Marriott marks 50 years since opening its first European hotel in Amsterdam
Marriott International has marked the 50th anniversary of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, the company’s first property in Europe and outside of North America.
This landmark is significant for UK-based business travellers, many of whom rely on trusted international hotel brands in key destinations across Europe. The Amsterdam Marriott’s enduring success highlights the strength and consistency of the Marriott offering, a reassurance for frequent travellers booking accommodation in unfamiliar locations.
Opened in 1975 by then-CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel was Marriott International’s initial venture into the European market. It was, at the time, the largest hotel in Amsterdam, offering 396 rooms in a prime city centre location. Over the past half-century, the hotel has earned a reputation for reliability and excellence, consistently upholding the brand’s hospitality values while evolving with the times. The property has nurtured long-serving staff—some with 45 years of service—and developed future leaders within the Marriott organisation.
To mark the anniversary, Marriott hosted a celebratory event themed “A Journey Through Time”, attended by over 150 guests, including current and former associates. Notably, David Marriott, Chairman of the Board at Marriott International, and Satya Anand, President of Marriott International EMEA, were present. David Marriott commented, “Fifty years ago, my dad attended the opening of this beautiful property, marking a historic milestone for Marriott, as we expanded beyond North America for the first time since our founding in 1927. It is an honour for me to be present as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, and I’m so proud of the team for their enduring commitment to service excellence.”
The Amsterdam Marriott’s success fuelled rapid expansion across the EMEA region. Highlights of Marriott’s journey include entering the Middle East in 1980, Africa in 1982, and launching several key brands across the continent—including the first ever Moxy Hotel in Milan in 2014 and the European debut of Fairfield by Marriott in Copenhagen in 2024. Today, Marriott operates over 1,300 properties in 80 countries and territories across EMEA, with a pipeline of 583 hotels representing more than 100,000 rooms as of Q1 2025.
Satya Anand reflected: “Our growth across the region all started 50 years ago with the opening of Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, our first flagship hotel in Europe. We now have a fantastic portfolio of over 1,300 hotels, resorts, residences and lodges in 80 countries and territories across EMEA, stretching from Tromsø in Norway to Cape Town in South Africa. We look forward to continuing to build our presence across the region, offering our guests and members even more travel experiences and accommodation options for every trip purpose.”
Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said: “Milestones like this matter to UK-based business travellers. The longevity and success of the Amsterdam Marriott are testaments to the consistent standards that our customers can rely on when travelling throughout Europe and beyond.”
If you would like more information about how this development could benefit your business travel plans, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.
