- Tony Capuano reflected on the 10-year anniversary of the Starwood acquisition
- The $13.3 bn deal finalised in September 2016
- Capuano served as Marriott’s chief development officer at the time
- The merger fuelled the rise of Marriott Bonvoy
- Capuano described the transaction as the most fascinating he has been part of
Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano has reflected on the 10-year anniversary of closing the acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Capuano has served as Marriott’s chief development officer when the $13.3 bn deal finalised in September 2016. He has shared insights in a video podcast interview with CoStar News Hotels.
Capuano revealed that the Marriott leadership team originally decided not to pursue Starwood. A coffee conversation and a willingness to remain flexible changed the company’s trajectory leading to a bidding war that included fending off a counteroffer from Chinese firm Anbang. The merger redefined modern growth expectations and cemented the transition of hotel giants away from real estate ownership into asset-light franchise and loyalty models.
The addition of Starwood brands including Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels and St. Regis proved the importance of having a diverse portfolio. This scale directly fuelled the rise of Marriott Bonvoy which remains central to Marriott’s global customer retention and competitive strategy. Capuano described the transaction as the most fascinating he has been part of at the company.
