United Hotels Company of America
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Hotels |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Founder | Frank A. Dudley, F. W. Rockwell |
| Fate | Entered receivership in 1933; reorganized in 1934; many properties later acquired by other chains including Hilton |
| Successor | Various hotel chains including Hilton Hotels |
| Headquarters | Niagara Falls, New York , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Jamaica |
Key people | Frank A. Dudley (founder), J. Leslie Kincaid (president from 1924) |
| Products | Luxury hotel management and development |
| Parent | American Hotels Corporation (affiliate) |
United Hotels Company of America, frequently referred to as United Hotels Company, was a prominent chain of luxury hotels operating within the United States. Its main corporate office was situated in Niagara Falls, New York, while its administrative headquarters were located in New York City. Established in 1910 by Frank A. Dudley, the company had, by the 1930s, earned the distinction of being "the largest hotel group in the world under one control."
History
The enterprise was originally founded in 1910 and incorporated in New York by Dudley along with F. W. Rockwell. In 1917, it underwent reorganization as "United Hotels Company of America" under Delaware law. The firm specialized in the development and management of "first class fire proof hotels" positioned in major cities across the United States and Canada. United Hotels typically held controlling interests—usually 51% or greater—in its subsidiaries, which operated hotels primarily through lease agreements, except for a limited number where ownership stakes were higher. Additionally, the company maintained substantial investments in real estate entities that leased properties to hotel operators.
Guided by Dudley’s leadership, United Hotels emerged as a leading hotel operator throughout North America, overseeing eighteen hotels by 1922 and expanding to twenty-five by 1928. In 1924, General J. Leslie Kincaid assumed the presidency.
The economic hardships of the Great Depression compelled the company to enter receivership in November 1933; it successfully reorganized by May 1934. During this period, hotel revenues suffered a steep decline, with approximately 80% of mortgages in default alongside outstanding taxes and interest payments. Following reorganization, United Hotels was reincorporated in New York State and headquartered within the United Office Building in Niagara Falls. Affiliated with American Hotels Corporation, it retained its status as the world’s largest hotel group under centralized management.
At the time of Dudley’s passing in 1945—who also held executive roles across various subsidiaries and American Hotels Corporation—the company managed a portfolio of 60 properties. In subsequent years, many of these hotels were acquired by other chains, including Hilton.
Company timeline
- 1910 - Established as "United Hotels Company" in New York.
- 1917 - Reorganized as "United Hotels Company of America" under Delaware jurisdiction.
- 1922 - Managed 18 hotels.
- 1928 - Expanded operations to include 25 hotels.
- 1933 - Entered receivership during November.
- 1934 - Reincorporated as "United Hotels Co. of America" in New York with headquarters based in Niagara Falls, N.Y..
- 1945 - Oversaw 60 hotel properties. Founder Frank A. Dudley died on September 21 at age 81. After his death, numerous properties transferred to major chains such as Hilton Hotels.
Domestic
The company operated an array of distinguished and upscale hotels throughout the United States, including:
- The Roosevelt located in New York City
- The Ten Eyck situated in Albany, N.Y. (razed in 1971)
- The Utica based in Utica, N.Y.
- The Onondaga found in Syracuse, N.Y. (demolished 1970)
- The Seneca located in Rochester, N.Y. (demolished 1969)
- The Rochester also in Rochester, N.Y. (demolished 1999)
- The Benjamin Franklin situated in Philadelphia
- The Lawrence based in Erie, Pa. (demolished 1968)
- The Penn-Harris located in Harrisburg, Pa. (demolished 1973)
- The Olympic found in Seattle, Wash.
- The Bancroft situated in Worcester, Mass.
- The Portage located in Akron, Ohio (demolished 1991)
- Fort Steuben Hotel based in Steubenville, Ohio
- The Durant found in Flint, Mich.
- The Robert Treat located in Newark, N.J.
- The Alexander Hamilton situated in Paterson, N.J.
- The Stacy-Trent based in Trenton, New Jersey (demolished 1967)
- The Tutwiler, located in Birmingham, Alabama (razed 1974)
- The Roosevelt found in New Orleans
- The Bienville situated also in New Orleans
- The Washington-Youree Hotel, located in Shreveport, Louisiana (demolished 1979)
- Hotel Niagara, based in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
- President, found in Kansas City, Missouri
- El Conquistador Hotel, situated in Tucson, Arizona (razed 1968)
International
In Canada, the company managed several notable properties, including:
- The Mount Royal located in Montreal
- The Royal Connaught situated in Hamilton, Ontario
- The Clifton in Niagara Falls, Ontario (which was lost to fire in 1932)
- King Edward Hotel based in Toronto
- The Prince Edward found in Windsor, Ontario (razed in 1976)
- The Admiral Beatty positioned in Saint John, New Brunswick
Beyond North America, their operations extended to:
International affiliates
United Hotels Company held partnerships with several distinguished international hotel bodies such as Italy's U.N.I.T.I. ("Unione Nazionale Industrie Turistiche Italiane"), the Japan Hotel Association headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and the United Travel and Hotel Bureau based in Paris.