Marriott International Celebrates 50 Years as A Hospitality Leader in Europe, Middle East & Africa

Marriott’s 50 Years in EMEA

Marriott International is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, its inaugural hotel in Europe and the first location outside North America. Established in 1975 as a single Marriott Hotel, it has since achieved significant growth throughout the European, Middle East, and African (EMEA) regions. Today, Marriott operates more than 1,300 properties under 29 distinct brands across 80 countries and territories within these regions.

The Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, inaugurated by J.W. Marriott, Jr., the former CEO and current Chairman Emeritus, was the first Marriott in Europe. It featured a city centre location and held the title of the largest hotel in the city upon its completion, offering 396 rooms.

For 50 years, the hotel has consistently upheld its fundamental values. By combining traditional hospitality with strategic innovation and a devoted, cohesive team, it has remained a steadfast presence in a dynamic city. Many staff members have stayed loyal for decades, some for as long as 45 years, and the hotel has nurtured numerous future leaders for the organization.

To celebrate its heritage and progress, the hotel commemorated its milestone anniversary with an event titled “A Journey Through Time.” The evening unified the past, present, and future, as more than 150 guests—including both former and current associates—gathered to pay tribute to the hotel’s legacy. Attendees included David Marriott, Chairman of the Board at Marriott International, and Satya Anand, President of Marriott International, EMEA.

“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.
• 1982: Opening of Cairo Marriott, Marriott’s first hotel in Africa.
• 1985: Opening of the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, Marriott’s first hotel in London.
• 1988: Opening of the Hamburg Marriott Hotel, Marriott’s first hotel in Germany.
• 1993: Opening of JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, Marriott’s first hotel in Dubai.
• 2014: Brand debut and opening of Moxy Milan, the world’s first Moxy Hotel to open.
• 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 the first quarter of 2025, Marriott’s EMEA pipeline expanded to include 583 hotels, totaling more than 100,000 rooms.