Holiday Inn vs Holiday Inn Express
Averages across 1,759 Holiday Inn and 3,611 Holiday Inn Express hotels, and a head-to-head in the 518 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 0.18 points.
Every measured fact
Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.
| Holiday Inn vs Holiday Inn Express: which hotel brand is better? | Holiday Inn | Holiday Inn Express |
|---|---|---|
| Guest ratings | ||
| Average guest rating | 8.50 | 8.68 +0.18 |
| Rated 8 or more | 84% | 88% +4% |
| Rated below 7 | 1% | 1% |
| Average Google rating | 4.18/5 | 4.24/5 +0.06 |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 350,205 | 354,299 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 371) | ||
| Cities where it is rated higher | 134 | 225 |
| The hotels | ||
| Hotels tracked | 1,759 | 3,611 |
| Countries | 85 | 54 |
| Typical opening year | 2012 | 2019 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 71% | 86% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Usual check-out | 12:00 | 11:00 |
| Hotels that list it | ||
| Free breakfast | 2% | 74% |
| Swimming pool | 71% | 79% |
| Gym | 76% | 73% |
| Free parking | 73% | 89% |
| Pets allowed | 1% | 1% |
| Shuttle | 29% | 17% |
| Laundry | 95% | 92% |
| Hot tub | 17% | 18% |
| Restaurant | 2% | 1% |
| Bar | 95% | 58% |
| Kitchen | 23% | 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.
-
Shanghai China
Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Airport By IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.5
Holiday Inn Express Shanghai On The Bund 9.2 Brand average here: 8.5
-
Chengdu China
Holiday Inn Dujiangyan Ancient Town By IHG 9.1 Brand average here: 8.7
Holiday Inn Express Chengdu North Railway Station By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.8
-
London United Kingdom
Holiday Inn London-Heathrow Bath Road By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 8.3
Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T4 By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.3
-
Dallas (TX) United States
Holiday Inn Dallas - Fort Worth Airport South By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 7.9
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dallas – Plano North by IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.7
-
Houston (TX) United States
Holiday Inn NW Houston Beltway 8 By IHG 9.4 Brand average here: 8.2
Holiday Inn Express And Suites Stafford Nw - Sugar Land By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.5
-
Suzhou China
Holiday Inn Suzhou Huirong Plaza By IHG 9.2 Brand average here: 8.9
Holiday Inn Express Suzhou Industrial Park By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.4
-
Chongqing China
Holiday Inn Chongqing High-TechZone by IHG 8.5 Brand average here: 8.5
Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Caiyun Lake By IHG 9.7 Brand average here: 8.9
-
Beijing China
Holiday Inn Beijing Focus Square By IHG 8.6 Brand average here: 7.9
Holiday Inn Express Beijing Downtown By IHG 8.8 Brand average here: 8.5
-
Xian China
Holiday Inn & Suites Xi'an High-Tech Zone By IHG 9.3 Brand average here: 8.8
Holiday Inn Express Xi'an North 9.2 Brand average here: 8.7
-
Hangzhou China
Holiday Inn Hangzhou West Lake By IHG 9.6 Brand average here: 8.8
Holiday Inn Express Hangzhou East Station By IHG 9.0 Brand average here: 8.1
-
Phoenix (AZ) United States
Holiday Inn Glendale - Stadium & Ent Dist by IHG 9.2 Brand average here: 8.6
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Gilbert Mesa Gateway Airport By IHG 9.8 Brand average here: 8.8
-
Orlando (FL) United States
Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Spring Area By IHG 8.9 Brand average here: 8.4
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Orlando At Seaworld By IHG 9.1 Brand average here: 8.8
Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express: common questions
Is Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express better?
On average, Holiday Inn Express hotels score 8.68/10 from guests and Holiday Inn hotels 8.50/10. Holiday Inn Express leads on 6 of the 7 measures we compare. Average guest rating differs by 0.18 points.
When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?
In the 371 cities where both have rated hotels, Holiday Inn has the higher average in 134 and Holiday Inn Express in 225.
Which brand has newer hotels?
The typical Holiday Inn Express hotel opened in 2019, the typical Holiday Inn hotel in 2012.
Do Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels include free breakfast?
2% of Holiday Inn 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 1,759 Holiday Inn hotels in 85 countries and 3,611 Holiday Inn Express hotels in 54 countries.
Do Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express belong to the same company?
Yes, both belong to IHG Hotels & Resorts.
More brand match-ups
- Hilton Garden Inn vs Holiday Inn
- Courtyard by Marriott vs Holiday Inn
- Hampton Inn vs Holiday Inn
- Fairfield by Marriott vs Holiday Inn
- Holiday Inn vs Home2 Suites by Hilton
- DoubleTree by Hilton vs Holiday Inn
- 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
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