Meet Our Founders

J. Willard Marriott

In 1927, J. Willard Marriott opened the nine-stool root beer stand that grew into the Hot Shoppes Restaurant chain and evolved into today’s Marriott International hotel company. For the next 58 years, he built the Marriott brand on a foundation of guiding principles that remain embedded in the company’s culture today.

Alice Sheets Marriott

Alice Sheets was J. Willard Marriott’s essential partner in both life and business. She had a hands-on role in helping the Marriott company grow, and her volunteer spirit is celebrated each year through the Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service.

Bill Marriott

Raised in the family business, J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. developed an early passion for hospitality. In his more than 50 years at the company’s helm, he built Marriott into a global lodging company with nearly 4,000 properties in more than 70 countries.

Taking care of customers at the first Hot Shoppe at 14th & Kenyon, 1927.

“Curbettes" provided car-side service at the Connecticut Avenue Hot Shoppe in 1936.