The Howard Johnson hotel chain was founded by Howard Deering Johnson in 1954. The first Howard Johnson motor lodge was located in Savannah, Georgia.

The beginning of the Howard Johnson chain was the profitable soda fountain of a small drug store. A family recipe for ice cream was expanded into 28 flavors. In 1929 Johnson opened his first restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts. The stock market crash of 1929 temporarily interrupted his plans for expansion. In 1932 he granted his first franchise, convincing an acquaintance to open the second Howard Johnson restaurant, in Orleans, Massachusetts. After the successful franchising of dozens of restaurants the first Howard Johnson motor lodge opened in 1954. His son, Howard Brennan Johnson, took over management of the company when his father retired in 1959.

The oil embargo of 1974, and the resulting decrease in auto travel, led to the failure of the company despite several desperate attempts by Howard B. Johnson to save the chain. Finally in 1979, the Howard Johnson chain was acquired by the Imperial Group PLC of England for approximately $630 million.

After being sold several times the Howard Johnson chain was finally purchased and made a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide in 2006. Today the Howard Johnson chain has more than 450 hotels in 17 countries.

Make your reservations online or using the 800 number and you're guaranteed the best rates available or it is free. In addition offered programs include the free Rise & Dine Continental Breakfast. If you're traveling with a pet many Howard Johnson properties offer a 'Wags to Whiskers program', be sure to call for availability. Finally, for business travelers there's 'Howard Johnson Home Office' rooms with amenities such as high speed internet, ergonomic chairs, work desks, as well as a refrigerator and microwave.

• Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
• Howard Johnson Hotel
• Howard Johnson Inn
• Howard Johnson Express Inn

• 1925: Howard Dearing Johnson opens corner drug store with profitable soda fountain

• 1932: second restaurant opens under one of first franchise agreements in U.S.

• 1947: began construction of 200 new restaurants in southwest & midwest

• 1954: Savannah, Ga., first motor lodge opened

• 1959: Howard D. Johnson retires. His 26 year old son, Howard Brennan, takes over

• 1961: Company went public, with 88 motor lodges in 32 states & Bahamas

• 1979: Howard B. Johnson accepts buy out by Great Britain, Imperial Group Ltd.

• 1985: Marriott buys company but only keeps restaurants

• 1986: sells franchises & company owned lodging to Prime Motor Inns, Inc

• 1990: Prime Motor Inns sells to Blackstone Capital Partners

• 1996: Name changed to Howard Johnson International, Inc.

• 2006: before July 31, all assets & liabilities transferred to Wyndham Worldwide