Holiday Inn Express vs Howard Johnson
Averages across 3,611 Holiday Inn Express and 355 Howard Johnson hotels, and a head-to-head in the 162 cities where both brands have a hotel.
The short answer
On the numbers: Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express leads on 7 of 7 measures. Average guest rating differs by 0.88 points.
Every measured fact
Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.
| Holiday Inn Express vs Howard Johnson: which hotel brand is better? | Holiday Inn Express | Howard Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Guest ratings | ||
| Average guest rating | 8.68 +0.88 | 7.80 |
| Rated 8 or more | 88% +38% | 50% |
| Rated below 7 | 1% | 18% |
| Average Google rating | 4.24/5 +0.83 | 3.41/5 |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 354,299 | 43,486 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 103) | ||
| Cities where it is rated higher | 87 | 14 |
| The hotels | ||
| Hotels tracked | 3,611 | 355 |
| Countries | 54 | 19 |
| Typical opening year | 2019 | 2012 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 87% | 62% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Usual check-out | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Hotels that list it | ||
| Free breakfast | 74% | 50% |
| Swimming pool | 79% | 62% |
| Gym | 73% | 61% |
| Free parking | 90% | 91% |
| Pets allowed | 1% | 2% |
| Shuttle | 17% | 37% |
| Laundry | 93% | 89% |
| Hot tub | 18% | 33% |
| Restaurant | 1% | 2% |
| Bar | 59% | 75% |
| Kitchen | 27% | 1% |
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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Chengdu China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Chengdu North Railway Station By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.8
Howard Johnson Conference Resort Chengdu 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
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Shanghai China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Shanghai On The Bund 9.2 Brand average here: 8.5
Howard Johnson Leonora Plaza Shanghai 8.7 Brand average here: 8.7
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Dallas (TX) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Dallas – Plano North by IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.7
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Arlington Ballpark / Six Flags 8.4 Brand average here: 7.2
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Houston (TX) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express And Suites Stafford Nw - Sugar Land By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.5
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Houston Heights/Downtown 8.2 Brand average here: 7.5
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Beijing China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Beijing Downtown By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.5
Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel Beijing 9.3 Brand average here: 9.3
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Phoenix (AZ) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express and Suites Gilbert Mesa Gateway Airport By IHG 9.8 Brand average here: 8.8
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Phoenix Airport/Downtown Area 5.4 Brand average here: 6.9
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Detroit (MI) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Allen Park by IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.5
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Romulus Detroit Metro Airport 7.4 Brand average here: 7.4
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Los Angeles (CA) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express and Suites Glendale Downtown By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.3
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Torrance 8.2 Brand average here: 8.1
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Orlando (FL) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Orlando At Seaworld By IHG 9.1 Brand average here: 8.8
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Orlando Lake Buena Vista South 7.7 Brand average here: 7.6
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Columbus (OH) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Columbus - Dublin By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.2
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Columbus State Fairgrounds I-71 5.9 Brand average here: 5.9
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Kunming China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express KUNMING WEST By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.8
Howard Johnson Tropical Garden Plaza Kunming 8.6 Brand average here: 8.6
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New York (NY) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Woodside LaGuardia Airport By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.2
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Long Island City 6.8 Brand average here: 6.8
Holiday Inn Express or Howard Johnson: common questions
Is Holiday Inn Express or Howard Johnson better?
On average, Holiday Inn Express hotels score 8.68/10 from guests and Howard Johnson hotels 7.80/10. Holiday Inn Express leads on 7 of the 7 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.88 points.
When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?
In the 103 cities where both have rated hotels, Holiday Inn Express has the higher average in 87 and Howard Johnson in 14.
Which brand has newer hotels?
The typical Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in 2019, the typical Howard Johnson hotel in 2012.
Do Holiday Inn Express and Howard Johnson hotels include free breakfast?
74% of Holiday Inn Express hotels and 50% of Howard Johnson 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 3,611 Holiday Inn Express hotels in 54 countries and 355 Howard Johnson hotels in 19 countries.
Do Holiday Inn Express and Howard Johnson belong to the same company?
No. Holiday Inn Express belongs to IHG Hotels & Resorts, Howard Johnson to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
More brand match-ups
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- Hampton Inn vs Howard Johnson
- Howard Johnson vs Super 8
- Days Inn vs Howard Johnson
Updated 13 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