Marriott International Inc

Marriott operates hotels, residential properties, timeshares, and vacation clubs globally through franchise and management agreements rather than owning most properties outright. They earn revenue primarily through franchise fees, management fees tied to hotel performance, and loyalty program partnerships. The company's portfolio spans 30+ brands covering every traveler segment from budget-conscious (Moxy, Fairfield) to ultra-luxury (Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari).

Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company, operating and franchising nearly 10,000 properties across 143 countries under 30+ brands ranging from luxury (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis) to mid-range (Courtyard, Fairfield) [Yahoo Finance]. The company posted $26.2B in revenue with healthy operating margins of 16%, but carries significant debt at 3.7x EBITDA and trades at a premium P/E of 37.6x [Yahoo Finance]. Recent news highlights aggressive expansion in India (75 hotel signings in six months) and strong Q1 demand across all segments, though geopolitical risks in the Middle East have created headwinds [Yahoo Finance].

Marriott generates strong cash flow and returns, but elevated debt and a high valuation multiple create vulnerability to economic downturns.