How a disappointing family road trip birthed a global hospitality empire

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1952, Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inn after a frustrating vacation highlighted the poor quality of roadside motels. What began as a single location in Memphis quickly evolved into a massive, standardized chain that redefined travel, eventually becoming the world's innkeeper through aggressive expansion and centralized reservation systems.

The chain's rapid growth was fueled by the iconic Great Sign, a 50-foot-tall, expensive, and eye-catching roadside beacon designed by Gene Barber and Roland Alexander. It became the company's most successful marketing tool during the 1950s and 1960s. Wilson, who founded the company in Memphis, Tennessee, famously considered the board's 1982 decision to phase out the sign the worst mistake in the company's history. He was so attached to the design that he had it engraved on his tombstone.

Beyond its physical presence, the company pioneered operational innovations. In 1965, it launched Holidex, a centralized reservation system that allowed guests to book rooms at other locations via teleprinter. By 1967, it leveraged AT&T's new toll-free 800 numbers to market itself as a host from coast to coast. The company also pursued diverse business interests, including the Trailways bus line, Delta Shipping, and even a television production company, before refocusing on its core hospitality brands under IHG.

The brand's history is marked by complex legal battles over its name. In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a local motel used the name Holiday Inn starting in 1949—three years before the chain's founding. This led to a years-long legal dispute that reached the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1981. Similarly, a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, held the rights to the holidayinn.com domain for two decades, forcing the corporation to use a hyphenated alternative until a 2006 agreement finally integrated the property into the IHG system.

Today, the brand has shifted significantly from its motel roots. A massive global relaunch completed in 2010 focused on modernizing service and amenities, leading to the demolition or closure of most original motels. While the company once operated hundreds of roadside locations, it now prioritizes urban, full-service hotels and the Holiday Inn Express brand, maintaining its status as a major player in the global hospitality market under IHG.

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