Holiday Inn Express vs Novotel
Averages across 3,611 Holiday Inn Express and 639 Novotel hotels, and a head-to-head in the 131 cities where both brands have a hotel.
The short answer
On the numbers: Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express leads on 4 of 7 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 Novotel: which hotel brand is better? | Holiday Inn Express | Novotel |
|---|---|---|
| Guest ratings | ||
| Average guest rating | 8.68 +0.21 | 8.47 |
| Rated 8 or more | 88% +3% | 85% |
| Rated below 7 | 1% | 1% |
| Average Google rating | 4.24/5 | 4.29/5 +0.05 |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 354,299 | 379,909 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 111) | ||
| Cities where it is rated higher | 52 | 55 |
| The hotels | ||
| Hotels tracked | 3,611 | 639 |
| Countries | 54 | 71 |
| Typical opening year | 2019 | 2009 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 87% | 59% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 14:00 |
| Usual check-out | 11:00 | 12:00 |
| Hotels that list it | ||
| Free breakfast | 74% | 1% |
| Swimming pool | 79% | 65% |
| Gym | 73% | 77% |
| Free parking | 90% | 48% |
| Pets allowed | 1% | 25% |
| Shuttle | 17% | 30% |
| Laundry | 93% | 96% |
| Hot tub | 18% | 15% |
| Restaurant | 1% | 46% |
| Bar | 59% | 100% |
| Kitchen | 27% | 24% |
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
Novotel Shanghai Clover 9.1 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
Novotel London Brentford Hotel 8.7 Brand average here: 8.4
-
Paris France
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Paris - CDG Airport By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
Novotel Paris Les Halles Hotel 8.7 Brand average here: 8.1
-
Suzhou China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Suzhou Industrial Park By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.4
Novotel Suzhou SIP 8.9 Brand average here: 8.6
-
Xian China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Xi'an North 9.2 Brand average here: 8.7
Novotel Xian The Bell Tower 9.4 Brand average here: 9.4
-
Hangzhou China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Hangzhou East Station By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.1
Novotel Hangzhou Xintiandi 9.1 Brand average here: 9.1
-
Bangkok Thailand
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express And Suites Bangkok Central Pier By IHG 9.2 Brand average here: 8.7
Novotel Bangkok Future Park Rangsit 9.3 Brand average here: 8.7
-
Shenzhen China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Shenzhen Futian Center By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.4
Novotel Shenzhen Watergate 7.8 Brand average here: 7.8
-
Madrid Spain
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Madrid Airport By IHG 8.7 Brand average here: 8.4
Novotel Madrid Center 8.8 Brand average here: 8.5
-
Qingdao China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Qingdao City Center By IHG 9.1 Brand average here: 8.6
Novotel Qingdao New Hope 7.4 Brand average here: 7.4
-
Nanjing China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express Nanjing Xi'Anmen By IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.7
Novotel Nanjing Central Suning 8.8 Brand average here: 8.7
-
Kunming China
Compare these twoHoliday Inn Express KUNMING WEST By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.8
Novotel Kunming City Center 8.1 Brand average here: 8.1
Holiday Inn Express or Novotel: common questions
Is Holiday Inn Express or Novotel better?
On average, Holiday Inn Express hotels score 8.68/10 from guests and Novotel hotels 8.47/10. Holiday Inn Express leads on 4 of the 7 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.21 points.
When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?
In the 111 cities where both have rated hotels, Holiday Inn Express has the higher average in 52 and Novotel in 55.
Which brand has newer hotels?
The typical Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in 2019, the typical Novotel hotel in 2009.
Do Holiday Inn Express and Novotel hotels include free breakfast?
74% of Holiday Inn Express hotels and 1% of Novotel 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 639 Novotel hotels in 71 countries.
Do Holiday Inn Express and Novotel belong to the same company?
No. Holiday Inn Express belongs to IHG Hotels & Resorts, Novotel to Accor.
More brand match-ups
Updated 15 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