1ºWhat a great story ahout a wonderful American chain that was and is more than just a bunch of hotels. I'm sorry to hear about the Bible-thumping, but they mentioned how important the restaurant was to the communities where they were located, and they had liquor licenses when they were available.
In 1968, when backwards VA finally allowed liquor by the drink, I remember escaping Fort A.P. Hill one night with a couple other part-time soldiers for steak, lobster and a few drinks in the newly accommodating Holiday Inn in Dumfries, VA.
In Silver Spring, MD, there was a fine example of the Fire Fountain restaurant, which to us rubes was like a restaurant in the Waldorf.
Unmentioned was the ingenuity of Holiday Inn during the gas shortages or crises of the 1970s
Because no one knew if they could find a gas station open, many stayed home. So Holiday Inn bought the struggling Trailways Bus with stops at their inns to get rid of range and price anxiety.
America has never recovered from that assault on our economy and jobs, Trailways pretty much disappeared except as a network of tour buses with some contracts allowing real travel.
I still have the IHG app in my phone and have never been disappointed in a Holiday Inn or their subsidiaries.
Wonderful article!