Phê Vé
April 7, 2026 • 3 min read
Marriott began as a humble soda shop, evolved into a restaurant, and eventually grew into the largest hotel chain in the world. This story is truly fascinating!
The Surprising Beginning of Marriott
Many may not know that Marriott started as a simple soda shop back in 1927. Recently, Marriott made a switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola after 34 years, but the story of their origins is quite intriguing and lesser-known.
If you're a fan of the hospitality industry, you might have heard of Bill Marriott, the owner of this hotel chain. But did you know that the name "JW Marriott" is derived from his real name, John Willard Marriott? There’s much more to the Marriott story than you might expect.
The Story of Bill Marriott
Bill Marriott was born in 1900 in Marriott, Utah. His parents were sheep herders, and from a young age, he exhibited a knack for business. At just eight years old, Bill began working for his father, and by thirteen, he had started his own venture. Life was not easy, but he always found a way to carve his path.
Starting with A&W Root Beer
In 1927, Bill Marriott and his wife opened their first A&W Root Beer stand in Washington DC. They recognized that soda shops were becoming popular and decided to try their hand at it. Initially, the stand thrived in the hot summer months, but as winter rolled in, customers lost interest in sodas.
To save their business, they added hot food items to the menu for the winter and rebranded as “Hot Shoppes.” By 1928, they opened two more Hot Shoppes and began to experience significant growth from there.
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Diving into Food and Aviation
In 1936, Hot Shoppes approached airlines with the innovative idea of providing pre-packaged meals for flights, something that had never been done before. The airlines were excited, and the company quickly became a meal provider for flights at Hoover Airport in Washington DC.
By 1953, Hot Shoppes decided to go public, and their stock sold out in just two hours. In 1957, Bill Marriott shifted his focus to the hotel business and opened his first motel in Arlington, Virginia.
Marriott's Remarkable Growth
In 1959, Marriott's second property, named Key Bridge Marriott, was established. From that point on, Marriott continually grew and expanded, eventually becoming the largest hotel chain in the world as we know it today.
An Interesting Conclusion
Few realize that Marriott began as a soda shop, transitioned into a hot food restaurant, and later ventured into airline catering. The hotels came many years later. This is truly an inspiring and fascinating story.
Even though Marriott has now become the largest hotel chain in the world, I feel that the innovation isn't as strong as it once was. Did you know this story about Marriott? Feel free to share your thoughts!
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