Courtyard by Marriott
In San Luis, Georgia in 1983, Courtyard by Marriott opened its first property. It was Marriott's first sister brand, a deliberate experiment in a market the flagship hotels had not been designed to serve. What drove Marriott International to build an entirely new chain from scratch? And how did that chain eventually become the first American chain hotel to open on a Caribbean island?
In the early 1980s, Marriott found itself unable to secure enough locations that fit the standards of its existing brand. The solution was a new chain built around smaller properties in areas with lower overall demand. Courtyard was designed to serve both business and pleasure travelers, reaching parts of the market the full-service Marriott hotels had passed over. Marriott International committed $2 billion in the mid-1980s to expand the new chain. That investment was aimed directly at the traveler who typically chose Holiday Inn.
From three test sites in 1983, the chain grew to more than 90 hotels by 1987. By 2007, Marriott was ready to invest in another round of changes to the brand.
Every Courtyard room includes a desk, a couch, and free Internet access. Most properties have an on-site bistro where guests can purchase freshly cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, and appetizers. That meal service is not complimentary; guests pay for what they order. All locations also operate 24-hour markets known internally as The Market. Premium upgrades are available, including enhanced Internet packages and larger suite-style rooms.
In 2007, Marriott launched its Refreshing Business Initiative to update Courtyard properties across the portfolio. Renovations included redesigned lobbies and bars with extended hours. Those bars provided a popular social space while also generating increased revenue. Most Courtyard locations now offer a swimming pool or fitness center. The chain has also broadened over time to accommodate leisure travelers and families, offering family rates at most properties. Many rooms include mini-fridges, and a complimentary microwave is generally available in The Market.
Cambria Hotels & Suites, Wingate Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn all compete with Courtyard in the mid-priced, business-oriented segment. By 2017, the brand had expanded well beyond the American markets where it started, reaching a Caribbean island that no American chain had previously entered.
In 2017, a Courtyard hotel became the first American chain property to open on the island of Bonaire. Through a partnership with the local dive shop Dive Friends Bonaire, the property added an onsite scuba diving operation. That made it the first Courtyard hotel anywhere in the world to offer that service.
As of the 30th of June 2020, there were 1,254 Courtyard hotels operating worldwide with 187,095 rooms. An additional 288 hotels with 49,335 rooms were in the development pipeline at that same point. Back in 2006, the chain had 733 US properties with 105,526 rooms. By 2023, Courtyard had grown to 1,312 properties across five regions, with a combined total of 196,960 rooms.
The Asia and Pacific region grew from 37 properties in 2015 to 113 by 2023. That expansion added more than 16,700 rooms in a region that had fewer than 40 locations when the chain first began tracking regional data.
Common questions
What is Courtyard by Marriott and who owns it?
Courtyard by Marriott is an American hotel brand owned by Marriott International. It primarily serves business travelers, though it has broadened over time to also accommodate leisure travelers and families. As of 2023, the chain operated 1,312 properties worldwide.
When and where did Courtyard by Marriott open its first hotel?
Courtyard by Marriott opened its first property in 1983 in San Luis, Georgia. It was Marriott's first sister brand, created to reach markets the existing Marriott hotels had not been designed to serve.
How many Courtyard by Marriott hotels are there in the world?
As of the 30th of June 2020, there were 1,254 Courtyard hotels worldwide with 187,095 rooms. By 2023, the total had grown to 1,312 properties with 196,960 rooms across five global regions.
Who are Courtyard by Marriott's main competitors?
Courtyard by Marriott's main competitors in the mid-priced, business-oriented hotel segment are Cambria Hotels & Suites, Wingate Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn.
What was Marriott's Refreshing Business Initiative for Courtyard hotels?
Launched in 2007, Marriott's Refreshing Business Initiative updated Courtyard properties with redesigned lobbies and bars featuring extended hours. Those bars were noted for providing a popular social space while also increasing revenue at the properties.
Which Caribbean island did Courtyard by Marriott become the first American chain hotel to open on?
In 2017, Courtyard by Marriott became the first American chain hotel to open on the island of Bonaire. Through a partnership with the local dive shop Dive Friends Bonaire, the property also became the first Courtyard hotel in the world to include an onsite scuba diving shop.
All sources
23 references cited across the entry
- 2Journal"Courtyard by Marriott": Designing a Hotel Facility with Consumer-Based Marketing ModelsJerry Wind et al. — 1989
- 3NewsMarriott Stakes Out New TerritoryLeslie Wayne — 1985-09-22
- 4JournalCourtyard renovations nearly complete in North America.C. Elliott Mest — 4 June 2012
- 5NewsTravelTruth: Scuba Diving Bonaire on the Cheap - FirstRead.MeMelinda. Crow — 2017-07-15