Numerous companies with national reach were founded in the greater Seattle area, and several expanded their presence to the international stage as well, including Amazon, Nordstrom, Boeing, Microsoft, Costco and Starbucks, and a hospitality company called Western Hotels, Inc. Western Hotels, Inc. was founded in 1930, and retained its independence as a company until 1998. Over those 68 years the name transitioned to Western International Hotels to Westin Hotels, and finally to Westin Hotels & Resorts. The Western Hotels history can be accessed here. Today, the name Westin represents a brand of Marriott Hotels International.