( CNN ) -- In 1957 Bill Marriott was a 25-year-old former navy officer urging his entrepreneur father to give him a shot at revitalizing the family 's first hotel , outside Washington D.C. Fast forward 55 years and as executive chairman of Marriott International , Bill Marriott has built a world-renowned , multi-billion dollar hotel chain . Back when Marriott got involved with the D.C. hotel the 365-room facility was an under-performing part of his family 's business portfolio , which then primarily consisted of restaurants and food stalls . `` My father was a restaurateur and he did n't really understand the ( hotel ) side ... of the business , '' Marriott told CNN 's Richard Quest . `` I started focusing on what would make this hotel successful , '' he added . `` All of a sudden , I figured out we 'd make more money in the hotel business than we would ever make in the restaurant business . '' In more than half a century in the industry , Marriott , now 80 , has built a hotel empire of more than 3,700 properties . When it comes to changes in a fast-moving business , Marriott has seen it all . When he started out in the 50s , Marriott was a single brand . These days , the industry is characterized by segmentation , with hotel corporations producing ever-more niche brands . `` In 1981 we had a lot of big box city hotels ... someone said we are going to run out of great locations where we can build these hotels , we 've got to do something to build the company -- let 's go and build a hotel for the business man . '' The result ? In 1983 Marriott introduced its Courtyard brand . `` We built a 150-room Courtyard in the suburbs of Atlanta , '' Marriot told Quest . `` It was tremendously successful , so then we just started cranking out these Courtyards . They did n't have a lot of services -- limited restaurant menu , no bellman , no room service , no parking attendants -- but it was a low price for a great room . '' See also : 9 best secret hotels in the world . The Marriott portfolio now comprises 18 different hotel brands , including Ritz-Carlton and Fairfield Inn , which target different types of traveler , be they businesspeople , families , or budget travelers . And he believes there 's room for more brands . `` We 've just added AC Hotels in Europe and Autograph Collection ( a series of Marriott-owned independent hotels ) two years ago ... so we 've got a lot of stuff going on , '' he said . And whereas once it may have been enough to simply provide hotel guests with a clean , comfortable place to sleep for the night , today 's customers demand more individual attention . `` If somebody asks the best place to have dinner , we know where that is , '' said Marriott . `` The best place to get an Armani bag ? We know where that is . Where is the best place to go sightseeing ? We are interested in taking care of your visit . '' Marriott says the biggest change he has seen in the last 20 years is the focus on the international market . In 1969 Marriott opened its first international hotel in Acapulco , Mexico . It now has facilities in 73 countries and territories around the world . Marriott said he first realized the true importance of the international market when his company expanded into Asia . See also : Make the most of your Singapore stopover . `` We went into Hong Kong in 1989 ... I had a feeling we had to be in Asia , we had to be over there . There was growth coming , '' he said . `` I went to China in 1979 -- there was nothing but Mao suits on bicycles , no cars , everybody wore the same clothing -- but we could start to see glimmers of interest . '' Today there are 171 Marriott hotels operating in Asia and a further 85 in the pipeline , mirroring the region 's rise to economic prominence during the same period . Marriott highlighted one final change in the hotel industry over the last 20 years , one that reflects a huge change in society as a whole : the prevalence of technology . `` We continually fight the battle ( for ) more broadband , better access , '' he said . `` Technology is very , very important . Thirty percent of our reservations come through the internet . We are in the top eight or nine purveyors on the internet . '' Marriott has recently stepped down as CEO and taken up the more hands-off position of executive chairman , passing on day-to-day control of the company to former president and COO Arne Sorenson . But Marriott 's not about to give up all of his influence over the company he built . `` It 's my life , it 's my vocation , '' he said of his work over the last 55 years . `` I do n't play golf , I do n't have a yacht . I work and I visit hotels ... it 's in my DNA , '' he said .
Fairfield Inn first became involved in his family 's hotel business in Almost 55 years later . 1957 he has built a multi-billion dollar hotel empire . D.C. Fast has seen the industry has changed dramatically during his career .