Bill Hart Honored with 2007 IAHI Kemmons Wilson Service Award
 “We launched this award three years ago, to recognize the member
of the IHG family who has made significant contributions to our system,” said
IAHI Immediate Past Chairman Mike Hoffman. “It is the highest honor
our Association bestows. This year, the award goes to a man with a history
of ‘firsts.’”
Hart developed the first Holiday Inn hotel north of the Mason-Dixon
Line. He developed one of the first Crowne Plaza hotels – in Natick,
Massachusetts – one that remains open today. He continues as an
adopter with the recent opening of the ninth Hotel Indigo. And his support
of IHG brands continues, with the construction of a Candlewood Suites
hotel in Amherst, New York.
A 22-year member of the IAHI and a Past Chairman (1992-1993), Hart’s
legacy continues as his son, David Hart, served as the IAHI Chairman
in 2005-2006. And, his three daughters and two sons-in-law are also involved
in the hotel business.
I accept this award in the name of all the entrepreneurs out there,
both past and present, who have helped make this great enterprise what
it is today. Kemmons Wilson and Wallace Johnson were true entrepreneurs.
They had a vision and assumed the risk and responsibility to bring their
vision to reality. We are very fortunate today to have great leaders
and entrepreneurs involved in this enterprise. At IHG, leading us are
Andy Cosslett, Steve Porter, Kirk Kinsell, and Peter Gowers to mention
a few. At the IAHI, entrepreneurs willingly and unselfishly give their
time and talent for our benefit – individuals like Mike Hoffman,
Rick Takach, Tom Corcoran and Mark Carrier. And, we are fortunate to
have our hard-working and creative President, Eva Ferguson. Finally,
I would like to express my gratitude to the mantle of inspiration and
encouragement to me and the glue that keeps our family together – my
wife, Jennie Hart.
I am honored and humbled to be mentioned in the same breath with previous
recipients of this award. Individuals I greatly admire and respect – Henri
Landwirth, John Q. Hammons and George Glover. Thank you from the bottom
of my heart.
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