Marriott Bought Starwood - 25 Moments in 2015

Some company was going to buy Starwood in the near future. It was simply a matter of which one.

While the media — including us — was focused on Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels, and Chinese conglomerates, Marriott snuck in and grabbed the rudderless Starwood for a cool $12.2 billion.

The purchase gives Marriott 30 brands to play with, as well as big shares of big markets like New York, where the combined group now controls 60% of rooms. It also gives Marriott the Starwood Preferred Guest program, arguably the hotel world’s most innovative loyalty plan. In the coming months we’re likely to see the combined Marwood (or is it Starriott?) shed brands, expand its Washington, D.C.-area base, and begin figuring out how to work all the moving parts in the new 900-pound gorilla of the hotel world. Expect severe growing pains.

The Full Story:

• Interview: Marriott CEO Says He’s Banking on Economies of Scale
• Marriott’s Starwood Buy Is Likely Signal of More Industry Consolidation
• Hotel Owners Are the Most Important Players in the Marriott-Starwood Merger