A Salute to the 100th Hotel of the JW Marriott Brand
We’re celebrating a big milestone this month – the opening of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street (pictured below). It’s the 100th hotel of the JW Marriott brand.
What a growth story. I remember when we opened the first JW Marriott in 1984, in honor of my father, JW Marriott, who founded the company with my mother Alice Marriott.
That first JW Marriott Hotel opened in Washington, D.C. on 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue – the same street where we started the company as an A&W root beer stand in 1927.
It was a total surprise to my dad, who had no idea we were planning a new luxury brand in his honor. For that first hotel dedication, we lined up personal video tributes to him from Bob Hope, Billy Graham, President Gerald Ford and so many others. He was nearly speechless.
More importantly to him, though, we presented him with a 242-foot-long card containing the signatures and well wishes of thousands of Marriott associates.
It was a beautiful moment for a man from a simpler time. He was born at the turn of the last century, September 1900, and even at a young age, he was using his entrepreneurial skills to sell rabbits and chickens.
My dad passed away in 1985, but his incredible legacy lives on – through the company and his namesake brand.
Best wishes to the team in Tampa as you open your doors.
I know my father would be humbled and delighted.
Owner, CaboPages.com
3 年I love this. I actually just read another of your posts about your father. I knew nothing of the family component of your company. It’s wonderful. I cannot wait to stay at a Marriot in the future. A JW Marriot to be specific. Such a heart touching story about the first one. Unreal about opening up the hotel on the same street as the A&W… For us entrepreneurs…a story like that brings a tear to our eyes…as we understand the struggles and have an appreciation beyond appreciation for that type of accomplishment. It’s stories like those that keep us going. Thank you for sharing. ??????
Owner at Electronic Lock Consultants
4 年Amazing !
New Car Sales Manager at Performance Hyundai
4 年Congratulations!
Principal at Spring Valley Hospitality Advisors
4 年In 1984 we opened the JWMarriott FlagShip in Washington DC on 14th St NW, down the street from the original HotShoppe- when the hotel opened everyone in Washington thought the hotel was a big mistake, Dave Townsend and the sales team proved them wrong- the first weekend opened the hotel was sold out and we never looked back- what a wonderful experience, so many incredible relationships and memories! Now there are 100 JWM hotels around the world??