Did You Know?

Charles Helm's father, Walter 'Punk' Helm started in the hotel industry in 1962. It wasn't until 1982 that Charles and his brother Lewis built their first property together in Sulphur Springs.

 

The Beginning

Helm Hotels Group began with Walter “Punk” Helm when he built the Paradise Inn in Sulphur Springs, Texas. After a successful career in the auto business in Dallas & Houston, Walter Helm moved his wife and 2 boys to Sulphur Springs, Texas in 1962 where they built the Paradise Inn, a 50-room motel located on Interstate 30 where the going price for a room night was $6! After 12 years of running this property, Walter’s son Charles decided to get into the business and in 1982, the Helm Family built the 72 room Best Western Trail Dust Inn in Sulphur Springs. In 1983, they built the Best Western Inn & Suites of Greenville, Texas, an 88-room property that the family owned for 20 years.

Passing The Torch

Walter Helm eventually left the business to his son Charles, with he and his family making it into what it is today. In order, he bought the Holiday Inn & Suites of Sulphur Springs, which he later sold; he then built the Comfort Suites in Sulphur Springs, Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Greenville, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Mt. Pleasant,  the Best Western Plus Monica Royale (named after daughter Monica), Holiday Inn Express of Greenville, TX, the Holiday Inn & Suites of McKinney, and the Best Western Plus Christopher Inn & Suites of Forney (named after nephew, Christopher who was killed in a car accident when he was 18).

Keeping It In The Family

Charles Helm has been involved in the lodging industry for more than 35 years and served on the Best Western International Board of Directors, where in 2007 he served as Chairman of the Board. Now, Charles Helm and his family own and operate 3 hotels in the state of Texas including the Best Western Plus Crown Colony of Lufkin, and the Best Western Premier Crown Chase of Denton (named after son, Chase). In 2019, the family's newly aquired hotel in their hometown of Sulphur Springs will become the very first Clarion Pointe hotel by Choice Hotels. In 2022, a second hotel location, Sleep Inn / MainStay Suites, was purchased in Lufkin, Texas.

The three franchised properties meet the highest of design standards and customer service scores. Together, the team successfully oversees all operations and marketing.

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