History

Daly Seven’s story is a family legacy that spans three generations, rooted in a passion for hospitality that began long before the company’s official founding. The Daly family’s journey in the hotel business started in 1972, when patriarch and matriarch Philip and Frances Daly built and opened the first Innkeeper Hotel in Danville, Virginia. Philip and Frances instilled a powerful work ethic in their seven children, who learned the business from the ground up and were inspired by their parents' resilience and vision.

In 1979, those seven siblings—five brothers and two sisters—came together to form Daly Seven, Inc. building on the foundation their parents had created. They opened their first hotel as a company in 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the next decade, the new company focused on thoughtfully expanding its portfolio, primarily developing and operating the family's own Innkeeper brand across Virginia and the Carolinas.

A significant turning point came in 1988. Recognizing a shift in the travel industry toward national brands and loyalty programs, Daly Seven strategically pivoted to include franchised properties. This decision sparked a new era of growth, forging powerful, long-standing partnerships with the world's leading hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG. This model of developing, owning, and managing premier brand properties became the company's hallmark.

Today, Daly Seven is guided by its second and third generations, who continue to honor the founding values of hard work, integrity, and giving back. While the portfolio has grown to over 40 properties, the company's focus remains on thoughtful development and operational excellence. By blending decades of hands-on experience with a modern vision for hospitality, Daly Seven ensures that the family’s commitment to genuine care is felt by every guest, associate, and community we serve.