John Willard Marriott Sr. (1900–85) was an American entrepreneur who founded Marriott Corporation, later Marriott International, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. His leadership transformed a small root beer stand into a global hotel empire.
Born in Marriott Settlement, Utah, he worked on his family’s farm before attending Weber College and graduating from the University of Utah (1926.) In 1927, he opened an A&W root beer stand in Washington, D.C., expanding it into the Hot Shoppes restaurant chain. By 1957, he entered the hotel industry with the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
Marriott emphasized customer service, innovation, and expansion, diversifying into airline catering, cruise services, and luxury hotels. By his passing, Marriott Corporation operated over 1,400 restaurants and 143 hotels worldwide.
Robert O’Brien’s Marriott: The J. Willard Marriott Story (1989) explores his entrepreneurial journey and the growth of his hospitality empire.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by J. Willard Marriott
success is a combination of many things, but a good character is the foundation of the kind of success that will bring you real happiness.
—J. Willard Marriott
Topics: Success
It’s the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class.
—J. Willard Marriott
Topics: Things, Little Things
Choose your friends wisely-they will make or break you.
—J. Willard Marriott
Leave a Reply