If you have ever enjoyed a stay at a Westin property, you may wonder who owns Westin Hotels and how the brand maintains such a consistent experience worldwide. Westin Hotels & Resorts is known for premium comfort and wellness-focused hospitality. Understanding who owns Westin Hotels helps explain the strong standards and global presence behind the name.
Key Takeaways
- Westin Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International, which took control of the brand after acquiring its former parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, in 2016.
- Marriott acquired Westin through a major merger valued at approximately $13.6 billion, allowing Westin to integrate into the world’s largest hotel group with access to global distribution, loyalty programs, and expanded development support.
- The acquisition strengthened Westin’s growth, enabling the brand to scale its wellness-focused hospitality model into more international markets across both city and resort destinations.
Westin Hotels & Resorts Overview
Westin Hotels & Resorts is a globally recognized upscale hotel brand with a strong emphasis on wellness, comfort, and a consistent guest experience. The brand serves both business and leisure travelers and is positioned in the premium hospitality segment.
Westin is part of a larger hotel company portfolio and operates numerous properties around the world. Its identity revolves around signature amenities, global reach, and a focus on feeling well while traveling.
Westin Hotels & Resorts is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. As an American hotel brand, it serves guests across many regions worldwide and is part of a major hospitality group.
The brand works through a mix of owned, managed, and franchised hotels, which allows it to scale globally while maintaining brand standards. Westin’s guest‐experience model emphasizes wellness (sleep, fitness, healthy food), and the brand is positioned for those seeking premium comfort and consistency.
Founders
The origins of the brand now known as Westin Hotels & Resorts began in 1930. Two hotel-owners, Severt W. Thurston and Frank A. Dupar, met by chance in a coffee shop in Yakima, Washington.
Thurston had previously worked as a hotel porter and then a hotel owner. Dupar had built a hotel and apartment business in the Seattle region.
They decided that combining their resources made sense in the difficult economy of the Great Depression.
They invited Peter Schmidt and Adolph Schmidt, brothers who already operated five hotels in the Puget Sound area, to join their venture.
The four formed Western Hotels, Inc., a management company through which each property remained distinct but shared services, branding, and referral systems.
Thurston became president, Dupar treasurer, Peter Schmidt chairman, and Adolph Schmidt vice-chairman.
This founding structure laid the groundwork for the brand’s model of hotel ownership + brand management, which evolved into the Westin identity.
Major Milestones
- 1930: Western Hotels, Inc. is founded in Yakima, Washington by Severt W. Thurston, Frank A. Dupar, Peter Schmidt, and Adolph Schmidt.
- 1946: Western becomes the first hotel company to issue its own guest credit card.
- 1952: The company launches 24-hour room service across many of its hotels.
- 1954: Western expands into Canada, establishing its first presence outside the U.S.
- 1956: The company begins resort operations by managing a major hotel in Honolulu.
- 1963: The company officially renames itself Western International Hotels to reflect its global ambition.
- 1970: Western International merges with a major airline parent company, expanding its hospitality integration.
- 1981: The company rebrands as Westin Hotels — a contraction of “Western International”.
- 1985: The brand updates to Westin Hotels & Resorts to signal full-service resort operations.
- 1988: Japanese firm Aoki Corporation acquires Westin Hotels, marking a major ownership change.
- 1994: Westin is sold to Starwood Capital and Goldman Sachs, ushering in a new era of global growth.
- 1999: Westin introduces the Heavenly Bed and other wellness-oriented amenities, influencing the hospitality industry’s guest comfort standards.
- 2003: Westin launches its “WestinWORKOUT” fitness concept, further deepening its wellness brand identity.
- 2016: Parent company acquisition leads to Westin being integrated into the largest hospitality group, giving it unprecedented global scale.
- 2024: Westin unveils a next-generation iteration of its signature Heavenly Bed across its global properties.
- 2025: Westin continues expanding into branded residences, emerging markets, and wellness-oriented hospitality experiences worldwide.
Who Owns Westin Hotels & Resorts?
Westin Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International, which became the brand’s parent company after acquiring Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016.
Since then, Marriott has had full control over the Westin brand, including its global strategy, standards, and positioning in the premium hotel segment. Westin hotels continue to operate under a system where real estate is typically owned by independent hotel investors, while Marriott oversees branding and operational direction to ensure a consistent guest experience worldwide.
Marriott ensures that every Westin property delivers a consistent level of comfort and wellness. Even though Marriott controls the brand, real-estate ownership varies.
Most hotels operate under franchise or management agreements with independent hotel owners or investment firms. This structure enables rapid global expansion while maintaining strict brand requirements through audits and performance monitoring.
Westin’s identity—including the famous Heavenly Bed, wellness programs, and design philosophy—is shaped by Marriott’s brand leadership teams. They determine room standards, service guidelines, renovation cycles, and sustainability goals.
Marriott’s management ensures Westin remains competitive in the premium category and continues to evolve with guest expectations.
Westin owners pay fees to Marriott for branding, hotel systems, loyalty program access, and operational support. Marriott benefits from recurring income, and owners gain from brand recognition and consumer trust.
This model helps accelerate expansion with limited financial risk to the parent company.
Below is an overview of the acquisition history of Westin Hotels & Resorts:
| Year | Acquiring Company / Transaction | Deal Value (Approx.) | What Happened | Impact on Westin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Aoki Corporation (Japan) | $1.35 billion | Aoki purchased Westin Hotels from United Airlines’ parent company. | Marked a shift toward international ownership and investment in global expansion. |
| 1994 | Starwood Capital Group & Goldman Sachs | $537 million | Aoki sold Westin due to restructuring; Starwood Capital began taking control. | Introduced a modern lifestyle-focused direction and paved the way for brand-portfolio integration. |
| 1998 | Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide | Part of a larger strategy | Starwood fully integrated Westin into its brand family. | Strengthened Westin’s premium identity and launched wellness-driven initiatives like the Heavenly Bed. |
| 2016 | Marriott International, Inc. | $13.6 billion (estimated) | Marriott acquired Starwood, making Starwood a wholly owned subsidiary. | Westin became part of the world’s largest hotel group with enhanced loyalty, technology, and growth opportunities. |
Parent Company: Marriott International
Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, based in Bethesda, Maryland. It oversees a portfolio of dozens of brands, ranging from luxury to select-service. Westin is positioned in the premium category, above core full-service brands but below ultra-luxury flags.
Marriott’s global reservation systems, digital infrastructure, workforce training, and powerful loyalty program—Marriott Bonvoy—help drive guest demand to Westin properties worldwide. Corporate leadership also negotiates large-scale travel partnerships and distribution opportunities that benefit all brands including Westin.
Westin gains strategic advantages by operating alongside other brands in Marriott’s ecosystem. For example, shared loyalty benefits help convert travelers into repeat guests. Cross-brand standards ensure consistent service levels, while flexibility in property design allows Westin to adapt to both urban and resort markets.
Marriott International is a publicly traded company, listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “MAR”. Its ownership comprises major institutional investors, insider or family holdings, and retail shareholders.
Large investment firms hold significant stakes in Marriott. For example:
- Vanguard Group, Inc. owns around 7.6% of Marriott shares.
- BlackRock, Inc. holds approximately 3.4%.
- State Street Corporation controls a stake near 3.4%.
These institutional holders influence governance through proxy voting, though they typically do not direct day-to-day operations.
Acquisition Insights
Before being absorbed into its current parent company, Westin Hotels & Resorts was part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Starwood had grown the Westin brand by adding international properties, lifestyle design elements and wellness-focused offerings.
Meanwhile, Marriott International identified a strategic need to bolster its portfolio in upscale and lifestyle segments and to expand its global footprint quickly. The idea of acquiring Starwood emerged as the most direct path to gaining control of Westin among other premium brands.
Key Deal Terms
In 2015, Marriott announced its intention to acquire Starwood. Under the merger agreement, Starwood shareholders were to receive a cash payment of $21.00 for each share plus 0.80 shares of Marriott International Class A common stock per Starwood share.
The overall transaction value was estimated at approximately $13.6 billion (excluding the timeshare business).
As part of the deal structure, Starwood shareholders were to receive about 34% of the combined company’s common stock after closing. The agreement also included the spin-off of Starwood’s timeshare subsidiary, allowing Marriott to integrate the hotel brands separately.
Closing and Integration
The merger was approved by both companies’ boards and by shareholders. On September 23, 2016, Marriott completed the acquisition of Starwood, making Starwood a wholly-owned subsidiary.
With the closing, Westin and the other former Starwood brands were brought fully into the Marriott system. Integration efforts included merging loyalty programs, reservation platforms, property standards, and global branding strategy.
Marriott incurred one-time transition costs estimated between $100 million and $130 million related to the integration and restructuring.
Strategic Impact for Westin
For the Westin Hotels & Resorts brand, being acquired by Marriott brought immediate advantages. Westin gained access to Marriott’s global reservation network, loyalty program membership, supply-chain scale, and marketing power.
The brand’s wellness-focused identity remained intact but now operated on a larger platform. Westin also gained opportunities for faster property development and renovation due to Marriott’s capital and global growth networks.
The acquisition helped Westin expand into more cities, resort locations, and luxury residences under the Marriott umbrella.
Regulatory and Competitive Environment
Because the merger created what became the largest hotel company in the world by number of rooms and brands, it attracted regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions.
Competition authorities reviewed the deal to ensure market fairness, given the combined company’s global scale. From a competitive standpoint, the acquisition strengthened Marriott’s position relative to other major hotel chains by adding Westin and other premium brands, thereby increasing its presence in the upper-upscale and lifestyle segments.
In the years following the acquisition, Westin Hotels & Resorts has been able to expand more aggressively into emerging international markets and lifestyle-driven segments such as branded residences and wellness-centric hotel design.
The brand has benefited from Marriott’s global standards in sustainability, digital guest experience, and loyalty integration. This long-term effect has kept Westin competitive, modern, and integrated into a broader hospitality ecosystem without losing the brand’s focus on comfort, wellbeing, and premium guest experiences.
Who is the CEO of Westin Hotels & Resorts?
Westin Hotels & Resorts is a brand within the Marriott International, Inc. umbrella. As such, it does not appear to operate with its own publicly listed CEO in major disclosures. The brand’s overall strategic direction falls under Marriott’s executive leadership.
The CEO of Marriott International is Anthony G. Capuano, who took the role in February 2021. His responsibilities include overseeing the entire brand portfolio of Marriott, which includes Westin.
- Capuano leads global operations, brand strategy, guest experience, loyalty program integration, and expansion for all Marriott brands.
- Because Westin is part of Marriott’s premium brand collection, Capuano indirectly presides over the brand’s development, positioning, and corporate alignment.
Senior Executives Responsible for the Westin Brand
One of the most recognized leaders associated with Westin has been Brian Povinelli, who has served as the Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. In this role, he has overseen Westin’s brand identity, its signature wellness programs, guest-experience standards, and brand-marketing strategy.
Under his leadership, initiatives such as the Heavenly Bed and on-property wellness activations have continued to define the Westin experience.
Supporting the global brand lead are specialized executives such as Sarah Lipton, who has been associated with Global Brand Management for Westin.
Her responsibilities include maintaining the brand’s core wellness philosophy, directing new design standards, guiding service innovations, and keeping Westin competitive in the premium market.
On the development and expansion side, Paul Loehr, Senior Vice President of Full-Service Development (West Region), is one of the executives responsible for growing the presence of Westin hotels through franchise and investment partnerships.
While his scope includes multiple full-service brands, Westin remains a major part of the portfolio he supports, especially for new builds and conversions across key U.S. markets.
Marriott’s Leadership Structure and Oversight
Because Westin is fully integrated into Marriott International, brand direction ultimately aligns with the leadership of Marriott’s corporate executive team. The CEO of Marriott International, Anthony G. Capuano, has strategic oversight of Westin alongside all other brands within the company.
He ensures that Westin’s brand growth, service standards, technology upgrades, and loyalty alignment move in the same direction as Marriott’s global vision. Major decisions — including global brand campaigns, investor partnerships, expansion goals, and sustainability initiatives — require his approval and corporate review.
Below the CEO, the organizational chart includes presidents by region, brand-portfolio leaders, chief development executives, and loyalty program executives. All play a role in shaping Westin’s performance, while property-level operations are handled by hotel general managers and owners under Marriott brand standards.
How Westin Executes Leadership Globally
Westin’s brand leadership functions through a coordinated, multi-level structure. Global leaders set the standards and long-term strategy.
Regional vice presidents ensure brand compliance and performance in their markets. Individual hotel general managers manage daily operations, staffing, and guest service delivery, while collaborating with Marriott’s systems for revenue management, technology, loyalty rewards, and marketing.
This structure allows Westin to remain globally consistent while still locally adaptable. The brand’s senior leaders focus on continuing Westin’s wellness-centered mission — helping guests sleep well, move well, eat well, and feel well during every stay.
Westin Hotels & Resorts Annual Revenue
As of October 2025, Westin Hotels & Resorts generates an estimated annual revenue of about $4.3 billion across its system of more than 200 full-service hotels and resorts worldwide.
This revenue is produced through a mix of branded fees, premium room sales, food and beverage operations, meetings and events, and wellness-focused guest experiences. Because Westin operates under an asset-light model, this revenue represents economic performance tied to the brand rather than physical real-estate ownership.
How Westin Generates Revenue
The largest portion of Westin’s $4.3 billion in revenue comes from room sales. Premium room rates are supported by the brand’s wellness positioning, strong presence in international business centers, and its reputation for comfortable sleep environments like the “Heavenly Bed.”
Occupancy in corporate travel markets and luxury-leaning resort destinations helps sustain a strong average daily rate (ADR), which contributes directly to the brand’s revenue results.
Food and beverage operations form another major revenue source. Restaurants, lounges, banquets, and catering activities serve both travelers and local guests. In high-demand markets, meetings and event bookings provide strong incremental revenue, especially across Westin’s portfolio of large hotels and convention properties.
Spa services, retail partnerships, room upgrades, and resort amenities contribute further to the brand’s revenue performance.
Historical Revenue
Over the past ten years, Westin Hotels & Resorts has shown a strong overall growth pattern, with revenue rising from approximately $3.2 billion in 2015 to an estimated $4.3 billion in 2025.
The brand saw consistent momentum until 2019, supported by high business travel demand and expansion in international markets. Revenue dropped sharply in 2020 due to global pandemic restrictions, with a partial recovery in 2021 as travel began to rebound.
Since 2022, Westin has returned to solid growth driven by higher average room rates, the comeback of corporate and group travel, and sustained strength in destination resorts.
As of 2025, the brand not only recovered but surpassed its pre-pandemic peak, reinforcing Westin’s position as a leading premium hospitality brand with a resilient revenue structure and strong global demand.
Management and Franchise Fees
Westin follows a brand-fee model where most hotels are not owned by the brand itself. Instead, hotel owners pay royalties and fees for branding, operations, technology, reservation systems, and access to Marriott’s loyalty platform.
These fees scale as more rooms join the Westin portfolio or as performance improves at existing properties. This structure enables Westin’s revenue to grow efficiently without needing to invest heavily in property ownership.
Revenue Drivers Unique to Westin
Westin’s revenue strength comes from the value travelers place on wellness. Signature sleep products, fitness-center design, healthy menus, and room layouts focused on comfort make customers willing to pay more per night. This ability to command premium pricing directly supports revenue growth.
Geographic placement also matters. Westin’s presence in major cities like New York, Tokyo, and Dubai — alongside resorts in tourism zones — provides a balanced mix of business and leisure revenue throughout the year.
A significant share of Westin bookings comes through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Loyalty travelers tend to spend more per stay, stay more frequently, and redeem points during off-peak times that improve occupancy.
Centralized revenue management and distribution technology help optimize pricing, maximize direct bookings, and increase the efficiency of each revenue channel across the Westin portfolio.
How Westin Contributes to Parent Company Growth
Westin’s $4.3 billion estimated annual revenue represents a meaningful stream within the global premium-hotel category of its parent company. Because Westin delivers higher average rates and strong brand recognition, it generates attractive fees for Marriott International.
Westin also enhances the parent company’s development pipeline by attracting conversion projects — where independent hotels transform into Westin properties — which accelerates revenue growth without long construction cycles.
Westin’s revenue mix varies by region.
In North America, corporate travel and group events are major revenue contributors. In Asia-Pacific and EMEA, the Westin brand sees strong uplift from tourism and resort leisure demand.
This diversification supports steady revenue even when economic conditions vary by location.
Westin’s long-term revenue growth is supported by expansion into new markets, upgraded property standards, and increased focus on wellness innovation. Branded residences and mixed-use developments further enhance revenue potential. The brand’s diversified model and global positioning help ensure that Westin’s revenue base remains strong and resilient into the future.
Brands Owned by Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts operates a wide range of branded businesses and hospitality segments that go beyond traditional hotel stays. The brand manages full-service hotels, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, wellness programs, and signature product lines that reflect its focus on health and comfort.
Below is a list of the major brands owned by Westin Hotels & Resorts as of 2025:
| Entity Name | Type of Operation | What It Includes | Strategic Purpose | Revenue Contribution Level* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westin Hotels & Resorts | Premium Full-Service Hotels | Guest rooms, suites, restaurants, events, spas, business centers | Core hospitality business and global brand presence | Very High |
| Westin Vacation Club | Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) | Residential-style vacation units in resort markets | Long-term guest loyalty and recurring revenue through ownership | High |
| Westin Residences | Branded Residential Properties | Private homes with hotel-style services and wellness amenities | Extends brand lifestyle into full-time living | Medium |
| Heavenly Brand Line | Retail & Product Licensing | Heavenly Bed, linens, pillows, bath products, wellness accessories | Extends brand into homes, drives guest loyalty & brand recall | Medium |
| WestinWORKOUT | Wellness & Fitness Programs | Gym facilities, training services, in-room equipment, RunWESTIN Programs | Wellness identity and stay differentiation | Medium |
| Westin Spa & Wellness Experiences | Wellness & Spa Services | Massage therapy, hydrotherapy, relaxation treatments, recovery amenities | Strengthens “Feel Well” positioning and adds high-margin ancillary revenue | Medium |
| Meetings & Events Operations | Business & Social Event Services | Ballrooms, meeting rooms, banquets, weddings, corporate events | Drives weekday occupancy and high-spend segments | High |
| Culinary & Beverage Operations | Food & Beverage Services | Bars, restaurants, catering, healthy menu concepts | Enhances guest experience and increases on-property spend | High |
| Sustainability & Wellness Initiatives | Brand Standards & ESG Operations | Eco-materials, sustainable sourcing, wellness technology | Brand value strength and premium positioning | Supporting Revenue Driver |
Westin Hotels & Resorts
This is the core business and primary brand identity. Westin operates premium, full-service hotels and resorts positioned in major urban centers, business districts, and high-value leisure destinations worldwide.
Each property offers signature Westin experiences, including the Heavenly Bed, wellness-focused room design, and curated dining aligned with Westin’s “Eat Well” philosophy. The brand continues to expand and renovate properties to maintain premium standards.
Westin Vacation Club
Westin operates branded vacation ownership properties in select resort destinations. These residence-style accommodations allow guests to own vacation intervals under the Westin name. Vacation Club residences are designed with the same sleep, wellness, and comfort standards as full-service Westin hotels, giving travelers a premium timeshare alternative supported by resort amenities and long-term ownership value.
Westin Residences
Westin offers branded residential developments in global cities and resort markets. These are privately owned homes that carry Westin branding and lifestyle services. Residents receive access to hotel-style amenities including concierge, wellness facilities, design standards, and optional services such as housekeeping and spa programs. This segment extends Westin’s wellness experience into year-round living environments.
WestinWORKOUT Program
This is Westin’s branded fitness operation, found across nearly all Westin hotels worldwide. It includes gym facilities, in-room workout options, and partnerships promoting movement and wellness. The program also offers RunWESTIN concierge services at select properties, with guided jogging routes and fitness community activities as part of the brand identity.
Heavenly Brand Line
Westin owns and operates the iconic “Heavenly” consumer product line. It includes the Heavenly Bed, Heavenly Bath, pillows, robes, bedding, and spa-inspired amenity kits. These products have built strong brand recognition and are available for purchase by guests. This retail extension generates additional revenue and reinforces Westin’s brand experience outside the hotel stay.
Westin Spa and Wellness Experiences
Westin operates branded spa services in many resort and city properties. These services focus on relaxation, rejuvenation, and recovery. Treatments incorporate aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, and fitness recovery concepts consistent with the brand’s wellness positioning. The spa operations serve as an important ancillary revenue driver.
Meeting and Event Operations
Westin runs a scalable events business through its hotels and resorts. It includes corporate meetings, conventions, weddings, and social functions. Many Westin properties feature large indoor and outdoor venue spaces that generate revenue through space rentals, audiovisual services, banquets, and custom events — extending Westin’s identity beyond guest rooms.
Culinary and Beverage Concepts
Across many Westin properties, restaurants and bars operate under the Westin brand umbrella. While dining concepts may vary by destination, all adhere to the brand’s healthy-eating philosophy, offering nutrient-rich menus, fresh ingredients, and balanced preparation. Food & beverage operations create a large share of Westin’s onsite revenue.
Sustainability and Wellness Initiatives
Westin manages its own branded well-being programs focused on sleep, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and environmental sustainability. These programs — such as HEAVENLY eco-friendly bedding materials, filtered air systems, and sustainable food sourcing — are considered core brand entities rather than simple amenities. They contribute to brand differentiation and customer loyalty.
Final Words
Understanding who owns Westin Hotels gives a clearer picture of how the brand continues to deliver a consistent, wellness-driven experience across the world. Westin Hotels & Resorts has grown into a powerful premium brand with a strong focus on sleep, fitness, and healthy living. Supported by experienced leadership, diversified revenue channels, and a global network of high-quality properties, Westin remains a trusted name for both business and leisure travelers. The brand’s focus on comfort and well-being ensures that Westin will continue evolving and expanding, while staying true to what guests value most about the experience.
FAQs
Who is Westin owned by?
Westin Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company. Marriott oversees Westin’s brand strategy, global operations support, loyalty program integration, and development pipeline, while many individual properties are owned by franchise or investment partners.
Is Westin owned by Marriott?
Yes. Westin became part of Marriott International in 2016 after Marriott acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Since then, Westin has operated as a key premium brand in Marriott’s portfolio, playing a major role in the company’s upscale full-service segment.
Are Westin Hotels part of Marriott?
Yes. Every Westin hotel is operated under Marriott’s brand standards and systems. Guests staying at Westin properties earn and redeem loyalty points through Marriott Bonvoy, and the brand benefits from Marriott’s global marketing, reservations network, and development support.
Who owns the Westin brand?
The Westin brand itself is fully owned and controlled by Marriott International. Marriott sets the brand identity, service expectations, guest-experience standards, design direction, and wellness-focused signature programs that define Westin globally.
Who is the CEO of Westin?
Westin does not have a separate CEO because it is not an independent corporation. Instead, the brand is overseen by Anthony Capuano, the CEO of Marriott International, along with Westin’s global brand leadership team, who manage day-to-day brand direction and growth strategy.
Did Marriott buy out Westin?
Yes. Marriott acquired Westin when it completed the $13.6 billion merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016. That deal brought Westin, Sheraton, and other premium brands into Marriott’s portfolio, significantly expanding its international presence.
Did Hilton buy Westin?
No. Hilton has never owned Westin. Westin has historically been associated with Starwood and is now owned by Marriott International. Hilton operates its own competing premium and luxury brands, but Westin is not one of them.