Braniff International Hotels, Inc., Timeline
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL HOTELS, INC.
TIMELINE
1967 to CURRENT
“ It is our belief that international airlines have a new responsibility that goes beyond beautiful people, famous chefs, enough seats, enough flights, a high standard of service, and schedules, which are established for long periods of time.”
“I see that responsibility as the very large one of helping each nation you are privileged to serve in the development of tourism.”
Harding L. Lawrence
Chairman, Braniff International November 12, 1969
1967 to 1969
February 9, 1967
Braniff Announces that a new hotel called Acapulco Princess will be built in Acapulco, Mexico. A stylish ancient pyramid design modernized for today’s guests is a hallmark of the property. This big plush luxury hotel is still in operation today
February 20, 1967
Braniff Airways President Harding L. Lawrence Announces a new and unprecedented South America Tourist and Hotels Program aimed at creating the travel and tourist infrastructure in South American countries that can then support air service to bring tourists to the regions. The country of Peru served as the pilot program for the creation of a network of companies to assist US firms interested in investing in the Southern Continent. The company invests more than $10 million USD in Peru alone
March 1, 1968
Braniff announces that it has invested in the new Hotel Colon Internacional, located in Quito, Ecuador, to assist with financing the expansion of the hotel from 92-rooms to 200-rooms. This Braniff hotel is still in operation today
January 1, 1969
The company opens the 40-room Carnero Inn at Punta Carnero, Ecuador. This Inn is still in operation today and it is well known along the Pacific Coast area for its marlin and deepsea fishing
January 2, 1969
The noted architect firm of Ford, Powell and Carson of San Antonio, Texas, is selected by Braniff to work on various hotel and resort projects in the United States and Latin America. Architects O’Neil Ford and Chris Carson with Peruvian Architect Albert Menacho worked jointly on the company’s new projects in Peru
January 15, 1969
Braniff’s new Santa Maria Beach Club Hotel in Lima, Peru, opens for business. A grand opening celebration is held the following month. The new hotel features 27 hotel units, two restaurants, two bars, a discotheque, beach club, two heated pools and meeting facilities
February 13, to 17, 1969
Grand opening for the new Santa Maria Beach Club Hotel is held in Lima, Peru. Similar to many of Braniff’s fine hotel properties, this hotel is still in operation today
June 1, 1969
The company opens The Unicorn Club, located in the elegant San Isidro District at Lima, Peru, becomes the first disco-boutique in the country. A smash hit, the club became a gathering place for industrialists, diplomats, executives and other guests from “the great world.”
September 1, 1969
Braniff opens the new La Chateau Restaurant at Montevideo, Uruguay
September 1, 1969
Braniff assists in arranging financing for the construction of the first ski chair lift on Villarrica Volcano near Pucon, Chile, which begins operation on this date. The Villarrica Volcano Chair Lift is still in operation today
October 30, 1969
Braniff opens the magnificent Tambo De Oro Restaurant and International Marketplace in Lima, Peru. The new hotspot is guided by Executive Chef Roger Piaget who also serves on the Braniff International Board of Chefs
November 16, 1969
The new Lima hotspot, Tambo de Oro Restaurant, a “rest house of gold”, and International Market, holds a grand opening celebration. The facility, located in a stunning older palatial residence built in 1850 on the foundation of a colonial home of a century or more earlier, is owned by Improtur, S. A., the Peruvian subsidiary of Braniff International
December 10, 1969
Braniff International entered the hospitality industry with the announcement of a new hotel in Acapulco, Mexico, “Where the Jetset Turns Off its Motors.” The spectacular $30 million USD 760 room Plaza Internacional, luxury hotel was under construction on the Bay of Acapulco at the time of the announcement with completion scheduled for December 1970. Braniff International leased and operated the hotel. This hotel is still in operation today
December 15, 1969
The company begins managing and operating the Tamaca Hotel at Santa Marta, Colombia. An expansion plan calls for 100 rooms up from the current 70 rooms. This magnificent property is still in service today
December 16, 1969
Braniff’s TISA opens Galapagos Cruises with the 60-passenger hotel ship, the Line-A
1970 to 1979
January 1, 1970
Braniff International Hotels becomes a shareholder in the Granja Azul Inn Hotel Inn, which includes a hotel, restaurant and club, at Lima, Peru. The facility includes 36 hotel units, a swimming pool, par 3 golf course, sauna, meeting room facilities and a bar and restaurant. Guests will also have access to the Granja Azul Country Club featuring an 18 hole golf course and tennis courts. This Braniff property is still serving guests today
March 1, 1970
Braniff inaugurates the Jungle Queen Floating Hotel consisting of two Sport Fishing Houseboats. The exclusive cruises begin on the Araguaia River in the Mato Grasso area of Brazil.
March 12, 1970
Braniff Airways, Incorporated, creates its new Hotel Division, which will operate as Braniff International Hotels, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of Braniff Airways. Mr. John W. Leer, is named president of the new firm
November 1, 1970
Braniff Hotels opens the new Carib Inn at Santa Marta, Colombia. The resort property on the ocean features 100 luxury rooms and an 18 hole golf course on five miles of beautiful beaches along the Caribbean
November 1, 1970
Braniff International Hotels invests in the El Dorado Lodge, located near Miraflores, Colombia. This 10-room boutique hotel is renowned for its hunting and fishing
March 6, 1971
Braniff Hotels announces it will manage the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas. The Austin landmark hotel recently underwent a complete restoration
June 1, 1971
Braniff Hotels begins the managing and operating the New Everglades Hotel in Miami, Florida
November 1, 1971
The 1100-room Hotel Aristos in Mexico City, signs an agreement with Braniff Hotels for management services. This hotel is still in operation today, carrying on the Braniff International Hotels tradition of fine lodging
November 1, 1971
The company signs a contract with Princess Hotels to provide marketing and reservations services and consultation for the Princess Hotel in Bermuda, the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco and the new Acapulco Princess Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico. All three hotels are still in operation today. You are in the presence of a Princess
November 1, 1971
Braniff Hotels appoints Don B. Wilson as director of sales for the New York area. Mr. Wilson, moves to Hotels from Braniff Airways, where he worked as director of the Northeastern Region for more than 30 years. In addition, Mr. Ben Eisner, from Neiman-Marcus, is appointed as a hotel travel consultant; Mr. Wade Clifton is appointed Director of Sales and will coordinate hotel sales and reservations at staff level and Mr. C. J. Vannoy is named Director of Sales for the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas
December 2, 1971
Braniff Hotels announces plans to operate and manage 200-room hotel at Shell Oil Company’s Tiffany Centro Business Complex near Kansas City International Airport
January 6, 1972
Braniff Hotels and Holiday Inns announce plans to build new hotels in Peru
November 13, 1972
The elegant high rise Bahia Mar Hotel is announced for Brownsville, South Padre Island, Texas. This spectacular hotel and resort property is still in operation today
January 8, 1973
A magnificent grand opening event is held in Austin, Texas, for the newly renovated Driskill Hotel, which becomes Braniff’s premier hotel property
February 10, 1973
Braniff’s newly renovated Driskill Hotel formally opens to guests in Austin, Texas
May 1, 1973
Braniff International Hotels announces that the fabled Club de Pesca Hotel in Acapulco, Mexico, is now managed and operated by the Dallas-based hotelier. The elegant, 114-room plus 12 villas, luxury hotel is situated at the peak of famed Acapulco Bay, which is known for its deep sea fishing and water sports. A new high rise wing will also be added giving guests additional rooms along with an Olympic size swimming pool, indoor/outdoor garden restaurant and several open air thatched roof bar huts on the grounds and beaches of the elegant hotel. Club de Pesca is the only hotel on the Bay with its own private dock
May 17, 1973
The company signs a contract to manage the 750-room Jung Hotel in New Orleans, which will be renamed Braniff Place New Orleans. Braniff properties at Tucson, Acapulco and Corpus Christi Padre Island are also named Braniff Place
June 4, 1973
Braniff Hotels announces that an agreement has been signed to provide management services and operate Braniff Place Hotel at Tucson, Arizona
June 19, 1973
The elegant new waterfront Braniff Place Corpus Christi holds its grand opening ceremony. Boasting 110-rooms, the facility features convention meeting rooms. Mr. Louis Evans is named General Manager of the property
November 1, 1973
John S. Lanahan is named vice president of Braniff International Hotels
November 29, 1973
The spectacular new ultra-modern Braniff Place Hotel is opened in the downtown district of Tucson, Arizona. Today, this hotel is undergoing renovations and will be reopened in the future
May 22, 1974
Braniff International Hotels announces a stunning new hotel plan for Cancun, Mexico. Colorful renderings indicate that the magnificent Hotel Braniff International will feature dual high rise towers on the ocean front with luxury accommodations from more than 800 rooms and private bungalows. Guests of the hotel will also enjoy dual tennis courts, two full size swimming pools and plenty of sandy beaches
September 28, 1974
Braniff Place Hotel in New Orleans announces the appointment of three new members to the hotel’s management. Mr. James B. Merrill is named general manager and David A. Smart assumes the position of director of marketing and finally, Alan G. Campey (left) is appointed sales manager
December 4, 1978
Braniff House Hotel opens at the new Braniff Place World Headquarters Complex located on the northwest corner of Dallas/Ft. Worth Regional Airport. This hotel had been in continuous operation until August 2020, when it was closed because of the COVID pandemic
1980 to 1989
May 13, 1982
Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Braniff Realty, Inc., and Braniff International Hotels, Inc.’s, parent company Braniff International Corporation filed for bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The filing only affected flying operations of Braniff Airways, Incorporated. All other activities and the subsidiaries continued without interruption including Braniff International Hotels. By this time, only the Driskill Hotel remained as Braniff Hotels only property
December 15, 1983
Dec 15, 1983 – Braniff Airways, Inc., Braniff Realty, Inc., and Braniff International Corporation emerge from bankruptcy. Braniff Airways and Braniff International Corporation are renamed Dalfort Corporation and a new airline subsidiary, Braniff, Inc., is formed as a new Braniff air carrier company.
Accordingly, the assets of Braniff International Hotels, Inc., including the Driskill Hotel, are transferred to Dalfort Corporation. The hotel is offered for sale and several prospects are contacted in hopes of finding a new buyer
1984
During 1984, the Driskill Hotel is sold to The Driskill Partners, ending eleven years of Braniff management
2020 to 2029
November 18, 2020
Braniff International Hotels announces that a new Braniff International Hotel would be opened in the Oak Lawn Neighborhood near downtown Dallas by late 2024. Braniff licensed the use of the Company’s name for the new project, which will be housed in the former Braniff International Hostess College facility on Wycliff Avenue. The 75-room luxury boutique hotel will be designed with Braniff style and design throughout and will feature a Braniff Boutique store that will sell upscale Braniff-themed products
May 4, 2021
Braniff International, announces that its licensed hotel building has been listed on the National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, according to Braniff Airways Chairman Richard Ben Cass. The Texas Historical Commission posted that the nomination was officially listed in the Register on March 2, 2021.
In November 2020, Braniff licensed a new Braniff-themed hotel project at the former Braniff International Hostess College located in the Oaklawn Neighborhood of Dallas. The boutique hotel is tentatively scheduled to open in 2024, once the facility is fully remodeled. In 2014, Braniff Airways Foundation initiated the process to have the building listed on the National Register.