Marriott International’s story begins not in a luxury hotel, but in a nine-seat A&W root beer stand in 1927 Washington, D.C., founded by J. Willard and Alice Marriott with $6,000 and a vision for refreshment in the sweltering heat. When seasonal sales plummeted, Alice’s introduction of hot tamales and chili transformed the business into The Hot Shoppe, marking the first of many strategic pivots. This adaptability became a hallmark: the company expanded into drive-in restaurants, airline catering, and government cafeterias, laying the operational foundation for its 1957 leap into hospitality with the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel. Under Bill Marriott, Jr.’s leadership, the company sharpened its focus on business travelers, launching data-driven brands like Courtyard by Marriott (1983), Residence Inn (1987), and Fairfield Inn. A pivotal 1993 corporate split created Marriott International as a management and franchising entity, enabling rapid global expansion without heavy real estate investment. Technological innovation followed: in 1995, Marriott became the first hotel chain to offer online reservations, revolutionizing travel. Strategic acquisitions amplified its reach—49% of The Ritz-Carlton in 1995, full control by 1998, and the transformative $13 billion merger with Starwood in 2016, which united brands like Sheraton, Westin, and W Hotels, creating the world’s largest hotel company with over 1.1 million rooms across 110+ countries. Yet growth brought profound challenges. The 9/11 attacks destroyed the Marriott World Trade Center, a human and symbolic tragedy that reinforced the company’s 'people-first' culture. In 2018, a massive data breach—stemming from undetected Starwood system vulnerabilities since 2014—exposed up to 383 million guests, including passport and credit card data. Marriott responded with a $52 million settlement, sweeping cybersecurity reforms, and a commitment to transparency, underscoring the risks of digital scale. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt an even deeper blow, with global occupancy dropping 65% in 2020, leading to furloughs and 17% permanent layoffs at headquarters. Recovery came through strategic agility: shifting to hyperlocal leisure travel, offering remote workspaces, and capitalizing on resilient luxury demand. By 2022, global occupancy surpassed 2019 levels, though business travel remains subdued due to remote work trends. Central to Marriott’s endurance is its enduring culture. J. Willard’s principle—'take care of associates and they will take care of the customers'—has driven 25 consecutive years on Fortune’s '100 Best Companies to Work For' list, fostering loyalty and service excellence. Today, Marriott invests in frictionless tech like smart rooms and digital check-in while cultivating future customer bases through new mid-scale brands. The closure of the last Hot Shoppe in 1999 symbolized a full transition from analog roots to digital dominance. Marriott’s legacy extends beyond lodging—it’s a global employer, economic catalyst, and pioneer in tech-driven hospitality, proving that resilience, human-centric values, and relentless innovation can transform a root beer stand into a worldwide empire.