The life of Charles Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the 'Holiday Inn' chain of hotels, is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches story. Having lost his father at a very young age, this boy took up the responsibility of earning a living, and helping out his single mother in every way possible. Before the establishment of 'Holiday Inn', this young man sold almost everything under the sun. His main income, however, came from selling ice cream, cigars and popcorn. The shrewd salesman saved the profits and started acquiring movie theatres in many cities. Soon, he was motivated to build hotels, after a harrowing experience at dirty yet expensive roadside motel. This provoked Charles to bring about an immediate change in the accommodation choices available to travellers, and thus paved way for the birth of 'Holiday Inn'. The 'Holiday Inn' hotels were known for their clean rooms, standard rates, and accessible to people on-the-go, making them suitable for families. Kemmons soon became famous, with his hotels gaining popularity not just in the United States but also elsewhere in the world. The business flourished for almost thirty-eight years, before Wilson sold it to 'Bass PLC', a UK –based company that rechristened the hotels to ‘Holiday Inn Worldwide’. Read on to know more about his life and works