Marriott International announced its agreement to acquire Delta Hotels and Resorts on January 27, 2015. At the time, the only Delta properties were in Canada. (There had once been a Delta property in Orlando, but it was long-gone by the time Marriott acquired Delta.)

Marriott decided it needed a conversion brand. Hilton was having success with its DoubleTree brand, which allowed hotel owners to reflag a property without adhering to the full standards of a Hilton new-build. A conversion brand doesn't mean low standards, just different standards. For example, a hotel can keep its existing HVAC system. While Hilton new-builds tended to be built in prime locations, conversions could start as an old Holiday Inn at an interstate highway exit.

Marriott made Delta Hotels and Resorts its conversion brand. Judging by how many Delta properties are now on Marriott.com, using Delta as a conversion brand has been successful for Marriott.

The last time I stayed at a Delta Hotel was in 1985 in a suburb of Toronto. The Holiday Inn in the Chicago suburbs where I had my wedding reception is now a Delta Hotel. I stayed at two Marriott Hotels in England that became Delta Hotels the following year. I have three upcoming reservations for Delta Hotels in Atlantic Canada. But I still haven't stayed at a Delta-branded conversion property.