—Kemmons
Wilson, developer of Holiday Inns
Kemmons Wilson has always had a sense of urgency — wanting to jump
up and do something. To save time he’d often eat dessert first,
while waiting for his entree!
In developing the Holiday Inns, the first chain of affordable,
family-oriented motels and hotels he used barter — every step of the
way.
First, he contacted builders and bartered with them, offering 50%
ownership in any hotel they’d build. Next, he contacted owners of
land that were located within one day’s drive of his hotel sites. He
would again use his barter bargaining chip — a stake in the hotel in
exchange for the land.
When Wilson retired in 1979, over 1,800 Holiday Inns had been built
in 50 countries around the world. In addition to his sense of
urgency, and frequent use of barter, he attributed his success to
attitude — emphasizing that it’s important to smile and be happy.
“And always remember,” Wilson exclaimed in his autobiography Half
Luck and Half Brains, “no job is too hard as long as you are
smart enough to find someone else to do it for you.”
