Doug Wright Holland is the co-founder and executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. He is also known as the real-life Forrest Gump, as his journey from childhood to success is a classic example of hard work and perseverance. Doug’s story begins with him being born in Brooklyn, New York on September 12th 1938. His parents were Elmus Wright Holland and Mildred Wagstaff Holland. As a kid, Doug was interested in insects, which prompted him to enroll at the Dutchess County Agricultural School in Poughkeepsie New York. During this time he changed his surname from Wright to Hilton. After graduating from Dutchecss County Agricultural School, Doug worked at his family farm for three years before starting college again at Cornell University in New York State where he received a bachelor’s degree in entomology (insect science). After Cornell University, Doug earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and worked for various companies including Celanese and Tishman Realty & Construction before starting Hyatt Hotels Corporation with Bill George in 1969. The company was established with a single hotel called the Hyatt House in San Francisco that was later renamed to Hyatt Regency San Francisco. It was during this time that they were inspired by John Meyer and bought two hotels named the Scottsdale Hyatt House and Palm Springs Hyatt House. Their company continued to grow after acquiring three more hotels under different brand names such as Boca Raton
Doug’s Story of Success: How an Entrepreneur Turned His Hobby into a Full-time Job
Doug Wright Holland is the co-founder and executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. He is also known as the real-life Forrest Gump, as his journey from childhood to success is a classic example of hard work and perseverance. Doug’s story begins with him being born in Brooklyn, New York on September 12th 1938. His parents were Elmus Wright Holland and Mildred Wagstaff Holland. As a kid, Doug was interested in insects, which prompted him to enroll at the Dutchess County Agricultural School in Poughkeepsie New York. During this time he changed his surname from Wright to Hilton. After graduating from Dutchecss County Agricultural School, Doug worked at his family farm for three years before starting college again at Cornell University in New York State where he received a bachelor’s degree in entomology (insect science). After Cornell University, Doug earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and worked for various companies including Celanese and Tishman Realty & Construction before starting Hyatt Hotels Corporation with Bill George in 1969. The company was established with a single hotel called the Hyatt House in San Francisco that was later renamed to Hyatt Regency San Francisco. It was during this time that they were inspired by John Meyer and bought two hotels named the Scottsdale Hyatt House and Palm Springs Hyatt House. Their company continued to grow after acquiring three more hotels under different brand names such as Boca Raton, Hyatt Regency, and Hyatt House. Hyatt hotels were growing in popularity, and their growth was led by Doug Hyatt’s business savvy. Doug Holland’s life was filled with challenges and difficulties. He had to overcome the obstacle of dyslexia to become one of the most successful businessmen in the world. From the beginning, Doug was a hard worker and continued to push himself to achieve success.
Doug Was Inspired to Start Hyatt Hotels Corporation After Seeing an Ad for a Hotel on TV
John Meyer, the business partner of Doug Hyatt, is credited with the idea of opening a chain of hotels. While he was visiting his family in Phoenix, he saw an ad for a hotel owned by Bob Carlson. Carlson’s hotel was advertised on TV and drew John’s attention. John was very excited and immediately thought of an idea of opening his own chain of hotels. John was inspired by the idea after seeing the Carlson hotel on TV. As soon as he had the idea, he asked Doug Hyatt for funds to set up a small hotel chain. Doug funded John’s proposal, and in 1968, the two partners opened their first hotel under the name Hyatt House. Doug and John’s passion and enthusiasm for the hotel business inspired the management team of 20 employees to start a hotel chain.
The Company Grew Slowly but Steadily Until It Reached Breakthrough in 1987
Doug’s vision was clear. He wanted to create an affordable hotel chain where middle-class people could stay. The company’s growth was slow but steady until it reached breakthrough in 1987. In 1983, the company was acquired by Hyatt Corporation for $126 million in stock. The acquisition changed the nature of the company. Hyatt Corporation was a much bigger company with a much broader reach. The acquisition meant that the business model of the company had to change. In 1987, Hyatt Corporation launched its new brand name, Hyatt Regency, to compete with Marriott’s JW Marriotts. Doug Hyatt was responsible for leading the development of the new brand and the positioning of the new hotels. Doug’s inspiration was the slogan “Where the spirit of travel lives,” which served as the company’s new marketing tagline.
Doug’s Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Don’t give up. Never stop learning. If you want to make a million dollars, start with a million dollars. Don’t be satisfied with just making money. Be successful in your chosen field, be a good person, be a good citizen, and be a good friend. Always do your best and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. You can make it if you try. If you don’t like your job or your job is not satisfying, think about doing something different.
Final Words
Doug Wright is a living example of the power of hard work and perseverance. He was born with a disability that made it difficult for him to read, but he never let this stop him from pursuing his dream of success. He took advantage of every educational opportunity that came his way, and he worked incredibly hard to make it to where he is today. There are a lot of people who tell stories about how they came from nothing, but Doug is one of the few who proves that it is possible to do it. Now that you know the inspiring story of Doug Wright Holland, how would you like to apply these lessons to your life? If you are looking for a job, try to apply for positions you are qualified for. If you are looking for a partner, don’t date someone who is not willing to work as hard as you. And lastly, if you want to achieve success in your life, you must be willing to work hard for it.
