The Leahy Family
The Beginning
With roots that date back to the Civil War, American Hotel Register Company has been in a unique position to participate in the dramatic evolution of the hospitality industry. Originally founded in 1865 as a publisher of hotel travel directories and railroad maps, the company incorporated in 1896 under its current name as a manufacturer of patented hotel registers. Since then, the company has continuously adapted, offering a superior suite of products and services for hotel guests that have changed with the times.
The Leahy family has guided the success of the American Hotel Register Company since the turn of the 20th century when Thomas F. Leahy acquired the business. At the time, travelers primarily used passenger trains. The typical hotel was a multi-story building located downtown, close to the railroad station. There were no chain properties, so each hotel’s floor plans, furnishings, and room layouts were entirely unique. As hard as it may be to believe today, each floor shared a common bathroom. Transactions were in cash only, and records were kept by hand. Thomas F. Leahy led the company during this time until he was succeeded by his son, James F. Leahy, in 1932.
By the 1950s, America’s postwar prosperity was changing the way people traveled. Automobiles, interstate highways, and air travel led to the building of hotels and motels at highway exits, intersections, and airports. Because automobile air conditioning was rare, many new properties were built in U-shapes around swimming pools. During this time, American Hotel Register Company shifted its emphasis from advertising to printing and mail order, greatly expanding its product offerings. The company specialized in hotel supplies such as printed forms, key tags, key and card racks, and registration pads. As time went on, the “luxuries” of the 1950s were taken for granted, and increased guest expectations led to more and more in-room amenities.
Today’s Leader in Hospitality
Now led by the third generation of Leahys, James and Thomas, American Hotel Register Company’s drive to meet the needs of the hospitality industry is just as strong as it was 140 years ago. With a catalog that now totals 2,100 pages, the focus is still on mail order, augmented by distribution to better meet customers’ evolving needs. In 2003, American Hotel Register Company anticipated its own growing needs by investing in a state-of-the-art centralized computer system to offer reporting details and consistent national programs, as well as pricing, products, and operational excellence.
American Hotel Register Company is proud of its international headquarters at International Corporate Park in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Located on 71 acres, it contains a five-story office building and a 262,000-square-foot distribution center. One of the most recognizable features of the headquarters is its 41 flagpoles, each with a flag representing the birth country of a company associate. The Leahy Family's future development of International Corporate Park will symbolize the spirit of American Hotel Register Company - growth for the future and an appreciation for all that has gone before.