The Holiday Inn Experience
October 24, 2007
This is from TW's Kelly Ranson at the InterContinental Hotels Groups Americas Investors and Leaderships conference in Dallas, Texas...
You know that you are in America when there is Starbucks on every corner and when you finish your meal it looks like you haven’t even touched it.
But I definitely realised I was in across the pond when I entered the ‘Holiday Inn Experience’ at the Dallas Convention Centre this week.
Only in America can they put together a massive mock up of its re-branded hotels (complete with beds, baths and exteriors and even the new smell of the hotels) to show to delegates.
Throughout the 40 minute ‘journey’ you are guided through what can only be described as a museum of Holiday Inn.
The 'experience' starts with owner Kemmons Wilson’s desire to build a hotel after having a nightmare road trip with his family in 1951, and carries on right through to 21st century when Holiday Inn held its own towel amnesty.
The most bizarre part of my nostalgic trip through the hotel chain’s history was the dancers in leotards who suddenly appeared to entertain a hotel customer as he arrived at the ‘new look’ check in.
I even got to take away my own ‘smell’ of the hotel and a photo of me enjoying the experience as a souvenir.
Only in America.
Here are my stories from the Intercontinental Hotels Group Americas Investors and Leaderships conference:
Kelly Ranson, reporter
Nathan Midgley
Martin Couzins
