Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSheraton Hotels and Resorts is an internationally operated full-service hotel brand owned by Marriott International.
Last updated August 21, 2026
Overview
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is an American-origin international hotel brand owned by Marriott International. Its history began with hotel acquisitions by Harvard classmates Ernest Henderson and Robert Moore. They acquired the Continental Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1933 and established the Standard Equities Corporation in 1937, the year Sheraton recognizes as its founding year. The company’s first Sheraton property was the Stonehaven Hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts. The name came from a Boston hotel acquired in 1939 that already displayed a large rooftop sign reading “Hotel Sheraton”; changing the sign was considered too costly, so the name was adopted across the growing chain. Sheraton expanded through a combination of acquisitions, new construction, franchising and hotel management. Its early growth concentrated on the eastern United States, including the acquisition of Boston’s Copley Plaza Hotel in 1941. After merging with the United States Realty and Improvement Corporation, the business became Sheraton Corporation of America and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1947, making it the first hotel chain to achieve that distinction. International development began in Canada in 1949 and continued with acquisitions in Hawaii and openings in the Caribbean, Israel, South America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa. The chain was an early adopter of centralized technology. In 1958 it introduced Reservatron, described as the hotel industry’s first centralized computerized reservation system, followed by Reservatron II in 1967. Sheraton also developed roadside lodging through its Sheraton Motor Inns and created Sheraton Towers in 1970 as a premium hotel-within-a-hotel concept for business travelers. In 1968, ITT Corporation acquired Sheraton. Under ITT, the company increasingly emphasized franchising and third-party management rather than owning every property directly, enabling faster international expansion. The chain also introduced a nationwide toll-free reservations number and operated the Great Wall Sheraton in Beijing from 1985, an important early presence by a Western hotel chain in the People’s Republic of China. During the 1990s, ITT Sheraton broadened its portfolio. It created the ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection in 1992, acquired control of Italy’s CIGA hotel company in 1994, and introduced Four Points by Sheraton in 1995 as a mid-market brand. Starwood Hotels acquired ITT Sheraton in 1998 after outbidding Hilton. Starwood renovated many Sheraton properties, separated The Luxury Collection more clearly as an independent brand and introduced Sheraton Grand in 2015 for selected higher-end urban and resort hotels. Marriott International completed its acquisition of Starwood in 2016, bringing Sheraton into Marriott’s global brand portfolio. The brand continues to provide full-service lodging, food and beverage, meetings, events, business facilities and leisure accommodation. Its properties range from city hotels and convention-oriented locations to resort destinations. As of December 2024, the brand was reported to operate 431 hotels containing 150,640 rooms worldwide. Marriott has also sought to clarify the relationship between Sheraton and adjacent brands: Four Points by Sheraton was extended with a European, Middle Eastern and African midscale concept announced in 2023, initially called Four Points Express by Sheraton and renamed Four Points Flex by Sheraton in 2024. Sheraton’s current positioning combines international recognition, broad geographic coverage and communal hotel spaces with a full-service offering, while property quality and consistency remain important considerations because the portfolio includes hotels developed across multiple ownership eras.
History
Sheraton’s origins lie in the hotel acquisitions of Ernest Henderson and Robert Moore. The two acquired the Continental Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1933 and formed the Standard Equities Corporation in 1937. Sheraton dates its beginning to the 1937 acquisition of the Stonehaven Hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts. The brand name was adopted after the partners purchased a Boston hotel in 1939 whose existing rooftop sign already read “Hotel Sheraton.” Rather than replace the expensive sign, they used Sheraton for the wider chain. The company expanded rapidly along the eastern seaboard of the United States, acquiring notable properties including Boston’s Copley Plaza Hotel in 1941. A 1946 corporate merger created Sheraton Corporation of America, which became the first hotel chain listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1947. The company entered Canada in 1949 and enlarged its Canadian presence through the purchase of Cardy Hotels in 1950. In 1956 it acquired the Eppley Hotel Company, retaining its largest properties while reselling others. Sheraton also entered the motel sector and opened its first newly built hotel, the Philadelphia Sheraton, in 1957. Technology and internationalization were central to the chain’s mid-century development. Reservatron, launched in 1958, centralized and computerized reservations. In 1959 the chain acquired four Hawaiian properties from Matson Lines and opened a highway-oriented motel in Binghamton, New York. International openings followed in Israel, the Caribbean, South America, the Arab world, Asia, Europe and Australia. By 1965 Sheraton had reached 100 properties. In 1968 ITT Corporation acquired the chain. ITT sold some older assets and shifted Sheraton toward franchising and management contracts, which supported broader international growth. Sheraton introduced Sheraton Towers in 1970 for premium business travelers and operated the Great Wall Sheraton in Beijing from 1985, a notable early Western-chain management presence in China. In the 1990s, ITT Sheraton developed a more segmented portfolio. It established the ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection in 1992, acquired control of the CIGA hotel company in 1994 and created Four Points by Sheraton in 1995. Starwood Hotels purchased ITT Sheraton in 1998. Starwood undertook renovations, developed The Luxury Collection as a more distinct brand and launched Sheraton Grand in 2015 for selected premium hotels. Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016, transferring Sheraton into Marriott’s portfolio. The brand remains a global full-service platform with hotels serving business travelers, leisure guests, groups and events. Marriott’s later development of Four Points Flex by Sheraton shows the continuing effort to organize related brands across different price and service segments.
- 2024
Four Points Flex by Sheraton name adopted
[1]The Four Points Express by Sheraton extension was renamed Four Points Flex by Sheraton.
- 2016
Marriott acquires Starwood
[1]Marriott International completed its acquisition of Starwood, making Sheraton part of Marriott’s brand system.
- 2015
Sheraton Grand is introduced
[1]Starwood introduced Sheraton Grand for selected higher-end Sheraton properties in major urban and resort destinations.
- 1998
Starwood acquires ITT Sheraton
[1]Starwood Hotels & Resorts acquired ITT Sheraton, beginning a new period of renovation and international expansion.
- 1995
Four Points by Sheraton launches
[1]Sheraton introduced Four Points by Sheraton as a mid-range hotel brand.
- 1992
ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection is created
[1]ITT Sheraton grouped selected premier hotels and Sheraton Towers into a luxury division later developed as The Luxury Collection.
- 1985
Sheraton begins managing the Great Wall Hotel in Beijing
[1]The Great Wall Hotel became the Great Wall Sheraton, marking an early operation by a Western hotel chain in China.
- 1968
ITT acquires Sheraton
[1]ITT Corporation purchased Sheraton and moved the company toward a more asset-light model based on franchising and hotel management.
- 1958
Reservatron centralizes reservations
[1]Sheraton introduced Reservatron, an early centralized computerized hotel reservation system.
- 1947
Sheraton becomes the first listed hotel chain
[1]Sheraton Corporation of America became the first hotel chain listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
An internationally recognized upper-upscale to upscale full-service hotel brand serving business, group, urban and resort travelers.
Full-service hotels and resorts · 1937
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
The core Sheraton offering consists of full-service hotels in urban, business, airport, convention and resort locations. Properties generally combine guest rooms and suites with restaurants, bars, meeting facilities, fitness amenities and public spaces. The operating model includes managed, franchised and other hotel arrangements, so individual facilities and ownership structures vary by property.
Premium hotel service
Sheraton Club
Sheraton Club is a premium access and accommodation proposition available at participating properties. Depending on the hotel, it may include a club lounge, upgraded rooms or floors, breakfast, refreshments, work areas and a more private setting for business and leisure guests. Availability and inclusions differ by location.
Premium hotel sub-brand · 2015
Sheraton Grand
Introduced in 2015, Sheraton Grand identifies selected higher-end Sheraton properties in prominent urban and resort destinations. The concept is intended to distinguish hotels with stronger facilities, locations or design characteristics while retaining the Sheraton name and full-service platform.
Hotel-within-a-hotel concept · 1970
Sheraton Towers
Sheraton Towers was introduced as a premium hotel-within-a-hotel concept inside large Sheraton properties. It was designed especially for business travelers and typically offered a more exclusive accommodation and service environment than the surrounding hotel.
Midscale hotel brand · 1995
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton was launched in 1995 as a mid-range brand associated with Sheraton. It developed into a distinct Marriott brand rather than a standard Sheraton hotel line, while retaining the Sheraton name in its branding.
Midscale hotel extension · 2023
Four Points Flex by Sheraton
Four Points Flex by Sheraton is the renamed version of Four Points Express by Sheraton, a concept aimed at the mid-range market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its first property opened in Turkey in 2023, and the name was changed in 2024.
Brand decisions
2023
Create Four Points Express by SheratonProduct launchBackground
Marriott pursued additional midscale growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa through an extension associated with Four Points by Sheraton.
Action taken
Marriott announced Four Points Express by Sheraton and opened its first property in Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey.
Aftermath
The concept was renamed Four Points Flex by Sheraton in 2024.
2016
Transfer Sheraton to Marriott InternationalM&ABackground
Marriott sought to expand its global lodging portfolio through the acquisition of Starwood.
Action taken
Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including Sheraton.
Aftermath
Sheraton became one of Marriott’s international hotel brands and continued operating across multiple regions and property models.
2015
Introduce Sheraton GrandProduct launchBackground
Some Sheraton hotels occupied premium urban and resort locations and needed clearer differentiation within the wider portfolio.
Action taken
Starwood introduced Sheraton Grand for selected higher-end properties.
Aftermath
Sheraton Grand became a premium designation within the broader Sheraton platform.
1998
Join Starwood Hotels & ResortsM&ABackground
Starwood competed with Hilton to acquire ITT Sheraton and sought to expand its international hotel platform.
Action taken
Starwood acquired ITT Sheraton.
Aftermath
Starwood renovated many Sheraton properties, separated The Luxury Collection more clearly from Sheraton and later created Sheraton Grand.
Acquisition value. 13.3 billion US dollars (1998 transaction)
1995
Launch Four Points by SheratonProduct launchBackground
Sheraton needed a distinct offer for the mid-range segment rather than placing every hotel under its primary full-service positioning.
Action taken
ITT Sheraton introduced Four Points by Sheraton as a new mid-range hotel brand.
Aftermath
Four Points developed into a separate brand within later Starwood and Marriott portfolios.
1968
Accept ITT Corporation’s acquisitionM&ABackground
Sheraton had become a large publicly traded hotel chain and was acquired by the diversified conglomerate ITT Corporation.
Action taken
ITT purchased Sheraton and subsequently disposed of some older properties while expanding the use of franchising and management contracts.
Aftermath
The change supported substantial domestic and international growth while reducing Sheraton’s reliance on direct property ownership.
Recent events
- 2024
Four Points Express by Sheraton is renamed Four Points Flex by Sheraton[1]
Product generation
The newer midscale extension was renamed Four Points Flex by Sheraton as Marriott refined the brand architecture around the Four Points platform.
- 2024
Sheraton reports a global portfolio of 431 hotels and 150,640 rooms[1]
Other
The brand’s reported portfolio at December 2024 consisted of 431 hotels and 150,640 rooms across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.
- 2023
Marriott announces Four Points Express by Sheraton[1]
Product launch
Marriott announced a new European, Middle Eastern and African midscale extension associated with Four Points by Sheraton. The first property opened in Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey, later in 2023.
- 2016
Marriott completes acquisition of Starwood and takes control of Sheraton[1]
M&A
Marriott International completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, adding Sheraton to Marriott’s brand portfolio and creating the world’s largest hotel company at that time.
Sources3 sources
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