Drury Hotels

The company was founded by Charles, James, & Robert Drury. They were the sons of Lambert Drury, a farmer who lost his farm during the Great Depression, and then founded a plastering company. The Drury Development Corporation was founded in 1959. The Drury family built its first hotel, a Holiday Inn, in 1962 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The family started Drury Hotels in 1973 and built its first Drury Inn in Sikeston, Missouri. The Drury Hotels company operates non-Drury hotels as well. In the 1990s, the chain introduced a third brand, Thrifty Inn.

Co-founder Charles Drury died on September 7, 2020, in St. Louis; his death was acknowledged by Governor of Missouri Mike Parson. Two other co-founders, James and Robert, died in 2008 and 2013, respectively.

In 2025, Drury Hotels earned its 19th J.D. Power award for highest guest satisfaction for their upscale hotels.

Controversies

In 2013 Drury Hotels filed an amicus brief challenging the Affordable Care Act provision requiring payment for emergency contraception for women. Due to the controlling family members' Catholic faith, they argued that providing funding for such care would be contrary to their faith. CEO Charles Drury has further stated they would not comply or pay for that mandate.