Best Western vs Holiday Inn Express
Averages across 1,494 Best Western and 3,611 Holiday Inn Express hotels, and a head-to-head in the 545 cities where both brands have a hotel.
The short answer
On the numbers: Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express leads on 6 of 7 measures. Average guest rating differs by 0.33 points.
Every measured fact
Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.
| Best Western vs Holiday Inn Express: which hotel brand is better? | Best Western | Holiday Inn Express |
|---|---|---|
| Guest ratings | ||
| Average guest rating | 8.35 | 8.68 +0.33 |
| Rated 8 or more | 77% | 88% +11% |
| Rated below 7 | 2% | 1% |
| Average Google rating | 4.09/5 | 4.24/5 +0.15 |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 156,862 | 354,299 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 412) | ||
| Cities where it is rated higher | 109 | 279 |
| The hotels | ||
| Hotels tracked | 1,494 | 3,611 |
| Countries | 56 | 54 |
| Typical opening year | 1998 | 2019 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 56% | 86% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Usual check-out | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Hotels that list it | ||
| Free breakfast | 38% | 74% |
| Swimming pool | 50% | 79% |
| Gym | 58% | 73% |
| Free parking | 67% | 89% |
| Pets allowed | 16% | 1% |
| Shuttle | 18% | 17% |
| Laundry | 54% | 93% |
| Hot tub | 19% | 18% |
| Restaurant | 32% | 1% |
| Bar | 77% | 59% |
| Kitchen | 7% | 27% |
Both brands, same city
The best-rated hotel of each brand in cities where both have one. Open a match-up for the full hotel comparison.
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London United Kingdom
Best Western Buckingham Palace Road 8.4 Brand average here: 8.0
Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T4 By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.3
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Dallas (TX) United States
Best Western Northwest Inn 8.3 Brand average here: 7.5
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dallas – Plano North by IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.7
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Houston (TX) United States
Best Western Galleria Inn & Suites 8.0 Brand average here: 8.0
Holiday Inn Express And Suites Stafford Nw - Sugar Land By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.5
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Phoenix (AZ) United States
Best Western Downtown Phoenix 8.7 Brand average here: 8.2
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Gilbert Mesa Gateway Airport By IHG 9.8 Brand average here: 8.8
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San Antonio (TX) United States
Best Western Medical Center North Inn & Suites Near Six Flags 10.0 Brand average here: 8.2
Holiday Inn Express Hotels San Antonio Airport By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.5
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Los Angeles (CA) United States
Best Western Norwalk Inn 8.6 Brand average here: 8.1
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Glendale Downtown By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.3
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Paris France
Best Western 11BAUER Paris Saint-Ouen 9.3 Brand average here: 8.2
Holiday Inn Express Paris - CDG Airport By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
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New York (NY) United States
Best Western Brooklyn-Coney Island Inn 8.5 Brand average here: 7.8
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Woodside LaGuardia Airport By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.2
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Columbus (OH) United States
Best Western Suites 8.8 Brand average here: 8.6
Holiday Inn Express Columbus - Dublin By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.2
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Chicago (IL) United States
Best Western River North Hotel 8.1 Brand average here: 7.6
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bensenville - O'Hare By IHG 9.2 Brand average here: 8.7
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San Diego (CA) United States
Best Western Americana Inn 8.6 Brand average here: 8.1
Holiday Inn Express San Diego - Sea World Area By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.6
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Detroit (MI) United States
Compare these twoBest Western Greenfield Inn 8.9 Brand average here: 8.4
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Allen Park by IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.5
Best Western or Holiday Inn Express: common questions
Is Best Western or Holiday Inn Express better?
On average, Holiday Inn Express hotels score 8.68/10 from guests and Best Western hotels 8.35/10. Holiday Inn Express leads on 6 of the 7 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.33 points.
When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?
In the 412 cities where both have rated hotels, Best Western has the higher average in 109 and Holiday Inn Express in 279.
Which brand has newer hotels?
The typical Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in 2019, the typical Best Western hotel in 1998.
Do Best Western and Holiday Inn Express hotels include free breakfast?
38% of Best Western hotels and 74% of Holiday Inn Express hotels list free breakfast, counting hotels with a complete amenity list. Check the page of the hotel you book.
Which brand has more hotels?
StayVersus tracks 1,494 Best Western hotels in 56 countries and 3,611 Holiday Inn Express hotels in 54 countries.
Do Best Western and Holiday Inn Express belong to the same company?
No. Best Western belongs to Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express to IHG Hotels & Resorts.
More brand match-ups
Updated 6 Oct 2026. Averages over the hotels StayVersus tracks: guest ratings from Agoda (hotels with 5+ reviews), Google ratings from public Google Maps listings (hotels with 20+ reviews). A hotel counts for a brand only when its name confirms it. How we score