SPECIAL REPORT
HOTELS
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The newly combined Marriott-Starwood entity is the first in the history of HOTELS ’ annual ranking to surpass 1 million guest rooms .
By JEFF WEINSTEIN , EDITOR IN CHIEF
HOTELS has been ranking the world ’ s biggest hotel companies since 1971 , when the “ Service World International 100 ” was led by Holiday Inns Inc . and its 1,293 hotels and 182,513 guest rooms – the biggest hotel chain in the world and a US $ 1 billion company . ITT Sheraton Corp . of America followed with 225 hotels and 59,600 rooms . These trailblazers were just starting to conquer the world .
Today , globalization rules and the conquerors are not yet satisfied . The mantra remains size equals leverage , and leverage means everything to marketshare . Marriott International has broken the 1 million room barrier for the first time in industry history and has its sights set still higher as multiple competitors , including Hilton and several emerging from China , nipping at their heels .
Best of all , the rankings on the following pages are a sign of a healthy industry prepared to reach for more as travel continues to grow . For now , enjoy the list based on data as of December 31 , 2016 .
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