COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 7011

Motor Inns

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

72companies1878–1993founding years70still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGrand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V.
1878
FoundedCastle & Cooke, Inc.
1894
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedFibreboard Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedCarlson Companies, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedAspen Skiing Company
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPromus Companies, Inc.
1954
FoundedHyatt Corporation
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedShowboat, Inc.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLa Quinta Inns, Inc.
1968
FoundedJohn Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedRed Roof Inns, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedStation Casinos Inc.
1976
FoundedGillett Holdings, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedJackpot Enterprises Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSanta Fe Gaming Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAmerican Classic Voyages Company
1985
FoundedCedar Fair, L.P.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedGrand Casinos, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Metromedia Company →
Active
Metromedia Company has emerged over the past decade as one of the largest private concerns in the United States, with…
Metromedia Company →
Active
Metromedia Company has emerged over the past decade as one of the largest private concerns in the United States, with…
Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V. →
Active · founded 1878 · Netherlands
Long a fixture of Amsterdam's famed Dam Square, Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V.
Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V. →
Active · founded 1878 · Netherlands
Long a fixture of Amsterdam's famed Dam Square, Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky N.V.
Castle & Cooke, Inc. →
Active · founded 1894
Castle & Cooke, Inc.
Castle & Cooke, Inc. →
Active · founded 1894
Castle & Cooke, Inc.
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
Fibreboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
A venerable company with an eclectic array of business interests, Fibreboard Corporation operates in three primary…
Fibreboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
A venerable company with an eclectic array of business interests, Fibreboard Corporation operates in three primary…
Granada Group PLC →
Active · founded 1934 · United Kingdom
Granada Group PLC is a leading U.K.
Granada Group PLC →
Active · founded 1934 · United Kingdom
Granada Group PLC is a leading U.K.
Carlson Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Carlson Companies, Inc.
Carlson Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Carlson Companies, Inc.
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation →
Active · founded 1941
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation is one of the top ten publicly owned real estate companies involved in building and…
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation →
Active · founded 1941
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation is one of the top ten publicly owned real estate companies involved in building and…
Aspen Skiing Company →
Active · founded 1946
Founded in 1946, Aspen Skiing Company is headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, a small town in the Roaring Fork Valley of…
Aspen Skiing Company →
Active · founded 1946
Founded in 1946, Aspen Skiing Company is headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, a small town in the Roaring Fork Valley of…
Park Corp. →
Active · founded 1948
Founded by Raymond P.
Park Corp. →
Active · founded 1948
Founded by Raymond P.
Promus Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Promus is one of the United States' leading hotel and casino companies, although it is known to the public mainly…
Promus Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Promus is one of the United States' leading hotel and casino companies, although it is known to the public mainly…
Club Mediterranée S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
Since the organization's early days as a vacation village concept pioneer, Club Mediterranée S.A.
Club Mediterranée S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
Since the organization's early days as a vacation village concept pioneer, Club Mediterranée S.A.
Hyatt Corporation →
Active · founded 1957
Hyatt Corporation is one of the leading hotel companies in North America.
Hyatt Corporation →
Active · founded 1957
Hyatt Corporation is one of the leading hotel companies in North America.
Resorts International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Resorts International, Inc., operates a hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and a vacation destination on…
Resorts International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Resorts International, Inc., operates a hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and a vacation destination on…
Showboat, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Showboat, Inc.
Showboat, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Showboat, Inc.
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Once known primarily as a telecommunications company, the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) has…
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Once known primarily as a telecommunications company, the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) has…
La Quinta Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
With more than 220 inns in 29 states, La Quinta Inns, Inc.
La Quinta Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
With more than 220 inns in 29 states, La Quinta Inns, Inc.
Doubletree Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Doubletree Corporation owns, manages, and franchises hotels in the United States and abroad.
Doubletree Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Doubletree Corporation owns, manages, and franchises hotels in the United States and abroad.
John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
John Q.
John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
John Q.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
William Harrah parlayed a Reno bingo parlor into a company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., consisting of Nevada casinos,…
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
William Harrah parlayed a Reno bingo parlor into a company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., consisting of Nevada casinos,…
Red Roof Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Red Roof Inns, Inc., controlled by the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund, was the third largest budget lodging chain in…
Red Roof Inns, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Red Roof Inns, Inc., controlled by the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund, was the third largest budget lodging chain in…
The Marcus Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
As American business success stories go, The Marcus Corporation's is a classic.
The Marcus Corporation →
Active · founded 1972
As American business success stories go, The Marcus Corporation's is a classic.
Station Casinos Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
Station Casinos Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
CSX Corporation →
Active · founded 1978
CSX Corporation is a leading transportation-based holding company that operates one of the United States's leading rail…
CSX Corporation →
Active · founded 1978
CSX Corporation is a leading transportation-based holding company that operates one of the United States's leading rail…
Gillett Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Once one of the largest communications conglomerates in the United States, Gillett Holdings, Inc.
Gillett Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Once one of the largest communications conglomerates in the United States, Gillett Holdings, Inc.
Travel Ports of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Travel Ports of America, Inc., operates around-the-clock, full-service travel plazas that provide customers with motor…
Travel Ports of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Travel Ports of America, Inc., operates around-the-clock, full-service travel plazas that provide customers with motor…
Jackpot Enterprises Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Jackpot Enterprises Inc.
Jackpot Enterprises Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Jackpot Enterprises Inc.
Bristol Hotel Company →
Active · founded 1981
One of the largest owners and operators of full-service hotels in North America, Bristol Hotel Company operates in 19…
Bristol Hotel Company →
Active · founded 1981
One of the largest owners and operators of full-service hotels in North America, Bristol Hotel Company operates in 19…
Santa Fe Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Through its chairman and CEO, Paul W.
Santa Fe Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Through its chairman and CEO, Paul W.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
American Classic Voyages Company →
Active · founded 1985
American Classic Voyages Company is parent company to two pleasure cruise companies, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company,…
American Classic Voyages Company →
Active · founded 1985
American Classic Voyages Company is parent company to two pleasure cruise companies, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company,…
MGM Grand Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
A leading hotel and casino operator, MGM Grand Inc.
MGM Grand Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
A leading hotel and casino operator, MGM Grand Inc.
Cedar Fair, L.P. →
Active · founded 1987
Cedar Fair, L.P.
Cedar Fair, L.P. →
Active · founded 1987
Cedar Fair, L.P.
Hollywood Casino Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
Hollywood Casino Corporation (HCC) develops, owns, and operates themed casino entertainment facilities under the…
Hollywood Casino Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
Hollywood Casino Corporation (HCC) develops, owns, and operates themed casino entertainment facilities under the…
Grand Casinos, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1991
Grand Casinos, Inc., one of the largest gaming companies in the United States, develops, constructs, and manages…
Grand Casinos, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1991
Grand Casinos, Inc., one of the largest gaming companies in the United States, develops, constructs, and manages…
Marriott International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Marriott International, Inc.--formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into two separate companies--is the…
Marriott International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Marriott International, Inc.--formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into two separate companies--is the…
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