Without Reservations: How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew Into a Global Hotel Company

J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., is a pioneer of modern-day hospitality. Starting in the business at the age of 5 as a “salesman” for his family’s A&W root beer stand, he joined the family business, full-time, in 1956 and built Marriott International into what it is today: one of the most successful and respected companies in the world, with nearly 3,800 properties in more than 70 countries and annual revenues exceeding $12 billion. In WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, Marriott shares the story of this success along with candid insights about mistakes made, opportunities missed, and lessons learned during a life spent in a business where people always come first.

“In Without Reservations, Bill Marriott shares the incredible and quintessentially American success story of his family and their profound impact on the global hospitality industry, making all of us feel just a little more at home around the world.”
—Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo

“In this wonderful book, my good friend, Bill Marriott, shares valuable insight on how to succeed in business. More importantly, however, he shares valuable insight on how to succeed in life. His ‘Recipe for Success’ especially is a must-read.”
—Former President of the United States George H. W. Bush

“Bill Marriott is one of the best entrepreneurial minds in the business. He knows what it takes to build brands, relationships and a winning corporate culture. WITHOUT RESERVATIONS is a compelling story of how best-in-class service, integrity, loyalty and leadership turned a small, family business into one of the world’s most respected companies.”
—Ken Chenault, CEO and Chairman, American Express