NEW YORK: US-based Marriott International announced Monday that it will acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in a $12.2 billion deal that will create the world’s largest hotel company.

The agreed merger unites Marriott brands, which include Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and JW Marriott, and Starwood marks like Westin, W and Sheraton into a giant that operates 5,500 hotels spanning some 100 countries.