Adam's Mark
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Adam's Mark Hotel Dallas.jpgAdam's Mark is a chain of 23 upscale hotels in the United States. The chain was founded in the early 1970s by Fred Kummer and the chain is currently owned by HBE, Inc., although because of financial difficulties, the chain had announced that some of their individual hotels are currently up for sale.
History
The chain suffered greatly from a racial discrimination suit brought against them by the NAACP in 1999. The NAACP filed the suit on behalf of guests who attended the Black College Reunion in Florida in 1999. It alleged that Adam's Mark required guests to wear identification wristbands and were required to pay in advance. The suit, and subsequent 17-month boycott of the chain called by the NAACP, was settled out of court for $2 million (US). In 2003, the Memphis Adam's Mark was sold to Dallas-based Crow Holdings, manager of the real estate holdings of the Trammell Crow family. The hotel is currently undergoing a US $12 million renovation and will reopen as a Hilton in 2004.
In November 2004, the Philadelphia Adam's Mark (originally opened in 1965 as a Holiday Inn) was sold to the Target Corporation, forcing dozens out of work and closing the 23-story building down for good to make way for a new Target store building. The original hotel building will be imploded on an as-of-yet undetermined date in 2006, some demolition has begun.
The Adam's Mark in Charlotte has been sold to the Chetrit Group and has closed its doors. At least one of the towers will reopen in 2006 as the Blake, a boutique hotel. As of December, 2005, the chain has dwindled to just five properties — St. Louis, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Dallas and Denver.