Marriott In Langkawi (Part I)

Dear readers, are you fully aware of what Marriott International is? Aside from its powerful branding, do you know the history of Marriott and how it became world-known as today? In this week’s post, we are taking our readers a trip down memory lane to see what happened back then before Marriott became huge like it is today.

Marriott International is an American multinational company. With its powerful portfolio, Marriott is recognized as the world’s largest travel company. Up to this day, Marriott has produced 30 superior brands and more than 7000 properties all over the world. 


Marriott's brands (Photo source from Marriott International)

It all started back in 1927 when J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice Marriott opened the first ever A&W root beer franchise in Washington, D.C. The humid summer there gave this Marriott couple an idea to sell cold drinks to the residents. Along with a business partner named Hugh Colton, they established a nine-seated A&W root beer stand. Together they offered good food and good service at a fair price. 


J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott in early 1930s (Photo source from Marriott International)


Marriott's first nine-seated A&W root beer stand in 1927 (Photo source from Marriott International)

The couple then decided to add hot food items to their menu and expanded their enterprise into a restaurant chain named Hot Shoppes. A year later, J. Willard and Alice opened few more Hot Shoppes restaurants around America to add more value to their enterprise.


Hot Shoppes in 1927 (Photo source from Marriott International)


New Hot Shoppes chain in 1928 (Photo source from Marriott International)

Advanced to 1953, Hot Shoppes had become a public company. In 1957, the couple’s son, Bill Marriot had taken over the management and open their first hotel in Virginia. Two years later, Bill opened another hotel and named it as Key Bridge Marriott. It has become Marriott’s longest operating hotel that is still continuously operating until today. In below picture, you will see a picture of Bill along with his wife, Donna and their two-year old daughter, Debbie Marriott snipping the ribbon to launch the opening of their second hotel, Key Bridge Marriott.


Bill and Donna with their two-year old daughter, Debbie Marriott (Photo source Marriott International)

In 1967, the family leadership business made another history when they renamed their enterprise from Hot Shoppes into Marriott Corporation. They also opened two amusement parks, which were California's Great America and Six Flags Great America. Since then, Marriot has continued to strengthen its profile by acquiring more assets and becomes one company that own huge assets while producing luxury and premium brands.


J. Willard and Alice with their young sons, Duke and Bill Marriott back in their early days (Photo source from Marriott International)


Marriott family in 1973 - J. Willard and Alice with their children and grandchildren (Photo source from Marriott International)

Now readers, do you know that there are four Marriott’s hotel chain in Langkawi? Each of these hotels provide luxury staycations that promise you best experience with their finest serves. After unveiling this golden history of Marriott, we are going to reveal those four prestige hotels next and let you be amazed at how far Marriott has come since their first born in 1927. It will be up on next post soon. So, stay tuned!