Who Owns Holiday Inn

Key Stats

Holiday Inn is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, commonly known as IHG. The company is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, meaning no single individual or entity owns the brand outright. Ownership is spread across thousands of institutional and retail shareholders.

Holiday Inn was founded in 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, and has since grown into one of the most recognized midscale hotel brands worldwide. As part of IHG’s global hotel portfolio, the brand operates more than 1,200 properties in over 100 countries. In 2024, IHG signed 106,200 rooms into its development pipeline, a 34% increase year-over-year, and opened 371 new hotels globally. The company also acquired the Ruby urban lifestyle brand for approximately $116 million, adding further depth to a portfolio that includes Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Express.

Who Owns Holiday Inn?

Holiday Inn is fully owned by InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG), headquartered in Windsor, England. IHG controls the Holiday Inn trademarks, manages the brand’s global marketing, operates the IHG One Rewards loyalty program, and licenses the Holiday Inn name to franchise operators around the world.

IHG’s Ownership Structure

Because IHG is publicly listed, Holiday Inn’s ownership is distributed among institutional investors, fund managers, and individual shareholders. No single party holds a controlling stake. Day-to-day operations are managed by the executive team led by CEO Elie Maalouf, while the board of directors provides strategic oversight. Most Holiday Inn hotels are independently owned by franchisees who pay licensing and management fees to IHG, keeping the parent company’s model asset-light and capital-efficient.

Who Is on the Board of Directors for Holiday Inn?

Holiday Inn’s governance falls under the IHG board of directors, which sets the strategic direction for all 19 IHG brands. The board consists of experienced executives spanning finance, hospitality, technology, and consumer branding.

Chair and Executive Directors

Deanna Oppenheimer serves as Non-Executive Chair. She previously held senior leadership positions at Barclays and Washington Mutual, and founded CameoWorks, an advisory firm. Her background in consumer-facing financial services gives her a practical perspective on brand management and customer experience at scale.

Elie Maalouf became CEO in July 2023 after leading IHG’s Americas division. He has over 35 years of hospitality experience. Michael Glover joined the board as CFO in March 2023, having spent 18 years at IHG in finance roles across the Americas, Greater China, and group operations.

Independent Non-Executive Directors

Graham Allan, the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, brings leadership experience from Dairy Farm International and Yum! Restaurants International. Arthur de Haast contributes real estate and hospitality advisory expertise built over decades in the property sector.

Technology, Finance, and Governance Specialists

Sir Ron Kalifa, known for his leadership at Worldpay, adds knowledge in fintech and digital payments. Byron Grote brings financial strategy experience from his long tenure at BP. Duriya Farooqui, Angie Risley, and Sharon Rothstein round out the board with backgrounds in digital transformation, human resources, and consumer marketing, respectively. This mix ensures IHG’s board can oversee everything from technology investments to franchise growth across brands like Holiday Inn, competing with peers such as Hilton and Marriott in a fast-moving global market.

History of Holiday Inn and Its Co-Founders

Kemmons Wilson and the Birth of Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn was founded by Kemmons Wilson, a Memphis entrepreneur who grew frustrated with the poor quality and inconsistency of roadside motels during a 1951 family road trip. He decided to build a hotel chain that offered clean, affordable, and standardized accommodations every time.

The first Holiday Inn opened on August 1, 1952, on Summer Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It had 120 air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a policy letting children stay free. Wilson soon partnered with builder Wallace E. Johnson, and together they expanded rapidly through franchising.

Growth and Transition to Corporate Ownership

By the 1960s, Holiday Inn had become one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the United States. In 1971, it became the first hotel brand to operate in all 50 states. Wilson retired in 1979. In 1988, UK-based Bass PLC acquired Holiday Inn International, followed by the North American operations in 1990. After a corporate restructuring, IHG was formed in 2003, and Holiday Inn has remained one of its core brands since.

Largest Shareholders of Holiday Inn

Since Holiday Inn is owned through IHG’s public equity, its largest shareholders are the institutional investors who hold the most IHG stock. These firms do not run hotel operations but exert influence through voting rights on governance matters, board elections, and capital allocation decisions.

PineStone Asset Management

PineStone Asset Management is the single largest institutional shareholder, holding roughly 8.07% of IHG’s outstanding shares. This Canadian investment firm has enough voting weight to influence shareholder resolutions, board elections, and governance policies. Firms of this size typically engage with management on topics like capital allocation, dividend strategy, and long-term growth plans.

Boron Investments and Fidelity

Boron Investments NV holds approximately 5.27%, making it the second-largest disclosed shareholder. Fidelity Management & Research controls about 4.74% of IHG shares, investing on behalf of mutual funds and pension clients. Both firms monitor governance and financial performance closely without seeking operational control, similar to how large asset managers hold positions in other publicly traded hotel companies like Hilton.

Fiera Capital, RBC, Capital International, and Vanguard

Fiera Capital (~4.08%), RBC Global Asset Management (~3.86%), Capital International (~3.74%), and The Vanguard Group (~3.49%) complete the list of top shareholders. Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager, holds its IHG position primarily through passive index funds. Together, these investors own roughly 33% of IHG stock, giving the company a broad governance base where no single entity can unilaterally dictate strategy. This pattern mirrors other major hospitality groups and large asset management firms.

FAQs

Who is the parent company of Holiday Inn?

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) is Holiday Inn’s parent company. IHG is a British multinational hospitality firm listed on the London and New York Stock Exchanges.

Is Holiday Inn part of Marriott or Hilton?

No. Holiday Inn belongs to IHG, not Marriott International or Hilton Worldwide. These are three separate, competing hospitality companies with distinct brand portfolios.

Who founded Holiday Inn and when?

Kemmons Wilson founded Holiday Inn in 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee. He wanted to create affordable, standardized, family-friendly hotels after a frustrating road trip.

How many Holiday Inn hotels exist worldwide?

Holiday Inn operates over 1,200 hotels globally. Including sub-brands like Holiday Inn Express, the family exceeds 4,200 properties across more than 100 countries.

Who is the current CEO of Holiday Inn?

Elie Maalouf is the CEO of IHG, which owns Holiday Inn. He took on the role in July 2023, succeeding Keith Barr.