Holiday Inn Express vs InterContinental
Averages across 3,611 Holiday Inn Express and 250 InterContinental hotels, and a head-to-head in the 115 cities where both brands have a hotel.
The short answer
On the numbers: InterContinental
InterContinental leads on 3 of 6 measures. Average guest rating differs by 0.21 points.
Every measured fact
Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.
| Holiday Inn Express vs InterContinental: which hotel brand is better? | Holiday Inn Express | InterContinental |
|---|---|---|
| Guest ratings | ||
| Average guest rating | 8.68 | 8.89 +0.21 |
| Rated 8 or more | 88% | 98% +10% |
| Rated below 7 | 1% | 0% |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 354,299 | 129,975 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 105) | ||
| Cities where it is rated higher | 22 | 82 |
| The hotels | ||
| Hotels tracked | 3,611 | 250 |
| Countries | 54 | 72 |
| Typical opening year | 2019 | 2013 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 87% | 67% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Usual check-out | 11:00 | 12:00 |
| Hotels that list it | ||
| Free breakfast | 74% | 1% |
| Swimming pool | 79% | 79% |
| Gym | 73% | 80% |
| Free parking | 90% | 55% |
| Pets allowed | 1% | 0% |
| Shuttle | 17% | 35% |
| Laundry | 93% | 98% |
| Hot tub | 18% | 24% |
| Restaurant | 1% | 0% |
| Bar | 59% | 99% |
| Kitchen | 27% | 10% |
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.
-
Shanghai China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Shanghai On The Bund 9.2 Brand average here: 8.5
InterContinental Shanghai Pudong By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.6
-
London United Kingdom
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express London Heathrow T4 By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.2
Intercontinental London - The O2 By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 9.0
-
Houston (TX) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express And Suites Stafford Nw - Sugar Land By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.5
InterContinental Houston By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.8
-
Chengdu China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Chengdu North Railway Station By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.8
InterContinental Chengdu Global Center By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.8
-
Beijing China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Beijing Downtown By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.5
InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.7
-
Xian China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Xi'an North 9.2 Brand average here: 8.7
InterContinental Xi’an North By IHG 9.5 Brand average here: 9.6
-
Suzhou China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Suzhou Industrial Park By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.4
InterContinental Suzhou By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 9.0
-
Chongqing China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Chongqing Caiyun Lake By IHG 9.7 Brand average here: 8.9
InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City By IHG 9.6 Brand average here: 9.6
-
Shenzhen China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Shenzhen Futian Center By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
InterContinental Shenzhen By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.9
-
San Antonio (TX) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Hotels San Antonio Airport By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.5
InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.8
-
Hangzhou China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Hangzhou East Station By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.1
InterContinental Hangzhou ICC By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
-
New York (NY) United States
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express & Suites Woodside LaGuardia Airport By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.2
InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel By IHG 8.2 Brand average here: 8.2
Holiday Inn Express or InterContinental: common questions
Is Holiday Inn Express or InterContinental better?
On average, InterContinental hotels score 8.89/10 from guests and Holiday Inn Express hotels 8.68/10. InterContinental leads on 3 of the 6 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.21 points.
When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?
In the 105 cities where both have rated hotels, Holiday Inn Express has the higher average in 22 and InterContinental in 82.
Which brand has newer hotels?
The typical Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in 2019, the typical InterContinental hotel in 2013.
Do Holiday Inn Express and InterContinental hotels include free breakfast?
74% of Holiday Inn Express hotels and 1% of InterContinental 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 250 InterContinental hotels in 72 countries.
Do Holiday Inn Express and InterContinental belong to the same company?
Yes, both belong to IHG Hotels & Resorts.
More brand match-ups
- Hampton Inn vs Holiday Inn Express
- Holiday Inn Express vs Quality Inn
- Holiday Inn Express vs Super 8
- Fairfield by Marriott vs Holiday Inn Express
- Days Inn vs Holiday Inn Express
- Comfort Inn vs Holiday Inn Express
- Holiday Inn Express vs Motel 6
- Holiday Inn vs InterContinental
- Hilton Hotels & Resorts vs InterContinental
- Crowne Plaza vs InterContinental
Updated 11 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