Who Owns The Westin Hotels in 2025? The Real Story Behind Marriott's Luxury Brand

Marriott International owns the Westin Hotels and Resorts brand that operates over 235 properties in more than 40 countries and territories as of December 2023. The luxury hotel chain became part of Marriott's extensive portfolio after a most important $13.6 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016.

Westin now operates as one of the premier wellness-focused brands under the Marriott umbrella. Marriott's overall footprint spans nearly 8,800 properties with over 1.5 million rooms worldwide. The answer is clear for travelers asking if Westin is part of Marriott - it absolutely is. On top of that, Westin continues to expand globally with new locations like The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi in Turkey and The Westin Resort and Spa, Himalayas in India.

The ownership structure of Westin Hotels deserves a closer look, along with how Marriott's acquisition revolutionized the brand. Understanding who owns the physical hotel properties in different locations provides valuable insight. Marriott's shareholder structure and Westin brand's position within Marriott's extensive luxury accommodations portfolio complete this comprehensive picture.

Who Owns Westin Hotels in 2025?

Marriott International, Inc., a global hospitality leader based in Bethesda, Maryland, owns Westin Hotels in 2025. Marriott acts as the franchisor for the Westin brand. The brand stands as one of its premium luxury offerings in a portfolio that spans nearly 9,500 properties across more than 30 brands in 144 countries and territories.

Westin is a Marriott International brand

Westin stands as a premium brand under the Marriott umbrella. The company lists Westin Hotels & Resorts as one of its "distinctive premium" properties among other upscale Marriott offerings. Marriott bought Westin in 2016 through its $13.60 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. This deal expanded Marriott's luxury portfolio by a lot.

Marriott runs 246 Westin properties worldwide as of March 2025:

• 119 managed properties (41 in US & Canada, 78 international)

• 126 franchised properties (94 in US & Canada, 32 international)

• 1 owned/leased property located in the US & Canada

Westin's connection to Marriott goes beyond just the brand name. Guests can earn and use points through Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program that links all Marriott International brands. This setup adds value for loyal customers who can use their points across Marriott's network.

Franchise vs. ownership: how it works

Marriott International runs most of its hotels through franchises and management contracts instead of owning them directly. Out of about 9,463 properties worldwide, Marriott owns and manages just 51 hotels. Independent hospitality companies own and run 7,293 properties through franchise agreements with Marriott.

This setup means Marriott (or its subsidiary MIF, L.L.C.) provides franchisees with the Westin brand name, design criteria, operational standards, training programs, marketing support, and reservation systems. The franchisee owns the actual property and runs it according to Marriott's standards.

Franchisees get access to a system that has:

• The "Westin" trademark and other brand identifiers

• Design specifications and quality standards

• Training programs and materials

• Advertising and promotional resources

• Reservation and property management systems

• Revenue management tools

• Quality assurance programs

Marriott can grow its brand without buying properties, while franchise owners benefit from a 32-year old luxury brand's reputation.

Is Westin part of Marriott? Yes, here's how

Westin is without doubt part of Marriott and serves as one of the prominent brands in Marriott International's collection. Marriott started offering Westin Hotels franchises directly in March 2017, though its subsidiaries have owned and managed Westin properties since 1990.

Westin and Marriott share more than just a business relationship. Westin operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Marriott International. This makes it a key part of the company's strategy and operations.

Guests experience Westin's unique wellness focus while enjoying Marriott's strong global network. The brand's "Six Pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well" still shape every stay, now backed by Marriott's resources.

How Marriott Acquired Westin: A Quick History

Marriott's ownership of Westin started with a $13.6 billion deal to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016. Westin's story goes back almost 100 years, with several owners shaping this luxury brand before Marriott added it to their portfolio.

The Starwood acquisition in 2016

Marriott International bought Starwood Hotels & Resorts on September 23, 2016. This created the world's largest hotel company at that time. The deal combined Marriott's brands with Starwood's impressive lineup that included Sheraton, Westin, W, and St. Regis properties.

The path to acquisition wasn't smooth. Marriott had to compete with China's Anbang Insurance Group to win Starwood. The final agreement gave Starwood shareholders $21 in cash plus 0.80 shares of Marriott International Class A common stock for each Starwood share.

The merger gave Starwood shareholders about 34 percent of the combined company's common stock. Marriott believed they could save $250 million each year through corporate cost savings after the merger.

From Western Hotels to Westin

Westin started much smaller than today's global luxury chain. The story began in 1930 when hoteliers Severt W. Thurston and Frank Dupar met by chance in a Yakima, Washington coffee shop. They partnered with Peter and Adolph Schmidt who owned five hotels. Together they created Western Hotels with 17 properties - all but one in Washington State.

Western Hotels grew rapidly. By 1951, they had hotels in Vancouver, Oregon, Alaska, California, Montana, and Utah. The company changed its name to Western International Hotels in 1963 to show its growing global reach.

The company made another big change on January 5, 1981, when it became Westin Hotels - combining "Western International" into one word. Seattle's Washington Plaza Hotel led the change and became The Westin Hotel on September 1, 1981.

Key milestones in Westin's ownership

experience

Westin changed hands many times before becoming part of Marriott:

• 1970: Western International merged with United Airlines but kept running independently[102]

• 1987: UAL chairman Richard Ferris tried to create Allegis Corporation, a travel group including United Airlines, Hertz Rent a Car, Hilton International Hotels, and Westin

• 1988: After Allegis failed, Japan's Aoki Corporation bought Westin for $1.35 billion[93]

• 1994-1995: Aoki sold Westin to Starwood Capital Group and Goldman Sachs. The price dropped from $561 million to $537 million[93]

• 1998: Starwood took complete control of Westin

• 2016: Marriott International bought Starwood, bringing Westin into Marriott's family

This history shows how Westin grew from a small American hotel chain into a global luxury brand. The company changed hands several times before finding its home with Marriott's premium offerings.

How Westin Operates Under Marriott Today

Westin operates mainly through a sophisticated franchise and management model under Marriott International's umbrella. The brand has about 267 properties worldwide and generates around $4.40 billion in global sales. This operational approach lets Marriott expand the Westin brand globally without directly owning most physical properties.

Franchise and management model explained

Marriott gives entrepreneurs non-exclusive franchises to establish and operate Westin hotels at specific locations. Franchisees get access to use the detailed "Westin system." The system has trademark rights, design specifications, operational standards, training programs, marketing support, and Marriott's powerful reservation network.

The financial structure is simple yet substantial. Franchise owners pay Marriott an ongoing royalty of 7% of monthly gross room sales and 3% of monthly gross food and beverage sales. This revenue stream is significant to Marriott since about half of all Westin properties run under franchise agreements.

A guest staying at a Westin hotel in Las Vegas or New York will likely find the property owned by a third-party investor. Marriott provides the brand standards, marketing support, and operational guidance that creates the consistent Westin experience.

Westin's operational footprint has:

• About 267 properties (open or in development)

• Nearly 100,000 guest rooms worldwide

• Approximately 60% of locations in the United States

• Half of all properties operating under franchise agreements

Role of Marriott Bonvoy in Westin's ecosystem

Marriott Bonvoy, the company's award-winning loyalty program, connects Westin with the broader Marriott portfolio. Westin guests can earn and redeem points across all 30 Marriott brands.

The integration creates a win-win relationship. Westin benefits from Marriott's massive customer base while adding its wellness-focused clientele to the broader Marriott ecosystem. The loyalty program acts as operational glue that binds Westin to its parent company while keeping its distinct brand identity.

How Marriott supports Westin's wellness mission

Marriott has kept and improved Westin's innovative wellness focus. Westin's operations center on its signature "Six Pillars of Well-Being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well". The brand pioneered wellness trends—Westin became the first hotel brand to create and market a superior bed, the Heavenly Bed, in 1999.

Marriott reimagined Westin's WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending program in 2023. The program features high-tech recovery and strength training equipment. Guests can borrow fitness equipment for in-room workouts to keep their routines while traveling.

Jennifer Connell, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts, said: "For Westin, wellness is central to our mission. Over the last decade, through our WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending program, we've helped guests optimize their fitness routines and accomplish more while on the road".

Other wellness initiatives include:

• The signature WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studios

• More than 225 on-property Run Concierges worldwide

• RunWESTIN maps for learning destinations

• Optional Heavenly Spa by Westin facilities

Westin thrives as a wellness pioneer in Marriott's portfolio. Its operational model ensures brand consistency across hundreds of individually owned properties worldwide.

Who Really Owns the Buildings?

Marriott International owns the Westin brand, but third-party investors and real estate companies own the actual hotel buildings. This setup is the foundation of Marriott's asset-light business strategy.

Hotel ownership vs. brand ownership

Understanding how the hospitality industry works requires knowing the difference between owning a hotel brand and owning hotel buildings. Marriott works mainly as a brand licensor and hotel operator rather than a property owner. Most chains and brands don't own their hotels—they franchise the brand or manage the property for independent owners.

The franchise model has become incredibly successful and represents over 67% of chain properties in the U.S.. Hotel owners must pay upfront fees and ongoing royalties to use everything from branding to management software to loyalty programs. Westin franchisees invest anywhere from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Today's market has four main hotel ownership models:

• Franchised hotels: Owners pay to use an established brand's name and systems

• Managed hotels: Third-party companies operate properties for owners

• Leased hotels: Operators rent properties from owners for specified periods

• Owned hotels: Properties kept by a single entity that handles both ownership and operations

Examples of third-party owners (e.g., Highgate, Host Hotels)

Highgate has emerged as a leading third-party owner of Westin properties. This game-changer in hotel management and investment runs properties in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. Highgate now manages more than 500 properties with over 84,000 hotel rooms. This is a big deal as it means that their total real estate value is above $15 billion.

Highgate manages many Marriott-branded properties, including several Westin hotels. Their expertise covers luxury hotels, urban assets, independent lifestyle properties, resorts, and select-service establishments.

Case study: The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa

The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa shows this ownership structure perfectly. While Marriott owns the Westin brand, Highgate and Cerberus Capital Management own the physical property.

The 826-room hotel's previous owner was Fortress Investment Group, which sold it to Highgate for $195.5 million in September 2018. The property, which opened in 1977 as the Maxim, went through major renovations. The casino floor became a bar and restaurant called Jake & Eli, and meeting room capacity grew by 20%.

Located just two blocks from the Las Vegas Strip, this non-gaming hotel offers four food and beverage outlets, an outdoor pool, about 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, and a spa.

Inside Marriott’s Shareholder Structure

Marriott International owns the Westin brand through a complex shareholder structure that blends institutional investors with strong family influence. Thousands of shareholders who own Marriott International, the parent company, ended up having a stake in Westin's ownership.

Public company with institutional investors

Marriott International trades publicly on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol MAR. Institutional investors own about 86.13% of all outstanding shares. Thousands of individual investors own the remaining shares through different investment vehicles.

The company's public structure allows anyone to own a piece of Marriott—and the Westin brand—by buying shares through a brokerage account. This open ownership model differs from private hotel companies where only select investors control the business.

Top shareholders: Vanguard, BlackRock, and more

Large institutional investors hold most of Marriott's shares, with investment management companies leading the pack:

• The Vanguard Group leads with 23.68 million shares

• BlackRock follows with 19.78 million shares

• State Street Corporation owns 10.13 million shares

Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, and Geode Capital Management rank among other major institutional shareholders. These institutions hold their shares mainly through index funds and ETFs that track market performance, rather than targeting Marriott specifically.

Insider ownership: The Marriott family

The founding Marriott family still wields substantial influence with their 16% ownership stake, even though the company trades publicly. This family connection helps preserve Marriott's original values and vision in running the Westin brand. Their involvement creates a unique mix of family-driven principles and professional management that guides Westin hotels worldwide.

Conclusion

Marriott International has owned Westin Hotels and Resorts brand since 2016, making it a key part of their luxury portfolio. The $13.6 billion Starwood Hotels acquisition helped Marriott change Westin into a premium wellness-focused brand that still keeps its unique identity guests have loved for decades.

The brand's ownership goes beyond just having the name. Third-party investors and real estate companies like Highgate own most Westin buildings, while Marriott runs them through its franchise and management model. This asset-light strategy lets Marriott grow the Westin brand worldwide without buying properties.

The merger into Marriott's system has worked well for everyone involved. Westin keeps its innovative wellness focus with signature programs like the Heavenly Bed and WestinWORKOUT facilities. Guests can now use the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program that connects them to Marriott's network of nearly 9,500 properties worldwide.

Marriott International operates as a public company with a mix of institutional investors and family influence. Large investment firms like Vanguard and BlackRock own major stakes, but the Marriott family's 16% ownership ensures their vision guides the company's future.

A stay at a Westin hotel in 2025 means experiencing a brand that's nearly 100 years old. It started as Western Hotels in 1930 and grew to become the life-blood of the world's largest hospitality company. This ownership setup combines corporate brand management, third-party property ownership, and public company structure to create the sophisticated business model that drives modern luxury hospitality.

FAQs

Q1. Who currently owns the Westin Hotels brand?

Marriott International owns the Westin Hotels and Resorts brand. Westin became part of Marriott's portfolio following the acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016.

Q2. How does Westin operate under Marriott's ownership?

Westin operates primarily through a franchise and management model. Marriott provides the brand name, operational standards, and support systems, while third-party investors typically own the physical hotel properties.

Q3. Can I use my Marriott Bonvoy points at Westin hotels?

Yes, you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points at Westin hotels. Westin is fully integrated into Marriott's loyalty program, allowing guests to use their points across all Marriott brands.

Q4. What sets Westin apart from other Marriott brands?

Westin is known for its wellness-focused approach, featuring signature programs like the Heavenly Bed and WestinWORKOUT facilities. The brand operates under six pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well.

Q5. Who actually owns the Westin hotel buildings?

While Marriott owns the Westin brand, the physical hotel buildings are typically owned by third-party investors and real estate companies. This arrangement allows for brand consistency across individually owned properties worldwide.