Marriott International Acquires Ramada International Brand Rights

In 1997, Marriott International acquired interests in the Ramada hotel brand through its approximately $1 billion acquisition of Renaissance Hotel Group, a transaction completed on 27/03/1997. The acquisition brought Renaissance Hotels, New World Hotels, and Ramada International into Marriott's hospitality portfolio. Ramada International operated outside the United States and Canada, where the brand's licensing and franchising arrangements were managed separately. The transaction gave Marriott control of Ramada's international hotel interests without transferring the independently administered North American Ramada franchise system. Following the acquisition, Marriott incorporated the international hotel interests into its broader portfolio while maintaining the distinction between Ramada's overseas operations and its North American brand arrangements. The separation reflected earlier changes in Ramada's ownership and licensing structure following the sale of its hotel business in 1989. Marriott's involvement in Ramada International was relatively brief, with the international brand rights subsequently transferred to Cendant Corporation in 2004, bringing Ramada's international and North American brand interests under common corporate control.