Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion, creating global hotel chain of unrivaled scope

Hotel behemoth Marriott International is becoming even larger, taking over rival chain Starwood in a $12.2 billion deal that will catapult it to become the world's largest hotelier by a wide margin. © Google Street View image The Westin Ottawa is located on Colonel By Drive. The stock-and-cash deal, if completed, will add 50 per cent more rooms to Marriott's portfolio and give it more unique, design-focused hotels that appeal to younger travellers. The new company would have 5,500 properties with more than 1.1 million rooms around the world, uniting Starwood's brands, which include Sheraton, Westin, W and St. Regis, with Marriott's two dozen brands including Marriott's Courtyard,...