On May
19th, 1956, MMI opened its first property — a Holiday Inn in Meridian,
Mississippi. It may seem like a humble beginning, but this was just the first
step down a long and successful road for Mike Sturdivant, his uncle, J.C.
Wilbourne, and his old Harvard Business School roommate, Earle Jones. Looking
back on our history, it seems fitting that MMI started by bringing together
family and old friends.
Even then, MMI was a visionary company. Holiday Inn was a very
young chain, but Mike saw the potential for something huge. The industry has
changed a lot since then, but some things have stayed the same. MMI is still a
leader and innovator in the industry and we still believe in good old-fashioned
Southern hospitality.
Today, MMI has grown into three distinct, yet fully
interdependent and complementing divisions; MMI Hotel Group, MMI Dining Systems
and MMI Restaurant Group. Together, the three divisions own, manage or
serve over 100 locations in the Southeastern U.S. We’re happy to know that
every day tens of thousands of guests can experience the same comfort,
satisfaction, and personal service that all started in one small hotel in
Meridian, Mississippi.