You’ve Probably Been Pronouncing Marriott Wrong

If you’ve ever confidently asked for directions to the nearest Mary-ott, there’s a decent chance you’ve been saying it wrong—and you’re far from alone.

David Marriott, chairman of the board at Marriott International, recently reminded travelers that the hotel giant’s name is actually pronounced closer to “Marry-ette” (with the emphasis up front), not “Mary-ott.” He shared the clarification during a Marriott Bonvoy member event—and the story behind it is honestly the part that makes it stick.

Marriott explained that his wife, a former teacher, once had a student named Elliott who kept calling her “Mrs. Marriott”—but with that hard “ott” ending. Finally, she pulled him aside and made it a quick lesson in…well, names.

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“Elliott, how do you pronounce your name?” she asked.

He answered: “Elliott.”

And that’s when she made the point: “That’s right, it’s not Elliott,” she said—emphasizing the “ott” sound to show him what he was doing to her name.

Marriott said it’s the same with his family’s name: it’s meant to land like “Marry-ette,” not “Mary-ott.” He also reassured the crowd that he’s not exactly offended if you’ve been saying it the other way for years, adding that he’ll respond to either pronunciation.

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Naturally, the internet had thoughts. Social media reactions ranged from “my brain can’t update this” to “I’m going to keep saying it my way,” and even Marriott Bonvoy got in on the joke with a lighthearted comment telling fans there were no hard feelings.

And if you’re still trying to make it click, Marriott’s sister has offered a simple trick in the past: when in doubt, rhyme it out—think along the lines of chariot or carry it to get that softer ending.

Will everyone suddenly start saying “Marry-ette”? Maybe not. It’s a small correction—but one that’s surprisingly hard to unhear once you know it.

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