John Willard Marriott (1900-1985), founder of the Marriott Corporation

John Willard Marriott was born to Ellen Morris and Hyrum Willard Marriott at Marriott Settlement, Utah on September 17, 1900. Hyrum and Ellen were farmers and ranchers.

He worked his way through the University of Utah selling clothing to lumberjacks. He graduated in 1926. 

On May 20, 1927, he opened a nine seat root beer stand in Washington DC. He next opened a Mexican restaurant which he named The Hot Shoppe, which offered a full menu and car hop service. By 1930 there were five Hot Shoppes.

Business was so good that by 1932 he had six more stands around the city and had incorporated as Hot Shoppes Inc.

In 1937, he stumbled upon idea of boxing lunches to be distributed on the airplane. He won a contact to cater meals aboard airline flights originating at Washington National Airport. In flight catering was born. 

Thirty years later, Marriott Flight Services, biggest of the air caterers, served 50 airline form domestic flight kitchens and 19 overseas airports.

In 1957, five years after the Marriott Company sold its first stock, Bill Marriott opened his first hotel. The company built its first motel, the Marriott Inn in Arlington, Virginia.

His company eventually expanded the lodging division, purchasing and developing additional restaurant chains, and expanding its contract catering division.

In 1964, the same year the company became known as the Marriott Corporation, Marriott retired from the active management of the company.

At the time of Marriott’s death, the company consisted of multiple lines of business and was generating $3.5 billion in annual revenues.
John Willard Marriott (1900-1985), founder of the Marriott Corporation