From one hotel in Amsterdam in 1975, to a portfolio of 1,300 properties in 80 countries and territories in 2025.
Marriott International, Inc. celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel (below), the company's first hotel in Europe and outside of North America.
From a single Marriott Hotel in 1975, the company has grown tremendously in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region over the past 50 years. Today, Marriott has over 1,300 properties, 29 distinct brands, and a presence in 80 countries and territories across the region.
Opened by J.W. Marriott, Jr., the company's then Chief Executive Officer who now serves as Chairman Emeritus, the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel debuted in Europe, boasting an unparalleled city center location. At the time of its construction, it was the city's largest hotel with 396 rooms.
Throughout its 50 years of operation, the hotel has remained true to its core values. With a blend of classic hospitality, strategic innovation, and a dedicated, close-knit team, the hotel has continued to be a reliable presence in an ever-changing city. Dozens of staff have remained with the hotel over the decades, some for 45 years, and the hotel has produced many future leaders for the company.
In a celebration of heritage and progress, the hotel marked its milestone anniversary with an event themed "A Journey Through Time." The evening brought together the past, present, and future, as over 150 guests—including former and current associates—gathered to honor the hotel's legacy with David Marriott, Chairman of the Board at Marriott International, and Satya Anand, President of Marriott International, EMEA in attendance.
"Fifty years ago, my dad attended the opening of this beautiful property, marking a historic milestone for Marriott, as we expanded beyond North America for the first time since our founding in 1927," said David Marriott, Chairman of the Board, Marriott International. ""It is an honor for me to be present as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, and I'm so proud of the team for their enduring commitment to service excellence."
Fueled by the success of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, Marriott rapidly expanded its portfolio across the region, first in Europe and then across the Middle East & Africa. The last five decades have seen many firsts for Marriott in EMEA, including:
- 1975: Brand debut and opening of Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, Marriott's first hotel in Europe and outside of North America.
- 1980: Opening of Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Saudi Arabia, Marriott's first hotel in the Middle East.
- 1981: Opening of Cairo Marriott, Marriott's first hotel in Africa.
- 1985: Opening of London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, Marriott's first hotel in London.
- 1993: Opening of JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, Marriott's first hotel in Dubai.
- 1998: Opening of Hamburg Marriott Hotel, Marriott's first hotel in Germany.
- 2014: Brand debut and opening of Moxy Milan, the first Moxy Hotel to open in the world.
- 2016: Opening of Kigali Marriott Hotel in Rwanda, Marriott's first hotel in sub-Saharan Africa.
- 2023: Brand debut and opening of Four Points Flex by Sheraton Bursa Nilüfer in Türkiye.
- 2024: Opening and brand debut in Europe of Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn.
Satya Anand, President of Marriott International EMEA, noted: "Our growth across the region all started 50 years ago with the opening of Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, our first flagship hotel in Europe. We now have a fantastic portfolio of over 1,300 hotels, resorts, residences and lodges in 80 countries and territories across EMEA, stretching from Tromsø in Norway to Cape Town in South Africa. We look forward to continuing to build our presence across the region, offering our guests and members even more travel experiences and accommodation options for every trip purpose."
As of Q1 2025, Marriott's pipeline for the EMEA region grew to 583 hotels, representing over 100,000 rooms.
