The first location was built in 1983 in Atlanta and was Marriott's first sister brand. The brand was always meant to target business travelers. However, over the years, it has come to cater to the leisure traveler, too. Most now have a swimming pool or fitness center, microwaves and mini-fridges for rent, and family rates. Many properties have a mini-fridge in every room and usually have a complimentary guest microwave in The Market. Usually, microwaves are found in suite rooms.
Marriott International spent $2 billion in the mid-1980s on building out the Courtyard by Marriott chain in order to target Holiday Inn's clientel