Howard Johnson Hotels to Get $40 Million Makeover

The world’s iconic Howard Johnson hotels will be getting a new but familiar look.

Wyndham Hotels announced that hotel owners are investing $40 million into a new guest room design that will take inspiration from the brand’s mid-century look including its iconic gate lodge roofline.

The new rooms are “a playful nod to the nostalgic days of orange roofs, ice cream and family road trips,” the hotelier said. They feature sleek, vinyl-covered headboards and abstract artwork based on Howard Johnson’s famous gate lodge roofline.

“Say ‘HoJo’ and people can’t help but to smile as they think back on the memories they’ve made with us over the decades,” said Clem Bence, the brand’s vice president of operations. “Our new look and feel seeks to celebrate our storied past while looking to the future with modern amenities, playful design and a re-imagined aesthetic that is distinctly Howard Johnson.”

The redesign is the chain’s first in a quarter century.  Wyndham is showcasing the new look through August 24 at a pop-up, located at 393 Broadway in New York City, called “HoJo’s Sweet Escape.” 

(Photo: Accura Media Group)