The Holiday Inn brand family, the world’s largest midscale hotel brand by number of rooms, is globally celebrating 60 years of innovative firsts today by launching an extensive campaign to mark the brand’s anniversary.

The vision by founder Kemmons Wilson to build a chain of hotels with a brand name guests could trust was the driving force behind developing the first Holiday Inn hotel in 1952. Holiday Inn has always applied this pioneering spirit and as a result prides itself in having a rich heritage of ‘firsts’. From the first hotel brand to offer ‘Kids Stay Free’, to the first brand to offer a pool, restaurant, lounge and free ice – Holiday Inn has transformed the hospitality industry with its innovative and modern approach to guest services.

“The 60th Anniversary of Holiday Inn is a global celebration of firsts. From being the first hotel brand to take online bookings to being the first international midscale hotel brand in China, Holiday Inn has continued to demonstrate its leadership position in the industry,” said Verchele Wiggins, vice president, Global Brand Management, Holiday Inn Family of Brands. “Like Holiday Inn, our guests have celebrated many firsts over the years, but most importantly they’ll never forget them – which is why we’re inviting guests to share their memorable firsts with us.”

Now through August 31, 2012, consumers in participating countries who share a story, photo, or video of their memorable firsts on Holiday Inn’s Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag #celebratefirsts will be entered to win one of 60 free room nights* being given away every day in the month of August to any Holiday Inn hotel in the world.

Holiday Inn is a global icon with 3,375 hotels on six continents across its family of brands, which include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Notably, the global brand Anniversary also marks the opening of the Holiday Inn Changbaishan Resort, making Holiday Inn the first international hotel brand to open its 60th hotel in Greater China.

From the first roadside motel in 1952 to the recent completion of a $1 billion global refresh, Holiday Inn continues to evolve to meet the needs of its guests. The Holiday Inn global refresh was the largest brand relaunch ever in the history of the hospitality industry. The reinvigoration embraced the brand’s traditional values yet made them relevant for many years to come. This is further demonstrated by Holiday Inn receiving the highly acclaimed J.D. Power and Associates Award for “Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Midscale Full Service Hotel Chains” both in 2011 and 2012.

To celebrate the brand’s evolution from its beginnings to its modern day offerings, also beginning today through September 30, 2012, Holiday Inn invites guests from around the world to recreate and share their “Then & Now” photos – whether it’s a memorable moment, a memorable first or a memorable Holiday Inn experience – on Holiday Inn’s Facebook page. “Then & Now” is based on a popular internet meme where old photographs are recreated in present day, capturing every detail as precisely as possible. The brand will select 4 winning entries from participating countries to win a week-long family vacation at the Holiday Inn hotel of their choice, anywhere in the world.†

To further commemorate the occasion, the children of Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson will come together in Memphis, Tennessee today at the Holiday Inn Memphis – Wolfchase Galleria to re-create one of their memorable firsts – the photo of their original ribbon cutting from the opening of the very first Holiday Inn hotel. Consumers will be able to view this and other “Then & Now” photo submissions from guests around the world on the Holiday Inn Facebook and Tumblr pages.

*Free nights will be given as Priority Club Rewards points; Open to residents in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Void in Quebec and where prohibited; For Rules and complete details, visit the Holiday Inn Facebook page.

†Open to residents in the U.S., Canada, Mexico. Void in Quebec and where prohibited; For Rules and complete details, visit the Holiday Inn Facebook page.