Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International. Marriott gained the Sheraton brand when it completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016. Sheraton is now one of Marriott’s premium hotel brands, with more than 400 locations across over 70 countries. However, the company that owns the Sheraton name may not own the building where you stay.
Quick Answer
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is a Marriott International brand. Marriott gained Sheraton when it completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in September 2016. However, Marriott does not necessarily own each Sheraton building. Many properties are owned by separate companies and operated or franchised under the Sheraton name.
Key Takeaways
- Marriott International owns the Sheraton brand after acquiring Starwood in 2016.
- Sheraton’s official history begins in 1937, not 1933.
- Sheraton is positioned in Marriott’s Premium category and participates in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Rooms, lounges, pools, dining, parking, and other amenities vary between individual Sheraton properties.
Who Owns Sheraton Hotels and Resorts?
Marriott International owns Sheraton Hotels & Resorts as a hotel brand. Marriott completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide on September 23, 2016. Sheraton was one of the major Starwood brands that joined Marriott through that transaction.
You can verify the acquisition through Marriott’s official acquisition announcement. Sheraton now operates within Marriott’s wider collection of more than 30 hotel brands.
Note: Marriott’s ownership of the Sheraton brand does not mean Marriott owns every Sheraton building. A property may be owned by an investor, real estate company, or local hospitality group while operating under a Marriott franchise or management agreement.
This distinction can affect your stay. Renovation schedules, restaurants, parking fees, resort charges, lounges, and recreational facilities may be controlled partly by the individual property owner. Brand standards create a shared identity, but the exact experience can still differ from one Sheraton to another.
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts at a Glance
Sheraton at a Glance
| Brand Owner | Marriott International |
| Official Founding Year | 1937 |
| Marriott Category | Premium |
| Global Footprint | More than 400 locations in over 70 countries |
| Loyalty Program | Marriott Bonvoy |
| Typical Focus | Full-service stays, gathering spaces, meetings, business travel, and leisure travel |
Marriott places Sheraton in its Premium brand category, alongside brands such as Marriott Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels, and Renaissance Hotels. It is not positioned in the same luxury group as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, or JW Marriott.
Sheraton currently connects travelers through more than 400 locations in over 70 countries, according to the brand’s official website.
Sheraton’s Growth in the 1930s
Sheraton’s official brand history begins in 1937. That year, founders Ernest Henderson and Robert Moore acquired their first hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The founders expanded by buying additional hotels rather than building every property from the ground up. The Sheraton name eventually became the identity of their growing chain. This acquisition-led approach helped the business expand across the United States during its early years.
By 1947, Sheraton Corporation of America had become the first hotel chain listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1958, it introduced Reservatron, which Sheraton describes as the hotel industry’s first automatic electronic reservation system. These developments helped turn the company from a regional hotel operator into a widely recognized hospitality brand.
Sheraton’s ITT Years and 1990s Expansion
ITT Corporation acquired Sheraton in 1968. Under ITT, the chain continued expanding through managed and franchised hotels, helping the Sheraton name reach more international markets.
The company also developed higher-end hotel experiences. Sheraton Towers used a hotel-within-a-hotel concept, offering selected guests additional services and more private areas inside larger Sheraton properties. During the early 1990s, ITT Sheraton also grouped a collection of premier hotels and Sheraton Towers properties under the Luxury Collection name.
ITT later added luxury European properties connected with the CIGA hotel group. These developments helped build the portfolio that would later include Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, and other hospitality businesses.
How Starwood Repositioned Sheraton
Starwood’s 1998 acquisition of ITT Corporation brought Sheraton into the Starwood Hotels & Resorts portfolio. The transaction is sometimes described as Starwood buying Sheraton for $13.3 billion, but that wording is incomplete. The purchase covered ITT and its broader collection of hospitality, entertainment, and related assets, not Sheraton alone.
Under Starwood, Sheraton remained one of the group’s major global brands. Starwood renovated properties, developed newer guest-room concepts, and expanded the brand in international markets. Sheraton maintained an especially visible presence in Asia and other regions where full-service international hotels were in demand.
Starwood also treated The Luxury Collection as a separate brand. This helped clarify the difference between Sheraton’s premium full-service positioning and the more individualized luxury properties in the former ITT portfolio.
Sheraton After Marriott’s 2016 Acquisition
Marriott completed its purchase of Starwood on September 23, 2016. The deal added Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, Aloft, Four Points, and other Starwood brands to Marriott’s portfolio.
In June 2018, Marriott announced a broad Sheraton transformation strategy. The plan focused on redesigned public spaces, updated guest rooms, improved food and drink concepts, and a stronger sense of community within each hotel.
Marriott reported that approximately $500 million in Sheraton renovation investment had already been committed by hotel owners in the United States. This was owner-committed funding connected with the 2018 transformation, not a new $500 million Marriott corporate pledge announced in 2023.
The transformation introduced or expanded several recognizable concepts, including community tables, private booths, flexible studios, and &More by Sheraton, which combines elements of a café, bar, and market. However, renovations take place property by property, so older and transformed Sheraton hotels can still provide different experiences.
Note: Four Points Express by Sheraton was introduced in 2023 as a separate affordable midscale brand. Marriott now calls it Four Points Flex by Sheraton. It is not the same brand or service level as a full-service Sheraton hotel.
What to Expect at Sheraton Properties
Sheraton properties are generally full-service premium hotels designed for business trips, meetings, events, and leisure stays. The brand emphasizes public areas where guests can meet, work, eat, or relax.
Individual hotels differ in age, size, renovation status, location, and facilities. A large urban Sheraton may have several restaurants, extensive conference space, and a Club Lounge. A smaller property may provide fewer services.
Room Types and Amenities
Common accommodation categories include standard rooms, upgraded rooms, Club rooms, junior suites, and larger suites. The exact room names and benefits depend on the hotel.
Many Sheraton properties offer the Sheraton Sleep Experience or a similar signature bedding setup. Work desks, televisions, in-room internet, fitness facilities, restaurants, and meeting rooms are also common. Pools, spas, airport shuttles, beaches, and resort facilities are property-specific rather than universal brand guarantees.
Wi-Fi rules also deserve attention. Marriott Bonvoy members receive complimentary standard in-room internet when they book through a qualifying Marriott channel. Higher elite levels may receive enhanced internet. Some hotels provide complimentary Wi-Fi to all guests, while resort or destination fees may include internet at other locations.
Service and Brand Experience
Sheraton uses the phrase “Where the world comes together” to describe its focus on connection and gathering. Newer or transformed hotels may include community worktables, private booths for calls, small meeting studios, open seating, and the &More food and drink concept.
Meeting rooms and event spaces remain a major part of the brand. This makes many Sheraton hotels practical for conferences, weddings, group travel, and corporate events as well as regular overnight stays.
Some properties operate a Sheraton Club Lounge. Guests may receive access by reserving an eligible room or through qualifying Marriott Bonvoy status. Marriott states that Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite members generally receive lounge access at participating Sheraton hotels, but property exceptions, operating schedules, and availability can apply.
Where Sheraton Fits in Marriott Bonvoy
Sheraton participates in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s loyalty program. Members can earn points and eligible elite-night credits from qualifying Sheraton stays. Points can also be redeemed for eligible award stays, subject to availability and program rules.
Marriott Bonvoy covers more than 30 hotel brands. Sheraton sits in the Premium category, below Marriott’s Luxury group and above many of its Select brands. This positioning usually means full-service facilities, food and drink options, meeting areas, and larger public spaces, although each hotel’s facilities vary.
Booking directly through Marriott can make it easier to receive eligible points, elite-night credit, member rates, internet benefits, and status benefits. Reservations made through some third-party travel agencies may not qualify for every Bonvoy benefit.
Elite benefits can include room upgrades, late checkout, welcome gifts, and lounge access, depending on your status, the hotel, availability, and the official program terms. Always review the selected property and your reservation conditions before relying on a particular benefit.
What to Check Before Booking a Sheraton
Because Sheraton has operated for decades and includes hundreds of independently owned or managed properties, comparing the exact hotel is more useful than relying only on the brand name.
- Renovation status: Look at recent room photos and the property description to see whether the hotel has completed the newer Sheraton transformation.
- Club Lounge: Confirm that a lounge exists, whether it is open during your stay, and whether your room or Bonvoy status includes access.
- Wi-Fi: Check whether complimentary internet requires a direct Marriott booking or Bonvoy membership.
- Resort and destination fees: Review mandatory charges and what they include before comparing prices.
- Recreational facilities: Do not assume every Sheraton has a pool, spa, beach, or airport shuttle.
- Parking and transport: Check parking prices, airport access, public transport, and shuttle schedules.
- Recent guest reviews: Focus on current comments about cleanliness, noise, maintenance, room condition, and service.
Pro Tip: Compare recent guest photos with the hotel’s official room gallery. This can help you determine whether the room category you are booking has been renovated or still uses an older design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What company is the Sheraton hotel under?
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is under Marriott International. Marriott added Sheraton to its portfolio when it completed the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in September 2016.
Is Sheraton Marriott or IHG?
Sheraton is a Marriott International brand, not an IHG brand. IHG operates brands such as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and Hotel Indigo.
What hotel program is Sheraton part of?
Sheraton participates in Marriott Bonvoy. Members can earn points and eligible elite-night credits from qualifying stays and redeem points for eligible Sheraton reservations.
Which hotel chains are part of Marriott?
Marriott’s portfolio includes Sheraton, Marriott Hotels, Westin, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, W Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points, Aloft, Residence Inn, and many other brands.
Does Marriott own every Sheraton hotel building?
No. Marriott owns the Sheraton brand, but many individual Sheraton properties are owned by separate investors or hospitality companies. Marriott or another approved operator may manage the hotel, or the owner may operate it under a franchise agreement.
Is Four Points by Sheraton the same as Sheraton?
No. Four Points by Sheraton and Four Points Flex by Sheraton are separate Marriott brands. They generally provide a more streamlined service model than the full-service premium Sheraton brand.
Conclusion
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is owned by Marriott International. The brand became part of Marriott when the company acquired Starwood in 2016, but Sheraton’s official history reaches back to 1937. Today, it is a premium Marriott Bonvoy brand with more than 400 locations in over 70 countries.
Remember that Marriott may own the Sheraton name without owning the individual hotel building. Facilities and renovation standards can therefore vary. Before booking, check the exact property’s rooms, amenities, fees, lounge availability, and recent guest feedback rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Sources
- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts: Our Story — official founding year, founders, early milestones, and brand history.
- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts — current global footprint and transformed hotel concepts.
- Marriott Completes Its Acquisition of Starwood — confirms the September 2016 acquisition.
- Marriott Announces Its Sheraton Transformation Vision — renovation strategy and owner-committed investment.
- Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Brands — Sheraton’s Premium classification and current Marriott brand portfolio.
- Marriott Bonvoy Terms and Conditions — participating properties, internet benefits, point eligibility, and elite benefits.
