Skift Take
Roots run deep between Host Hotels and Marriott, obviously. But the fact that Host also owns properties that fly under Starwood and Marriott's brands, among others, gives its perspectives on ownership and operations some serious weight when talking about the future of the big merger and the direct booking wars.
Host Hotels & Resorts, the Bethesda, Maryland-based real estate investment trust (REIT) spun off from Marriott in 1993, delivered an owner's perspective on what the upcoming Marriott acquisition of Starwood could have on its portfolio.
The majority of Host Hotels' 114-property global portfolio skews heavily toward brands from Marriott and Starwood. Some 63, or 55% of its hotels fall under Marriott brands and 30, or about 26%, are Starwood-branded properties. Because 81% of its properties are either Starwood or Marriott hotels, it's clear Host Hotels has a clear stake in the successful integration of both companies.
In some markets, like New York City, for example, Host owns and/or operates both Marriott and Starwood hotels, including the Marriott Marquis Times Square and the Sheraton New York Times Square, which are only a few blocks away from each other.
During an earnings conference call on April 29, Host Hotels CEO W. Edward Walter said that while it's still early to tell how the integration will go, he feels optimistic abo
