Holiday Inn’s 2025 Makeover: Is the New Experience Worth Your Money?

Holiday Inn is quietly rolling out a big upgrade in the US, from redesigned rooms to smarter pricing and new family perks. But does it finally beat budget competitors, or is it still just a freeway stopover?

Bottom line up front: If you have written off Holiday Inn as a dated road-trip brand, you may want to look again. Across the US, the chain is rolling out refreshed rooms, upgraded lobbies, and more family-friendly perks aimed squarely at travelers who want reliability without luxury prices.

For you, that means cleaner, more modern stays in a brand you already recognize, often in locations that are easier to reach than boutique hotels or one-off Airbnbs. The real question right now is simple: are the latest Holiday Inn updates enough to make you actually want to book, not just settle?

Analysis: What's behind the hype

Holiday Inn is part of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the largest hotel companies in the world with thousands of properties across the US. Over the last couple of years, IHG has been pushing a wide refresh of the Holiday Inn brand, focusing on more consistent room standards, better tech in rooms, and public spaces that feel less like anonymous lobbies and more like casual lounges.

Recent earnings updates and investor briefings from IHG highlight midscale brands like Holiday Inn as core growth drivers in the US, especially along key business and interstate corridors. At the same time, US travelers on Reddit and TikTok have been calling out a clear split in the experience: newly renovated Holiday Inns can feel surprisingly close to higher tier hotels, while older properties still lag with dated decor and variable housekeeping.

That gap is exactly what IHG is trying to close now, with stricter brand standards and more pressure on franchise owners to upgrade. For you as a guest, that means you are more likely in 2025 and beyond to get the version of Holiday Inn you have probably seen in ads: brighter rooms, more outlets, better bedding, and lobbies that double as coworking or casual hangout space.

Key Holiday Inn facts and US relevance

Aspect	Details (US-focused)
Brand tier	Midscale, full-service or limited-service, positioned between budget motels and upscale chains
Typical nightly rate (US)	Frequently in the USD $110 - $190 range in many US cities and highway locations, with higher prices in major metros or peak events (always check live pricing)
US footprint	Hundreds of Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties spread across major cities, suburbs, airport zones, and interstate exits
Core audience	Families on road trips, sports travel, mid-budget business travelers, and groups needing meeting space
Typical room features	Queen or king beds, desk or work table, free Wi-Fi, TV with streaming support in newer rooms, coffee maker; some locations add microwaves and mini-fridges
US convenience perks	Free Wi-Fi, on-site or nearby parking (often free in suburban/highway locations), pool at many properties, some with on-site restaurants and bars
Loyalty integration	Fully integrated with IHG One Rewards, letting US guests earn and redeem points across IHG brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, and InterContinental
Pet policy	Varies by property across the US; many newly refreshed locations are marketing pet-friendly rooms, typically with a nightly fee
Cancelation and flexibility	Flexible and advance-purchase rates widely available; precise rules depend on each hotel, but US travelers often see same-day or 24-hour cancel windows on flexible rates

The key US angle is value. Holiday Inn competes directly with brands like Hampton, Fairfield, and Courtyard. Its pitch: you get a familiar name, generally larger rooms than some budget chains, often a pool, and usually more on-site amenities. In many US markets, Holiday Inn sits right in the sweet spot where business travelers can still get their trip approved and families feel comfortable about safety and cleanliness.

What has actually changed lately?

From recent US-focused reviews and travel YouTube channels, several themes pop up when people stay at recently refreshed Holiday Inns compared to older ones:

• Design upgrade: Newer properties are moving to light wood tones, neutral fabrics, and brighter lighting, replacing the dark greens and heavy carpets associated with classic roadside Holiday Inns.
• More power and connectivity: Renovated rooms typically include multiple USB ports by the bed and desk, more outlets, and often TVs that support casting from your phone or built-in streaming apps.
• Refined breakfast and dining: Depending on the specific location, you may find more curated breakfast options or grab-and-go stations, and some full-service locations maintain sit-down restaurants and bars that appeal to business travelers who do not want to leave the property at night.
• Better meeting and event focus: Many US Holiday Inns are leaning heavily into conference and wedding business. That is pushing upgrades in ballrooms, A/V setups, and catering, which trickles down into refreshed common areas.

Against this, reviewers on Reddit and TripAdvisor still highlight a real weakness: inconsistency. Because most Holiday Inns in the US are franchised, two properties a few exits apart on the same interstate can feel like night and day. The brand upgrades are spreading, but they are not yet universal.

How US travelers are actually using Holiday Inn now

Across Reddit travel threads and TikTok mini vlogs, a pattern emerges. Many US travelers are using Holiday Inn as a fallback when boutique options are too expensive, or as a mainstay for:

• Family road trips: Parents focus on free Wi-Fi, breakfast options (including at nearby Holiday Inn Express properties), and pools where kids can burn off energy after long drives.
• Sports and tournament travel: Youth sports teams, cheer squads, and college groups regularly block out entire floors, praising Holiday Inn for decent meeting rooms and flexible group rates.
• Bleisure stays: Remote and hybrid workers extending business trips like the balance of reliable Wi-Fi, desks, and relaxed public spaces, especially in suburban and airport locations.

Compared with some lower tier motels, Holiday Inn is often seen as a step up in terms of perceived safety and noise levels. But compared with newer competitors, guests sometimes question whether older properties justify their rates when decor and bathrooms feel stuck a decade behind.

Pricing in the US: when Holiday Inn makes sense

Pricing is highly dynamic and location dependent, so you must always check current rates for your specific dates. Still, cross-checking US travel sites and recent user posts, some clear patterns show up:

• Suburban and highway locations: It is common to see rates in the $110 - $150 range on weeknights, sometimes lower on weekends outside event season.
• Airport and metro locations: Airport-area Holiday Inns and downtown city properties can push above $180 - $220, particularly around conferences, festivals, and big sports events.
• Advance deals: Nonrefundable or advance-purchase rates can drop noticeably below the flexible rate, but check cancelation rules carefully.

For US travelers on a budget, Holiday Inn tends to shine when it is priced only slightly above low-end budget chains but clearly below upscale competitors. In that slot, the balance of brand reliability, room size, and IHG points earning can create real value.

How Holiday Inn compares to Holiday Inn Express in the US

Many US guests are more familiar with Holiday Inn Express, which is laser-focused on limited service and free breakfast. Holiday Inn, by contrast, is positioned as more of a full-service or flexible midscale option.

• Holiday Inn: You are more likely to find a full restaurant, bar, extensive meeting space, and sometimes larger pools. Breakfast is not always complimentary.
• Holiday Inn Express: Typically leaner amenities but almost always includes free breakfast and a simpler, business traveler friendly setup.

In the US, you might pick Holiday Inn when you want on-site dining and event space, and Holiday Inn Express when you care more about quick breakfasts and lower prices. Both feed into the same IHG One Rewards ecosystem, which is a plus if you travel frequently.

What US guests are praising right now

From skimming recent US-based YouTube reviews and Reddit threads, positive sentiment clusters around a few core points:

• Comfortable beds and bedding: Many travelers call out Holiday Inn for surprisingly comfortable mattresses and upgraded linens in refreshed properties.
• Strong Wi-Fi at newer locations: Business travelers and remote workers tend to rate Wi-Fi highly at most modern properties, with enough speed for video calls and streaming.
• Friendly staff and reliability: Even at older hotels, front desk service and problem solving are often praised, especially when staff move quickly on room changes or maintenance issues.
• Pools and family friendliness: Indoor pools in cold weather markets and outdoor pools in the South remain a big draw for families, especially compared with budget chains that skip this feature.

Where guests are still frustrated

Criticism of Holiday Inn in the US tends to fall into these buckets:

• Inconsistent cleanliness: While many guests report spotless rooms, user reviews still reveal occasional issues with housekeeping misses, especially in older, under-renovated properties.
• Noise between rooms: In some highway locations, travelers complain about thin walls, hallway noise, and sounds from nearby traffic or elevators.
• Outdated bathrooms: Even where beds and furniture have been upgraded, some hotels lag on bathrooms, with older fixtures and lighting that makes the space feel tired.
• Parking and extra fees in cities: Urban properties sometimes charge substantial nightly fees for parking, which can erase the apparent price advantage over competing brands.

How to pick the right Holiday Inn in the US

Because the brand is in a transition phase, your experience will largely depend on which specific property you choose. To tilt the odds in your favor:

• Sort by most recent reviews first: On major booking sites, filter to see the latest comments from US guests, not the overall lifetime score.
• Search the property name on social platforms: YouTube room tours and TikTok clips often reveal if a property has been recently renovated or still looks dated.
• Study photos carefully: Look for modern flooring, light wood furniture, updated lighting, and clean, bright bathrooms. Heavy drapes, dark carpets, and bulky furniture usually signal older design.
• Check fees before booking: In US cities, factor in parking, resort-style fees, and breakfast costs rather than focusing only on base room rates.

What the experts say (Verdict)

Travel journalists and hotel reviewers in the US increasingly describe Holiday Inn as a solid midscale workhorse: rarely spectacular, but often dependable, especially where properties have completed the latest round of IHG-driven upgrades. It is not trying to be a lifestyle brand like some newer chains, but it is trying to shake off its dated, purely functional reputation.

Pros experts and users tend to agree on:

• Wide US availability in practical locations near highways, airports, and business parks
• Consistently decent room size and generally comfortable beds, particularly in refreshed hotels
• Good Wi-Fi and workspaces for business and remote workers
• Strong value when rates sit around the low to mid $100s per night
• Integration with IHG One Rewards, making it easier to earn and redeem points across trips

Cons you should factor in before booking:

• Major variability between properties due to franchise ownership and uneven renovation timing
• Some older US locations with dated decor and bathrooms that do not match updated marketing images
• Noise and cleanliness issues at select properties, especially near busy roads or event-heavy areas
• Parking and additional fees at some city and airport hotels that reduce the value proposition

If you are a US traveler choosing your next stay, Holiday Inn makes the most sense when you prioritize predictable comfort over design drama, want to bank IHG points, and can confirm via recent reviews that the specific location you are eyeing has been refreshed. It will not compete with upscale brands on wow factor, but when priced right, it can still be one of the smarter, low-friction choices on the road.