Best Western vs. Holiday Inn: Which Hotel Brand Wins in 2024?
Best Western is a global chain of independently owned hotels united under one rewards program; Holiday Inn is a standardized brand under the InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio.
Travelers often confuse them because both sit in the mid-tier price bracket and dot highway exits, yet one emphasizes quirky, locally flavored properties while the other promises cookie-cutter reliability. That subtle difference decides your road-trip mood.
Key Differences
Best Western offers 18 unique sub-brands—from roadside inns to boutique BW Premier—letting owners customize décor. Holiday Inn sticks to a strict global blueprint, so rooms in Tulsa feel like rooms in Tokyo.
Which One Should You Choose?
Pick Best Western for free parking, quirky themes, and smaller towns. Choose Holiday Inn when you need predictable beds, faster IHG One Rewards earn rates, and seamless corporate billing.
Examples and Daily Life
On a cross-country drive, a Best Western in Amarillo might greet you with Texas murals and a free hot breakfast. A Holiday Inn Express off I-95 will hand you the same cinnamon roll you had in Maine—comforting if you crave routine.
Do both brands offer free Wi-Fi?
Yes, high-speed internet is complimentary at every Best Western and Holiday Inn property worldwide in 2024.
Can points be transferred between programs?
No, Best Western Rewards and IHG One Rewards remain separate; points cannot be combined or swapped.