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HOLIDAY INN
HOLIDAY INN ROADSIDE SIGN
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
James A. Anderson (date unknown), Designer
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
1953
In 1953, Kemmons Wilson (1913–2003) opened
his first motor-court motel on a commercial
strip outside of Memphis, Tennessee. The motel
was named Holiday Inn and quickly became
the American standard for all roadside motels,
as well as becoming one of the world’s largest
hotel chains serving more than 100 million
guests each year.
Wilson initially came up with his concept
for a new type of motel after he and his family
took a road trip to Washington, D.C., in which he
was disappointed with the quality and consis- ...