John Q. Hammons walked into the room and gently placed a stack of maps, elevation sketches and blueprints on a table. “Take a look at my next development,” the legendary hotel developer told me with a determined look on his face and twinkle in his eye.
“But, you have to promise you won’t tell the competition,” he added with a slight smile that I took to be a courtesy. He really wasn’t kidding. Hammons then showed me where an interstate expansion in northern Alabama was going to open virgin territory for hotels. It was a sure-fire success story in the making.
It was a typical exchange with Hammons, who at the time was in his mid-80s. Although his given name was James, he relished in the “John Q.” moniker he gave himself when he told officials early in his career that he was looking out for the public’s interests.
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John Q. Hammons |
He was still a sprightly hotelier that day as he tooled around the halls of the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. I can’t recall whether it was during what was then called the UCLA Extension Hotel Industry Investment Conference or the modern day equivalent, the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. It really doesn’t matter … Hammons was always one step ahead regardless of the year, which was a major driver as he developed 210 hotels during his career.
When I heard John Q. Hammons passed away at age 94 this past Sunday, it caused me to pause and think back to my interactions with the man who became a giant in the industry upon entering it with his partner Roy E. Winegardner in 1958. The industry is losing a titan, someone who was bigger than life, who carried himself in a respectful way and had a track record that was the envy of the hotel development world.
It wasn’t always easy for Hammons. He started his career in residential development after World War II and was an early adopter of the franchising concept launched by Holiday Inns’ Kemmons Wilson. Hammons faced his share of adversity with disagreements and lawsuits over the years. Even his final couple of years wasn’t ideal as a tug-of-war over his well-being draw considerable attention from the media—including a blog from yours truly.
But Hammons seemed to take everything in stride. He always was looking forward and trying to gain the edge. He shared a number of philosophies with me over the years, including:
- The best time to develop a hotel is during a recession because construction costs are more reasonable.
- Always have an open airline ticket in your back pocket and a pair of sneakers in your bag because you never know when the next deal will come down the pike.
- Your ego has to be checked at the door when it comes to development. Hanging onto it often leads to missed deals and poor decisions.
- Working outside of normal business hours is an essential way to get ahead.
- Don’t be afraid to innovate. That’s what he did when he insisted on glass elevators in his Embassy Suites properties so he could ensure the safety and comfort of female travelers.
John Q. Hammons was a legend in his own time, and his legacy will live on. As an avid sports fan with a particular zest for Missouri State University, college basketball and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, he witnessed his share of success. But he lived it, too. The hotel industry can look no further than the life of John Q. Hammons to see how to make an impact. He had the map for success when many others were simply content to look for any direction. His entrepreneurial spirit and determination will be missed, but it won’t be forgotten.
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