Experience Unmatched Comfort and Service at Howard Johnson: Your Ideal Choice for Exceptional Hospitality

Howard Johnson, often abbreviated as HoJo, is a famed and historic chain of hotels, motels, and restaurants. Originally established in 1925, the brand is known for its iconic orange-roofed establishments, offering warm hospitality, comfortable accommodations, and delicious food. Whether you're a traveler looking for a cozy night's stay or a foodie craving for some good old American cuisine, Howard Johnson is a name synonymous with quality service and a memorable experience.

Brand	Howard Johnson
Type	Hotel chain
Industry	Hospitality
Founded	June 28, 1925
Founder	Howard Deering Johnson
Headquarters	Parsippany, New Jersey, United States
Parent	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Number of Locations	320+ (as of December 31, 2018)
Area Served	Worldwide
Website	www.wyndhamhotels.com/howard-johnson

Exceptional Comfort

Choosing the Howard Johnson brand ensures an exceptional level of comfort. The brand offers spacious rooms with modern amenities such as high-speed internet, cable TV and coffee makers. The comfortable bedding and well-maintained rooms enhance the overall guest experience. Read more

Convenient Locations

Howard Johnson hotels are strategically located near major attractions and business centers. Whether you are on a business trip, family vacation or a solo adventure, Howard Johnson's convenient locations make your travel experience more enjoyable and less tiresome. Read more

Competitive Pricing

Howard Johnson offers competitive rates, providing value for money. Despite being a premium brand, it provides affordable lodging options without compromising on quality or comfort. This makes it a preferred choice for budget-conscious travelers. Read more

Excellent Customer Service

The Howard Johnson brand prides itself in providing excellent customer service. The staff is trained to cater to guest needs efficiently and courteously, ensuring a pleasant and memorable stay. Read more

Diverse Dining Options

Howard Johnson hotels offer a variety of dining options. From continental breakfasts to local delicacies, the brand ensures its guests enjoy a diverse culinary experience. Read more

Loyalty Program

The brand's loyalty program, Wyndham Rewards, provides guests with opportunities to earn and redeem points for free nights, airline miles and other rewards. This program is a testament to Howard Johnson's commitment to rewarding its loyal customers. Read more

Environmentally Friendly

Howard Johnson has adopted environmentally friendly practices. The brand is committed to reducing its environmental impact through initiatives like energy-efficient lighting, water conservation measures, and waste reduction. Read more

Fitness and Recreation Facilities

Most Howard Johnson hotels offer fitness and recreational facilities. These include swimming pools, gyms and game rooms. This commitment to guest wellness and entertainment sets the brand apart from its competitors. Read more

Business Facilities

For business travelers, Howard Johnson provides meeting rooms and business centers equipped with the latest technology. The brand understands the unique needs of business travelers and provides services to ensure their business needs are met. Read more

Positive Reviews

Howard Johnson hotels consistently receive positive reviews from guests. The brand's commitment to quality service, comfortable accommodations and value for money is regularly acknowledged in guest feedback. These positive reviews are a testament to the brand's reliability and popularity among its clientele. Read more

Facts

1. The Pioneer of Franchising:

Believe it or not, Howard Johnson's was the first restaurant chain to franchise its brand. Way back in 1925, Howard Dearing Johnson took an innovative leap and started franchising his now-iconic ice cream shops. This move not only helped to expand the brand rapidly but also set a precedent for future restaurant chains.

2. From One Store to an Empire:

Howard Johnson's started as a small corner drugstore in Quincy, Massachusetts. The founder, Howard Dearing Johnson, inherited the store from his father and turned it into a thriving restaurant empire. From this humble beginning, the chain grew to more than 1,000 restaurants and 500 motels by the 1970s.

3. Orange Roof and Simple Simon:

The distinctive orange roof of Howard Johnson's restaurants and the Simple Simon and the Pieman logo became iconic symbols of the American roadside. The bright orange roof was designed to be easily seen by motorists, while the Simple Simon character was derived from a nursery rhyme to appeal to families.

4. Ice Cream Heaven:

Howard Johnson's was famous for its 28 flavors of ice cream. Howard Dearing Johnson himself developed the original recipes, using double the usual amount of butterfat and natural ingredients. The result was a rich, creamy ice cream that became a favorite among American families.

5. A Taste of Home During World War II:

During World War II, Howard Johnson's was contracted by the U.S. military to produce packaged meals for soldiers. The company produced millions of these meals, providing a taste of home to troops overseas.

6. Hotel Innovations:

Howard Johnson's was not just a restaurant chain, but also a hotel chain. The brand introduced many innovations in the hotel industry, including providing air conditioning in all its rooms and offering free television — amenities that were not common at that time.

7. The End of an Era:

Despite its popularity and success, Howard Johnson's began to decline in the late 1970s. The brand could not keep up with changing consumer tastes and increased competition. The last Howard Johnson's restaurant closed in 2017, marking the end of an era.

8. A Cultural Icon:

Howard Johnson's was more than just a restaurant and hotel chain — it was a cultural icon. It was featured in numerous movies, TV shows, songs, and books, cementing its place in American pop culture.

9. A Lasting Legacy:

Even though Howard Johnson's has disappeared from the American landscape, its legacy lives on. The brand pioneered many concepts that are now standard in the restaurant and hotel industry, such as franchising, standardized menus, and roadside service.

10. A Possible Comeback:

While the last Howard Johnson's restaurant may have closed, the brand is not dead. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Howard Johnson's brand, has hinted at a possible comeback in the future. So, who knows? We may yet see the return of the iconic orange roof and Simple Simon!

Vocabulary

Howard Johnson – A chain of hotels, motels, and restaurants located primarily throughout the United States and Canada.

Franchise – A type of license that a party acquires to allow them to have access to a business's proprietary knowledge, processes, and trademarks.

Motel – A roadside hotel designed primarily for motorists, typically having the rooms arranged in a low building with parking directly outside.

Hotel – An establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.

HoJo – A common nickname for Howard Johnson hotels and restaurants.

Hospitality – The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

Accommodation – A room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay.

Amenities – Desirable or useful features or facilities of a building or place.

Guest – A person who is invited to visit or stay in someone's home or at a particular social occasion.

Restaurant – A place where people pay to sit and eat meals that are cooked and served on the premises.

Room Service – A service provided in a hotel allowing guests to order food and drink to be brought to their room.

Hospitality Industry – A broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, food and drink service, event planning, theme parks, and transportation.

Reservation – The action of reserving accommodations.

Check-in – The act of registering upon arrival at a hotel or airport.

Check-out – The act of departing from a hotel and settling one's bill.

Continental Breakfast – A light morning meal that typically includes baked goods, jams, fruit, and coffee.

Suite – A set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose.

Lobby – The room at the entrance of a building used for waiting or reception.

Front Desk – The reception desk at a hotel.

Concierge – A hotel employee whose job is to assist guests by arranging tours, making theater and restaurant reservations, etc.

Housekeeping – The management of duties and chores involved in the running of a household, such as cleaning, cooking, home maintenance, shopping, and bill payment.

Wi-Fi – A facility allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.

Travel – The movement of people between distant geographical locations.

Tourism – The commercial organization and operation of vacations and visits to places of interest.

Business Travel – Travel undertaken for work or business purposes, as opposed to other types of travel, such as for leisure purposes or regularly commuting between one's home and workplace.

Leisure Travel – Travel undertaken for pleasure or leisure rather than for business.

Vacation – An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling.

Inn – A small hotel or pub, especially one in the country, in some cases providing meals.

Resort – A place that is a popular destination for vacations or recreation, or which is frequented for a particular purpose.

Hotel Chain – A group of hotels belonging to the same company.