Welcome to the Award-Winning Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn began as a vision of Kemmons Wilson (1913-2003) in 1952 on a roadtrip gone bad. Driving to Washington D.C. on a family vacation, Wilson grew frustrated at the lack of quality he found in roadside motels. Dingy courts and dusty motor hotels may have been satisfactory when Americans first set out on the road, but Wilson was sure that the interstate-age would call for new kinds of amenities: air conditioning, restaurants, in-room telephones, and – most of all – standardization.

Within a year, Wilson commissioned blueprints from his hand-drawn diagrams. The designer, Eddie Bluestein, wrote "Holiday Inn" across the bottom of the plans after seeing a Bing Crosby film. The name stuck, and the first hotel was built on Summer Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. The hotel was so successful that Wilson followed up with identical ones on three other roads leading into Memphis.

1950's	First to have telephones, televisions, A/C, free parking, basic product standards, swimming pools, restaurants, and "Children Under 12 Stay Free" policy.
1960's	First computerized reservation system, quality inspectors, and a gasoline company credit card alliance.
1970's	First to have information on gas availability during oil crisis through 1-800-HOLIDAY, Holidome indoor recreation centers, accommodations for handicapped guests (room and reservations), fire alarm system in every hotel, guaranteed all-night reservations, and king leisure rooms.
1980's	First to offer "Hospitality Promise" and "Meeting Promise," first to implement service standards, Priority Club program, Visual Alert System for the hearing impaired and the first internation chain to open in mainland China.
1990's	Launched Holiday Inn Express, first hotel chain with reservations on the internet, brand Online Internet sites, Introduced Holiday Inn Family Suites, Sunspree, and Select, Intercontinental hotels, and the Crowne Plaza was launched as a stand alone brand.
2000's	First to offer "Lowest Internet Guarantee." The Staybridge Suites was the fastest to 50 hotels, added Candlewood Suites, and the introduction of Hotel Indigo.

13-time winner of the Torchbearer Award. This award is given based upon guest satisfaction scores. Hotels must be ranked in the top 20 worldwide to receive the award. The Holiday Inn Boardman has 13 awards, more than any other Holiday Inn hotel in the world.

Kemmons Wilson Spirit of Family Award 2004

Housekeeper of the Year Award 2006

Renovation Award 2007

Quality Excellence Award 2007

Numerous other awards and acknowledgements including Room Service Awards, and Food and Beverage Awards.