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{{Short description|
{{About|the hotel chain|the 1942 film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire|Holiday Inn (film)|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Holiday Inn
| logo = [[File:Holiday_Inn_Logo.svg|100px]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| predecessor =
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| num_employees =
| divisions = [[Holiday Inn Express]]
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web
| intl =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1952|08|01}}<br>[[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], [[United States]]
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}}
'''Holiday Inn''' is
==History==
===1950s–1970s ===
Wilson partnered with Wallace E. Johnson to build additional [[motel]]s on the roads entering Memphis.<ref>{{cite news
|url =
|title = Wallace E. Johnson: Co-founder of Holiday Inn chain
|access-date = June 25, 2012
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}} {{cite news
|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/29/obituaries/wallace-e-johnson-co-founder-of-holiday-inns-chain-in-1950-s.html
|title = Wallace E. Johnson, Co-founder of Holiday Inns chain in
|first = Glenn
|last = Fowler
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}}</ref> In 1953, three more Holiday Inns were built on [[U.S. Route 51|U.S. 51 South]], Highway 51 North, and [[U.S. Route 61|U.S. 61]].
By 1957 there were 30 Holiday Inns, and Wilson began marketing the chain as "Holiday Inn of America". There were 50 locations across the US by 1958, 100 by 1959, 500 by 1964, and 1000 in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twenty Humdrum Holiday Inn Postcards from the Fifties and Sixties|author=Rob Baker|url=https://flashbak.com/twenty-humdrum-holiday-inn-postcards-from-the-fifties-and-sixties-27074/|website=Flashbak|date=December 4, 2014}}</ref> A number of early locations were [[franchising|franchised]], some by the Albert Pick corporation of [[Chicago]]. Because a number of Albert Pick franchisees were recommending customers to other Albert Pick hotels instead of to Holiday Inn, the Holiday Inn corporation enacted a rule that franchisees could not own locations of another hotel as well as a Holiday Inn. This led to the Albert Pick-franchised locations exiting the brand by the end of the 1950s. The rule on franchising remained until 1973, when a franchisee was denied the rights to build a location in [[Newark, New Jersey]] because of this rule; the [[United States District Court]] thus declared the rule a violation of a United States anti-[[monopoly]] law.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/281384457/ | title=Holiday Inns corp. found guilty of monopoly practices | work=The Daily Journal | date=September 6, 1973 | accessdate=January 2, 2023 | pages=4}}</ref>
In 1965, the chain launched Holidex, a centralized reservation system where a visitor to any Holiday Inn could obtain reservations, by [[teleprinter]], for any other Holiday Inn location. Promoting itself as "your host from coast to coast", Holiday Inn added a call center after [[AT&
Branded as "The Nation's Innkeeper", the chain put considerable financial pressure on traditional motels and hotels, setting the standard for competitors like [[Ramada Inn]], [[Quality Inn]], [[Howard Johnson's]], and [[Best Western]]. By June 1972, with over 1,400 Holiday Inns worldwide, Wilson was featured on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine and the franchise's motto became "The World's Innkeeper".
In 1963, Holiday Inn signed a long-term deal with [[Gulf Oil
▲In 1963, Holiday Inn signed a long-term deal with [[Gulf Oil|Gulf Oil Corporation]] where it agreed to accept Gulf credit cards to charge food and lodging at all of its American and Canadian hotels, in return for Gulf building [[Filling station|service stations]] on many Holiday Inn properties, particularly near major U.S. and Interstate highways. The arrangement was copied by competing lodging chains and major oil companies during the mid-to-late 1960s, but fell out of favor following the [[1973 oil crisis]]. The Gulf/Holiday Inn arrangement ended around 1982.
In 1971, the company constructed the Holiday Inn University and Conference Center, a teaching hotel for training new employees, in [[Olive Branch, Mississippi]]. In 1973, the company built the [[Olive Branch Airport]] north of the university as a home base for its corporate aircraft.
The company later branched into other enterprises, including Medi-Center nursing homes, Continental [[Trailways Transportation System|Trailways]], [[Delta Queen]], and Show-Biz, Inc., a television production company that specialized in [[television syndication|syndicated]] [[country music]] shows. Wilson also developed the Orange Lake Resort and Country Club near [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and a chain called Wilson World Hotels. The company sold [[Trailways]] in 1979. As of 2014, Wilson's family still operates hotels as part of the Kemmons Wilson Companies of Memphis.
===The Great Sign===
[[File:GreatSign.jpg|thumb
[[File:Holiday Inn East Highrise New Orleans postcard.jpg|thumb|A Holiday Inn in [[New Orleans]], pictured on a [[postcard]] c. 1975]]
The "Great Sign" was the roadside sign used by Holiday Inn during its original era of expansion from the 1950s to 1970s. It was perhaps the company's most successful form of advertising. It was extremely large and eye-catching, but was expensive to construct and operate. The manufacturer of the sign was Balton & Sons Sign Company, and it was originally designed by sketch artists Gene Barber and Roland Alexander. Wilson wanted a prominent sign, desiring that it be at least 50 feet (15 m) high and visible in both directions. He also wanted a changeable marquee to welcome different groups. The original sign cost $13,000.<ref>Half Brains and Half Luck by Kemmons Wilson. p 52-53</ref> It is said that the sign's colors were selected because they were favorites of Wilson's mother.▼
▲The "Great Sign" was the roadside sign used by Holiday Inn during its original era of expansion from the 1950s to 1970s. It was perhaps the company's most successful form of advertising. It was extremely large and eye-catching, but was expensive to construct and
In 1982, following Wilson's departure, the Holiday Inn board of directors phased out the "Great Sign" in favor of a cheaper back-lit sign; Wilson considered it "the worst mistake they ever made". He loved the "Great Sign" so much that it was engraved on his tombstone, with the marquee reading "FOUNDER" and the arrow aimed at his name.<ref>{{cite web|author=Caitlin L. Horton |url=http://www.memphistypehistory.com/the-holiday-inn-great-sign/ |title=The Holiday Inn Great Sign |date=July 2015 |publisher=Memphis Type History |access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref> The majority of the signs were scrapped but working examples are owned by the [[American Sign Museum]] in Cincinnati, Ohio and [[The Henry Ford]] Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, and with a private collector in Park Hills, Kentucky.▼
▲In 1982, following Wilson's departure, the Holiday Inn board of directors phased out the "Great Sign" in favor of a cheaper back-lit sign; Wilson considered it "the worst mistake they ever made". He loved the "Great Sign" so much that it was engraved on his tombstone, with the marquee reading "FOUNDER" and the arrow aimed at his name.<ref>{{cite web |author=Caitlin L. Horton |url=http://www.memphistypehistory.com/the-holiday-inn-great-sign/ |title=The Holiday Inn Great Sign |date=July 2015 |publisher=Memphis Type History |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020052054/https://www.memphistypehistory.com/the-holiday-inn-great-sign/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The majority of the signs were scrapped but working examples are owned by the [[American Sign Museum]] in Cincinnati, Ohio
Although still a healthy company, changing business conditions and demographics saw Holiday Inn lose its market dominance in the 1980s. Holiday Inns, Inc. was renamed "Holiday Corporation" in 1985 to reflect the growth of the company's brands, including [[Harrah's Entertainment]], [[Embassy Suites Hotels]], [[Crowne Plaza]], [[Homewood Suites by Hilton|Homewood Suites]], and [[Hampton Inn]]. In 1988, Holiday Corporation was purchased by UK-based '''Bass''' [[Public limited company|PLC]] (then owners of the [[Bass Brewery|Bass]] beer brand), followed by the remaining domestic Holiday Inn hotels in 1990, when founder Wilson sold his interest, after which the hotel group was known as ''Holiday Inn Worldwide''. The remainder of Holiday Corporation (including the [[Embassy Suites Hotels]], [[Homewood Suites by Hilton|Homewood Suites]], and [[Hampton Inn]] brands) was spun off to shareholders as [[Promus Hotel Corporation|Promus Companies Incorporated]]. In 1990, Bass launched Holiday Inn Express, a complementary brand in the limited service segment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30615FA3D5F0C758DDDAB0994D8494D81|date=December 16, 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=On the Road, Sleeping for Less|first=Betsy|last=Wade}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yYZJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1371,3991818&dq=You+get+what+you+pay+for+in+economy+motels|date=November 11, 1990|work=The News and Courier/Evening Post, Charleston, SC|title=You get what you pay for in economy motels}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_oaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2064,1692894&dq=holiday-inn-express&hl=en|date=October 8, 1990|work=Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky|title=Holiday Inn Enters New Market Area}}</ref>▼
===1980s–1990s===
In 1997, Bass created and launched a new hotel brand, Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, entering the North American upscale extended stay market. In March 1998, Bass acquired the [[InterContinental]] brand, expanding into the luxury hotel market. In 2000 Bass sold its brewing assets (and the rights to the Bass name) and changed its name to [[Six Continents|Six Continents PLC]]. [[InterContinental Hotels Group]] (IHG) was created in 2003 after Six Continents split into two daughter companies: [[Mitchells & Butlers]] PLC to handle restaurant assets, and IHG to focus on soft drinks and hotels, including the Holiday Inn brand.<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History| url=http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?pageid=326 | publisher=InterContinental Hotels Group| date=January 9, 2008|access-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref>▼
▲Although still a healthy company, changing business conditions and demographics saw Holiday Inn lose its market dominance in the 1980s. Holiday Inns, Inc. was renamed "Holiday Corporation" in 1985 to reflect the growth of the company's brands, including [[Harrah's Entertainment]], [[Embassy Suites Hotels]], [[Crowne Plaza]], [[Homewood Suites by Hilton|Homewood Suites]], and [[Hampton Inn]]. In 1988, Holiday Corporation was purchased by UK-based '''Bass''' [[Public limited company|PLC]] (then owners of the [[Bass Brewery|Bass]] beer brand), followed by the remaining domestic Holiday Inn hotels in 1990, when founder Wilson sold his interest, after which the hotel group was known as
▲In 1997, Bass created and launched a new hotel brand, [[Staybridge Suites]] by Holiday Inn, entering the North American upscale extended stay market. In March 1998, Bass acquired the [[InterContinental]] brand, expanding into the luxury hotel market. In 2000 Bass sold its brewing assets (and the rights to the Bass name) and changed its name to [[Six Continents|Six Continents PLC]]. [[InterContinental Hotels Group]] (IHG) was created in 2003 after Six Continents split into two daughter companies: [[Mitchells & Butlers]] PLC to handle restaurant assets, and IHG to focus on soft drinks and hotels, including the Holiday Inn brand.<ref>{{cite web
The brand name Holiday Inn is now owned by IHG, which in turn licenses the name to franchisees and third parties who operate hotels under management agreements.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2007-07-19-holiday-inn_N.htm|title = Holiday Inn chain gives itself a face-lift|access-date = August 3, 2007 |author = Barbara De Lollis|publisher = [[USA Today]] | date=July 23, 2007}}</ref> In 1999, the hotel that changed into the [[Nickelodeon Suites Resort Orlando]] in 2005, opened, called "Holiday Inn".
===Development since 2000===
''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported in 2002 that the company, led by Ravi Saligram, was producing a new 130-room "Next Generation" prototype hotel to rebuild the brand. It would include a bistro-like restaurant and an indoor pool. The first of these prototype hotels, the Holiday Inn Gwinnett Center, was built in [[Duluth, Georgia]], in 2003.
In 2008, [[Mitchells & Butlers|Mitchells and Butlers]] sold off 21 Holiday Inn hotels in exchange for 44 standalone pubs to [[Whitbread]]. In September 2008, IHG announced the creation of a new timeshare brand, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, a strategic alliance with The Family of Orange Lake Resorts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts|url=http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?pageid=409|publisher=InterContinental Hotels Group|date=May 12, 2009|access-date=June 6, 2009|archive-date=February 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219213127/http://ihgplc.com/index.asp?pageid=409|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On October 24, 2007, IHG announced a worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand, which spelled trouble for the remaining motels. The relaunch was "focused on delivering consistently best in class service and physical quality levels, including a redesigned welcome experience [and] signature bedding and bathroom products". The first relaunched Holiday Inn opened in the U.S. in spring 2008. Currently there are more than 2,500 relaunched Holiday Inn brand hotels around the world, and the Holiday Inn global brand relaunch process was completed by the end of 2010.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?PageID=116&NewsID=1888|title=InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces worldwide brand relaunch of Holiday Inn (24 October 2007)|author=InterContinental Hotels Group PLC|access-date=October 26, 2007|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610001942/http://www.ihgplc.com/index.asp?PageID=116&NewsID=1888|url-status=dead}}</ref> By then, the majority of the HI motels were removed from the chain, with a few exceptions. (In the 1980s and 1990s, HI hotels were built alongside the motel properties [i.e. Baton Rouge, Louisiana] in order to provide more amenities and newer rooms.) When the relaunch occurred, these motels were either demolished or closed off, even if a full-service hotel was already on site. Today, fewer than 10 original Holiday Inn motels still operate, others having been replaced by newer Holiday Inn Express locations or having switched to other chains.
In August 2012, the chain celebrated its 60th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Luckerson|first=Victor|date=2012-08-01|title=How Holiday Inn Changed the Way We Travel|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=https://business.time.com/2012/08/01/how-holiday-inn-changed-the-way-we-travel/|access-date=2020-09-09|issn=0040-781X}}</ref>
In 2024, IHG announced a vast expansion of the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands in [[Germany]] as part of a franchise and cooperation agreement with German hotel operator [[Novum Hospitality]] which in turn will rebrand the majority of their currently over 100 properties into Holiday Inn, including a newly created sub-brand named ''Holiday Inn - the niu''.<ref>[https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2024/ihg-hotels-and-resorts-and-novum-hospitality-sign-agreement-that-doubles-ihgs-hotel-presence ihgplc.com - IHG Hotels & Resorts and NOVUM Hospitality sign agreement that doubles IHG’s hotel presence in Germany, launches Holiday Inn – the niu collaboration, and debuts Garner and Candlewood Suites brands] 15 April 2024</ref>
==Brands==
[[File:
[[
[[File:
===Current properties===
Holiday Inn currently operates hotels and resorts using the following brands:
* '''Holiday Inn'''{{spaced ndash}}This is the most recognizable tier of service. There are two distinct types: high-rise, full-service plaza hotels and low-rise, full-service hotels. The former also included many high-rises with round, central-core construction, instantly recognizable from the 1970s. Both offer a restaurant, pools at most locations, room service, an exercise room, and functional but comfortable rooms.
** ''' Holiday Inn Resort''' (called '''Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort''' from 1991 to 2007<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ivanova|first1=Maya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HOEeDAAAQBAJ&q=sunspree+1991+extension&pg=PT391|title=The Routledge Handbook of Hotel Chain Management|last2=Ivanov|first2=Stanislav|last3=Magnini|first3=Vincent P.|date=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1-317-61843-0|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=IHG Continues to Expand its Holiday Inn Resort Brand Portfolio with Addition in Jekyll Island|url=https://www.ihgplc.com:443/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2014/ihg-continues-to-expand-its-holiday-inn-resort-brand-portfolio-with-addition-in-jekyll-island|access-date=2020-10-06|publisher=[[InterContinental Hotels Group]]|language=en|quote=The Holiday Inn Resort brand transitioned from the Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resorts brand in 2007 as a part of the Holiday Inn global brand relaunch.}}</ref>){{spaced ndash}}The properties also offer all the amenities and services of a full-service Holiday Inn; resorts are considered more of an advertising branding than a completely different brand. Most Holiday Inn Resorts are located in high-leisure-tourism markets.▼
▲
* '''Holiday Inn Select'''{{spaced ndash}}These upper-range full-service hotels cater to business travelers, and are often located next to [[international airport]]s. In 2006 it was announced that Holiday Inn Select hotels would be discontinued. Existing hotels may continue to operate under the Holiday Inn Select flag until their existing license expires, however many are converting to Crowne Plaza or regular Holiday Inn hotels, with no further marketing or advertising based around the "Select" moniker. Several Select hotels remained as of 2014.
** '''Holiday Inn Club Vacations'''{{spaced ndash}}These are resorts aimed at families and are only based in the U.S. The accommodations are mostly villas and suites. Membership operates similar to a flexible [[timeshare]] basis.▼
* '''Holiday Inn Garden Court'''{{spaced ndash}}The properties exist only in Europe and [[South Africa]] and are designed to reflect the national culture.▼
* '''[[Holiday Inn Express]]'''{{spaced ndash}}These properties originally focused on [[Hotel#Economy and limited service|economy and limited service]], very similar to competitors like [[Comfort Inn|Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites]], [[Fairfield by Marriott|Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott]] and [[Hampton Inn|Hampton by Hilton]], providing only continental breakfast and an exercise room. However newer Holiday Inn Express do feature most amenities from the higher-end Holiday Inn brand, such as a restaurant and bar, conference rooms, and even a full fitness center with a swimming pool. A major differentiation is location, with Express properties typically found in suburbs and along freeways, while the upmarket Holiday Inn has been placed in urban areas (including downtowns) and often near tourist attractions. Most Holiday Inn Express locations now offer a hot breakfast option.▼
▲
Although originally called "Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza", the Crowne Plaza division was separated from Holiday Inn in 1994 to form a distinctive brand.▼
▲* '''Holiday Inn Garden Court'''{{spaced ndash}}The properties exist only in Europe and [[South Africa]] and are designed to reflect the national culture.
▲* '''[[Holiday Inn Express]]'''{{spaced ndash}}These properties originally focused on [[Hotel#Economy and limited service|economy and limited service]], very similar to competitors like [[Comfort Inn|Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites]], [[Fairfield by Marriott|Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott]] and [[Hampton Inn|Hampton by Hilton]], providing only continental breakfast and an exercise room. However newer Holiday Inn Express
===Former properties===
*'''Holiday Inn Jr.''' was a motel brand during the 1960s and 1970s with just 44 to 48 guest rooms and limited amenities. The first such location opened in [[Camden, Arkansas]] in 1964.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/31505758/ | title=Holiday Inn Jr., a dream come true! | work=The Camden News | date=March 28, 1964 | accessdate=December 22, 2022 | pages=11}}</ref> The last hotel to operate under the Holiday Inn Jr. name was in [[Huntingdon, Pennsylvania]], which remained in operation until it burned down in 1979.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/19931797/ | title=Raystown Country Inn opens | work=The Daily News | date=May 31, 1980 | accessdate=December 22, 2022 | pages=1}}</ref>
▲
==Trademark conflicts==
==See also==
{{Portal|United States|Georgia (U.S. state)}}▼
* [[List of chained-brand hotels]]
* [[List of hotels]]
==References==
{{Reflist
==External links==
{{Commons category inline|Holiday Inn}}
* {{Official website|www.holidayinn.com}}
{{InterContinental Hotels Group}}
{{Hotel chains}}
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[[Category:1952 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:InterContinental Hotels Group brands]]
[[Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:American brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Buckinghamshire]]
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