In which U.S. city did the first Holiday Inn open in 1952?

The first Holiday Inn opened in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1952.

Kemmons Wilson founded Holiday Inn after a family road trip exposed the inconsistent quality of roadside accommodation. He worked with architect Eddie Bluestein to develop a motel concept designed to offer predictable standards for traveling families.

The first property opened in Memphis, near Summer Avenue. Holiday Inn’s early design emphasized features such as clean rooms, ample parking and accommodations intended to be familiar from one location to another. The chain expanded through franchising and became one of the best-known names in lodging.

The original Memphis property is associated with the chain’s beginning, although the first Holiday Inn was later demolished. The brand subsequently grew into a major hotel system with multiple formats, including Holiday Inn Express.