Today we celebrate the 66th birthday of Holiday Inn©! As Holiday Inn© hotels continue to develop around the world, today we are taking time to remember how the brand began.
1952 Holiday Inn Sign
Holiday Inn© hotels were created by an entrepreneur named Kemmons Wilson. After traveling on a family vacation to Washington D.C. with his five children, Wilson was disappointed motels did not cater more towards families. The trip inspired Wilson to create a hotel brand which was both comfortable and affordable for traveling families. On August 1st, 1952 IHG opened the first Holiday Inn© hotel located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Today Holiday Inn© hotels have evolved to cater towards both business and pleasure travelers. Within a Holiday Inn© hotel, guests will find amenities including fitness facilities, business centers, dining options and meeting space. Guests can also earn and utilize IHG Rewards© towards their stay. With over 1,163 hotels as of March 2018, Holiday Inn© is considered the largest hotel brand.
To learn more about Kemmons Wilson and the start of Holiday Inn© hotels, visit the Kemmons Wilson Company website. As one of twelve Holiday Inn© hotels located in Greater Grand Rapids, we ask you to join us as we celebrate this important day in our hotel history.
-The Holiday Inn Team