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- Time Magazine for June 12, 1972, "The Man with 300,000 Beds, Innkeeper Kemmons Wilson" - Kemmons Wilson founded the Holiday Inn franchise in 1952. The chain became so successful that in 1972 Wilson made the cover of <em>Time</em> magazine. Travelers relied on the standard amenities and family-friendly rates that could be found at any Holiday Inn across the country.
- June 12, 1972
- Collections - Artifact
Time Magazine for June 12, 1972, "The Man with 300,000 Beds, Innkeeper Kemmons Wilson"
Kemmons Wilson founded the Holiday Inn franchise in 1952. The chain became so successful that in 1972 Wilson made the cover of Time magazine. Travelers relied on the standard amenities and family-friendly rates that could be found at any Holiday Inn across the country.
- "TIME" Magazine, Cover Featuring Holiday Inn's Innkeeper Kemmons Wilson, June 12, 1972 - Kemmons Wilson founded the Holiday Inn franchise in 1952. The chain became so successful that in 1972 Wilson made the cover of <em>Time</em> magazine. Travelers relied on the standard amenities and family-friendly rates that could be found at any Holiday Inn across the country.
- June 12, 1972
- Collections - Artifact
"TIME" Magazine, Cover Featuring Holiday Inn's Innkeeper Kemmons Wilson, June 12, 1972
Kemmons Wilson founded the Holiday Inn franchise in 1952. The chain became so successful that in 1972 Wilson made the cover of Time magazine. Travelers relied on the standard amenities and family-friendly rates that could be found at any Holiday Inn across the country.
- Holiday Inn Advertising Postcard, "Your Host from Coast to Coast," 1958 - Entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson opened his first motel in 1952. Within a few years, Wilson's Holiday Inns had become the nation's largest lodging chain. Travelers appreciated the fair pricing, quality service, and standardized amenities each location offered. One guest scrawled "first night" on this postcard from a Holiday Inn in Newark, Ohio.
- 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn Advertising Postcard, "Your Host from Coast to Coast," 1958
Entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson opened his first motel in 1952. Within a few years, Wilson's Holiday Inns had become the nation's largest lodging chain. Travelers appreciated the fair pricing, quality service, and standardized amenities each location offered. One guest scrawled "first night" on this postcard from a Holiday Inn in Newark, Ohio.
- Holiday Inn University, 1971 - Consistent, quality service and amenities made the first Holiday Inns successful in the 1950s. As the motel chain expanded, a rigorous training program helped maintain high standards. All property managers, called "Innkeepers," attended mandatory training courses near Holiday Inns' headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The company built Holiday Inn University, a complete campus for manager training, in 1971.
- 1971
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn University, 1971
Consistent, quality service and amenities made the first Holiday Inns successful in the 1950s. As the motel chain expanded, a rigorous training program helped maintain high standards. All property managers, called "Innkeepers," attended mandatory training courses near Holiday Inns' headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The company built Holiday Inn University, a complete campus for manager training, in 1971.
- Holiday Inn, Memphis, Tennessee, 1958 - After World War II, roadside lodging options were mostly limited to independently owned motels with varying standards and rates. Entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inns in Memphis starting in 1952. His motels offered consistent, quality service and amenities at family-friendly prices. Within a few years, Wilson's Holiday Inns had revolutionized industry standards and become the nation's largest lodging chain.
- 1958
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn, Memphis, Tennessee, 1958
After World War II, roadside lodging options were mostly limited to independently owned motels with varying standards and rates. Entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inns in Memphis starting in 1952. His motels offered consistent, quality service and amenities at family-friendly prices. Within a few years, Wilson's Holiday Inns had revolutionized industry standards and become the nation's largest lodging chain.
- Playskool Holiday Inn Play Set, 1975 - By the 1970s, with more than 1,400 locations worldwide, Holiday Inns were universal. Playskool produced a playset version of the ubiquitous roadside motel for its "Familiar Places" line, complete with an enclosed courtyard and customizable Great Sign -- two iconic features of real-life Holiday Inns.
- 1975-1979
- Collections - Artifact
Playskool Holiday Inn Play Set, 1975
By the 1970s, with more than 1,400 locations worldwide, Holiday Inns were universal. Playskool produced a playset version of the ubiquitous roadside motel for its "Familiar Places" line, complete with an enclosed courtyard and customizable Great Sign -- two iconic features of real-life Holiday Inns.
- Holiday Inn of Paducah, Kentucky, 1966 - Along with the usual amenities, convenient locations helped Holiday Inns attract business. Thanks to its large "Great Sign," the Holiday Inn on this postcard would have been tough to miss, even for travelers speeding along adjacent highways. The motel's centrality "in the heart of the friendly city" is touted on the reverse.
- 1966
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn of Paducah, Kentucky, 1966
Along with the usual amenities, convenient locations helped Holiday Inns attract business. Thanks to its large "Great Sign," the Holiday Inn on this postcard would have been tough to miss, even for travelers speeding along adjacent highways. The motel's centrality "in the heart of the friendly city" is touted on the reverse.
- Holiday Inn "Great" Sign, circa 1960 - When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
- circa 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn "Great" Sign, circa 1960
When the first Holiday Inns opened in 1952, guests at roadside hotels were mostly traveling families who couldn't always plan their stops ahead of time. This sign -- taller and flashier than some but not radically different from other blinking neon highway signs -- was designed to be spotted from the new interstates. As Holiday Inns multiplied, the sign became a message: "Turn here for a predictable, quality experience."
- Kemmons Wilson’s Holiday Inns - At a time when Americans are traveling less and the lodging industry is making big changes, let’s take a look back at the story of Kemmons Wilson, whose Holiday Inns revolutionized roadside lodging in the mid-20th century.
- May 28, 2020
- Collections - Article
Kemmons Wilson’s Holiday Inns
At a time when Americans are traveling less and the lodging industry is making big changes, let’s take a look back at the story of Kemmons Wilson, whose Holiday Inns revolutionized roadside lodging in the mid-20th century.
- Holiday Inn, Effingham, Illinois, 1961 - The big, bright Holiday Inn sign was designed to catch the attention of speeding motorists in the days before freeway exit signs listed lodging choices. This postcard from about 1962 shows the location of the Holiday Inn at Effingham, Illinois, in relation to the highway.
- 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn, Effingham, Illinois, 1961
The big, bright Holiday Inn sign was designed to catch the attention of speeding motorists in the days before freeway exit signs listed lodging choices. This postcard from about 1962 shows the location of the Holiday Inn at Effingham, Illinois, in relation to the highway.