

The brand grew steadily through the 1990s and 2000s as the franchise model let independent owners convert or build economically. Fairfield became one of Marriott's two highest-count brands alongside Courtyard, penetrating suburban corridors, highway exits, and small cities where full-service hotels could not operate profitably.

In the 2010s the brand simplified its name to Fairfield and later adopted the Fairfield by Marriott nameplate in most markets, standardizing international branding. The brand's Fairfield Inn and Suites designation persisted in North America for properties with suite configurations.

International expansion pushed Fairfield into Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and India through the 2010s and 2020s, often as Marriott's entry brand in markets where the economy segment offered the clearest path. As of 2026, the portfolio stands at approximately 1,300 properties.

About Marriott International

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.

Founded: 1927
Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NASDAQ: MAR
Revenue: $25.5 billion (FY2025, calendar year ended December 31, 2025)
Employees: Approximately 425,000

Visit Marriott International website

View full company profile for Marriott International

Where Is Fairfield by Marriott Made / Based?

Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Fairfield by Marriott Categories & Tags

Hotels Select Service Budget Travel Marriott Hospitality

Fairfield by Marriott Sustainability & Ethics

Fairfield operates under Marriott International's Serve360 sustainability platform, which commits the parent to net-zero emissions by 2050. Properties implement the company's energy, water, and waste standards including the elimination of single-use toiletry bottles.

The brand holds no independent sustainability certification. Marriott publishes an annual sustainability report with verified emissions data covering all brands.

Fairfield by Marriott Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Broadest geographic coverage in the Marriott portfolio
+Franchise economics produce high-margin fee revenue
+Bonvoy integration captures loyalty demand in small markets
+Simple operating model keeps costs low for franchisees
+International localization has driven expansion in Japan and Latin America

Considerations

-Economy segment is the industry's most price-competitive
-Product differentiation versus Hampton and Holiday Inn Express is thin
-Franchise quality varies across the large property base
-Limited amenities constrain rate growth
-Brand extensions into midscale create tier overlap with City Express

Frequently Asked Questions About Fairfield by Marriott

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Fairfield by Marriott

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Courtyard by MarriottSister Brand	Marriott International	USA	1983	Mass market	Global	All Genders
SpringHill SuitesSister Brand	Marriott International	USA	1998	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Gaylord HotelsSister Brand	Marriott International	USA	1977	Premium	United states	All Genders
Marriott HotelsSister Brand	Marriott International	USA	1957	Premium	Global	All Genders
Protea Hotels by MarriottSister Brand	Marriott International	South Africa	1984	Mass market	Regional	All Genders
Residence InnSister Brand	Marriott International	USA	1975	Mass market	United states	All Genders