Spence Wilson spoke to Hotelier Middle East during his recent trip to the region. Spence Wilson spoke to Hotelier Middle East during his recent trip to the region.

60 years on
Asked how the hotel business has changed over the years, since the first Holiday Inn established in 1952 in Memphis, US, Spence said: “In general, the quality of all the hotels is as high as it has ever been, within the Holiday Inn brand and our competitors.

“More importantly is the emphasis on quality and service,” Wilson added.
Furthermore, Wilson said advancements in technology had shaped the industry over the past 60 years — but Holiday Inn has always been a pioneer in that field.

In the 1950s, the popular family-focused Holiday Inn hotels were the first to offer televisions and air conditioning in every room as standard. The group also pioneered the world’s first computerised booking engine.

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“Even the Holidex Reservation system is having a massive upgrade to catch up with new technologies. Then you have changes to the way rooms are sold with social media and online search engines, it’s a very complex business today,” said Wilson.
“Revenue management is a much more central factor than ever before,” he added.

At the end of the tour, Spence Wilson addressed delegates at an IHG leaders meeting. He said the Middle East visit had “highlighted that Holiday Inn’s core values are still very much part of the brand” today.

Entering the Middle East
Crowne Plaza Kuwait celebrated its 30th anniversary last month, having opened in 1982 as the Holiday Inn Kuwait — one of the first Holiday Inn hotels in the Middle East.

A testament to owner Jawad Bukhamseen’s pioneering spirit, the signing of the contract in 1977 with Kemmons Wilson, helped to kick-start the growth of the brand in the region.

“Through the years we’ve continued to expand, grow and develop, always with our guests’ interests at heart. We have kept our loyal guests and attracted new ones, and built an enviable reputation,” said Jawad Bukhamseen, founder and owner of the hotel and chairman of Bukhamseen Group Holding Company.

“It’s an honour to have Spence Wilson and his wife Becky here to share this milestone with us. When I signed the contract with Spence’s father, the family values of the brand were a key part of my decision to put the Holiday Inn name above the hotel door. I welcome them back here today as members of our family,” he added.