If you're trying to figure out who owns Westin, the answer is Marriott International. Marriott acquired the brand in 2016 as part of its $13.6 billion purchase of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. That's the direct answer. Here's what the full picture looks like.
Who Owns Westin: The Complete Ownership History
Westin didn't arrive at Marriott overnight. The brand changed hands multiple times across nine decades, and each transfer left a mark on what the brand became.
Western Hotels — Founded in Seattle (1930)
Four competing hotel operators in the Pacific Northwest Severt W. Thurston, Frank Dupar, and the Schmidt brothers decided to pool resources during the Great Depression rather than fight each other for survival. They formed Western Hotels, a management company running 17 properties across Washington and Idaho. Practical origin. No grand vision. Just a response to a brutal economy.
Western International Hotels, Then Westin (1963–1981)
Growth followed through the mid-20th century Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, California. In 1963 the company renamed itself Western International Hotels to signal its global ambitions. Then in 1981 it contracted that again into Westin Hotels: a blend of "Western" and "International." Simple, cleaner, easier to brand internationally.
UAL / Allegis Corporation Ownership (1987–1988)
This is the strange chapter. United Airlines' parent company UAL rebranded itself as Allegis Corporation in 1987 with a plan to become an integrated travel company: one entity owning an airline, a car rental brand, hotel chains, and a reservation system.
Westin was part of that package. The plan collapsed fast. Shareholders revolted, management was replaced, and Westin was sold off to Japan's Aoki Corporation in 1988 for approximately $1.35 billion.
Aoki Corporation (1988–1995)
Aoki's ownership was unremarkable from an operational standpoint. The real estate climate soured, and the investment didn't perform. By 1994, Aoki agreed to sell to Starwood Capital Group and Goldman Sachs originally $561 million, negotiated down to $537 million by closing in May 1995. That's a steep drop from the $1.35 billion paid just six years earlier.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (1998–2016)
Starwood Capital initially acquired Westin, but by 1998 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide the operating company had taken full ownership. Westin joined a portfolio that already included Sheraton, and would later grow to include W Hotels, St. Regis, and Le Méridien.
Under Starwood, Westin developed a cleaner brand identity: wellness-led, upper-upscale, aimed at a traveler who wanted something more considered than a generic business hotel.
Marriott International Acquires Westin via Starwood (2016 — Present)
Marriott International completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in September 2016 for approximately $13.6 billion the largest hotel industry merger at the time.
Westin was one of 11 brands Marriott absorbed in that deal. Marriott became the world's largest hotel company by property count, and Westin has operated under its umbrella ever since. No rebrand. Same wellness positioning. Different corporate parent.
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Brand Ownership vs. Property Ownership Not the Same Thing
This distinction trips people up. Marriott owns the Westin brand: the name, the operating standards, the design guidelines, the loyalty program connection. What Marriott does not necessarily own is the building you're standing in.
Who Actually Owns the Physical Hotels
Most individual Westin properties are owned by third-party real estate investors private equity firms, family offices, institutional hotel ownership groups. These owners either franchise the Westin brand from Marriott, or they hire Marriott to manage the property on their behalf under a management agreement.
In either structure, the owner holds the real estate asset. Marriott holds the brand and, depending on the arrangement, the management contract.In practice this means: the Westin you're visiting may be owned by a company you've never heard of. Marriott sets the standards. Someone else owns the building.
How the Franchise Side Works
Westin franchisees pay Marriott ongoing fees around 7% of gross monthly room revenue and approximately 3% of food and beverage sales in exchange for use of the brand name, Marriott Bonvoy loyalty infrastructure, centralized reservations, and purchasing leverage. Roughly half of Westin's global units operate as franchises. About 60% of properties are in the United States.
Where Westin Fits Inside Marriott's Portfolio
Marriott runs more than 30 hotel brands across multiple tiers. Westin sits in the upper-upscale segment below luxury brands like St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton, but above standard full-service tiers like Courtyard or Sheraton's mid-market positioning.
What's notable is that Marriott largely left Westin's identity alone after the acquisition. The Heavenly Bed, the wellness programming, the Six Pillars of Well-Being framework all of that predates Marriott's ownership and survived the transition intact.
As of 2025, Westin operates more than 240 properties across 40+ countries, with roughly 100,000 guest rooms globally. Guests earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points across all Westin properties.
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Key Takeaways
Marriott International owns the Westin brand acquired in 2016 via the Starwood deal. Individual properties are mostly owned by third-party investors. Westin operates as an upper-upscale, wellness-focused brand within Marriott's 30+ brand portfolio, with guests accessing Marriott Bonvoy across all properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westin owned by Marriott?
Yes. Westin Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International. Marriott acquired it in 2016 through its purchase of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
Did Starwood own Westin before Marriott?
Yes. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide owned Westin from 1998 until Marriott completed the Starwood acquisition in September 2016.
Does Marriott own the actual Westin hotel buildings?
Not usually. Most Westin properties are owned by third-party real estate investors. Marriott owns the brand and in some cases manages operations but typically doesn't own the physical asset.
Can you franchise a Westin hotel?
Yes. Westin operates as a franchise under Marriott. Property owners pay royalty fees to use the brand name and access Marriott's systems. Roughly half of Westin units globally are franchised.
Is Westin a luxury or upscale brand?
Upper-upscale. Westin sits below Marriott's luxury tier (St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton) but above standard full-service hotels. It's wellness-positioned within that tier.
