BETHESDA . MD — (CNN) Marriott is buying Starwood to make the largest hotel company in the world.

Together, the companies will operate or franchise 5,500 hotels with a total of 1.1 million rooms. The company will span 100 countries.

Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the deal on Monday.

Starwood owns the Sheraton and Westin brands, in addition to several smaller hotel chains.

Three Chinese firms reportedly had been vying to take over Starwood: hotel giant Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels, sovereign wealth fund China Investment Group and HNA Group, parent company of Hainan Airlines.

Marriott, based in Bethesda, is planning to move its global headquarters within the next several years.

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