Every IHG Hotel Brand, Ranked From Worst to First

From the Crowne Plaza to the Holiday Inn, IHG has varied brands under its belt.

Every IHG Hotel Brand, Ranked from Worst to Best

Born from a conglomeration of other hospitality brands, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has been competing in the big leagues since 2003.

Its portfolio ranges from its flagship luxury brand to the midscale Holiday Inn and budget-friendly stays like Candlewood Suites. The chain includes 17 brands and they are definitely not all created equal.

Here's our take on every IHG Hotel brand, ranked from meh to dreamy.

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17. Candlewood Suites

Established: 1995

Stay-worthy hotel: Candlewood Suites Fairbanks makes an affordable Alaska vacation possible.

If you have no other option, Candlewood Suites are fine. It won't be quite like staying in a motel, but you may feel a sense of dread when you pull up to see the abysmal beige and brown exteriors the brand insists on keeping. And a word of advice: Don't purchase the brown bag breakfast. You'll open the bag to see a granola bar, a fruit and a beverage.

The good news is that the all-suite hotel does provide you with a fully equipped kitchen, so you can make yourself something decent. We also appreciate that the suites have working spaces with large desks. The brand is a good option for working travelers as well as families who don't want to go destitute while traveling. Just don't make this a long-term stay lest the overwhelming beige-and-grey seeps into your soul.

16. Staybridge Suites

Established: 1997

Stay-worthy hotel: Skip the overly expensive Disneyland hotels, and go for Staybridge Suites Anaheim at the Park instead.

A step above Candlewood Suites, Staybridge shares many amenities with its sister brand, including a fully equipped kitchen and work desks. But you can expect service to be better here. A breakfast buffet is included (no brown bags necessary), laundry is free, and you'll have storage lockers for valuables.

If you're planning on staying long-term (a key reason people stay here), you may want to participate in social hours the hotel brand throws for guests.

15. Holiday Inn Express

Established: 1991

Stay-worthy hotel: Holiday Inn Express La Jolla – Windansea Beach gives you easy access to some of San Diego's best beaches.

With more than 3,040 locations scattered across the globe, Holiday Inn Express provides no-frills short-term accommodations. This isn't the brand you'd choose for a vacation that keeps you mostly at the hotel. Rather, it's best for when all you need is a decent place to lay your head and take a shower.

You can expect good prices and a complimentary hot breakfast. Because of its many locations, it's also a good brand to look for when you need last-minute accommodations in a city due to a flight cancelation or a similar inconvenience.

14. Avid

Avid Hotels Fresnillo in Zacatecas, Mexico

Established: 2017

Stay-worthy hotel: Avid Hotel Austin Tech Ridge lets you enjoy to the Texas city without hurting your pockets.

Avid Hotels have a depressing concrete block exterior that often plagues budget accommodation options. But its interior design, which employs bright red and aqua colors, saves it from lacking a soul.

While you won't be getting A-list treatment, you can expect decent amenities like a working space in the room, comfortable bedding, complimentary to-go breakfast items and free coffee all day, every day. Avid isn't a bucket-list brand, but it's pretty good for when you need an affordable stay that doesn't make you feel like you're starring in a slasher film.

13. Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts

Established: 2012

Stay-worthy hotel: The astonishing HUALUXE Xi'an Tanghua is listed as a Chinese 20th-century architectural heritage site.

China provides a massive amount of tourism to the world. As a response to this, IHG launched HUALUXE, a brand made to cater specifically to tourists hailing from the country. Chinese architecture, both traditional and modern, is found at each property, along with amenities, design and spaces that fit with the nation's culture and etiquette.

For travelers in China, HUALUXE can guarantee IHG service with true immersion into the culture.

12. Atwell Suites

Established: 2019

Stay-worthy hotel: Atwell Suites Denver Airport is perfect for a Colorado staycation.

One of IHG's newest brands, Atwell Suites is a response to the need for comfortable mid-length stays that are still affordable. The brand offers coworking spaces with standing desks and seating meant for long days in front of a computer. Back in your room, you'll find a lounge area as well as a wet bar equipped with a coffee maker, a mini fridge, a sink and a microwave. The complimentary breakfast has hot, sit-down options or grab-and-go items for people with busy mornings.

This isn't a brand you'd choose for long stays, but it's great for people attending conferences or doing short staycations. As of 2022, there are only two Atwell locations (Miami and Denver), with a third one opening soon in Austin, Texas.

11. Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Cape Canaveral

Established: 2008

Stay-worthy hotel: Ozark Mountain Resort gives you prime access to the beautiful part of Missouri.

Hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton now have vacation clubs, so IHG couldn't lag behind. The timeshare brand isn't directly operated by the chain, but it's still under its umbrella. It's marketed toward large groups and long-term guests that want to feel at home away from home.

Our take? You're better off with an Airbnb that has lots of reviews. Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties can be too expensive for what they offer and can only be found in the U.S. as of now. There's nothing particularly wrong with the brand; it just doesn't seem worth the money.

10. Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts

Established: 1952

Stay-worthy hotel: Holiday Inn Veracruz Centro Historico is set in a beautiful historic house where you'll love to stay on your Mexican vacation.

Present in every state and in more than 50 countries, Holiday Inn is well-known and has a loyal following. It's hard to describe its quality because it varies so much between the U.S. and other destinations. Within its home country, the brand is just a step above a motel, with rooms that often smell musty and have an uninspired design. It does offer good prices and a variety of rooms that fulfill different needs.

Internationally, the brand is another story. Often set in beautiful buildings and boasting incredible service, Holiday Inn is a must-book when you're outside the U.S. The price point is pretty much the same, but the quality of the accommodations will surprise you.

9. Vignette Collection

Established: 2021

Stay-worthy hotel: Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Vly in Australia is stunning with its bold black, white and gold geometric accents.

The word "collection" is more of an aspiration than a fact for now since IHG's newest brand only has two locations that are currently open. Six more across Europe and Asia are in the works. But in its single year of life, Vignette has already managed to impress people with its independent luxury hotels.

With thoughtful detail to design and decor, both the Brisbane and Bangkok, Thailand, properties are a delight to walk into. Don't expect to have the same experience everywhere you go. This isn't the brand for fans of generic, predictable stays. If the brand continues to do what it does now, it'll quickly soar up this list.

8. Even Hotels

Established: 2012

Stay-worthy hotel: EVEN Hotel Miami – Airport provides wellness in a convenient Florida location.

This IHG lifestyle brand is all about wellness, both mental and physical. At every EVEN location, you'll find well-equipped gyms, natural and fresh food options, and fitness classes. Not into working out in front of people? No problem, as every room has a designated exercise space with equipment and access to on-demand exercise videos.

EVEN is perfect for business travelers who want to keep balanced — a hard thing to do when you're on the road. The comfortable in-room desk has a whiteboard meant to help you brainstorm your way out of problems, whether they're work-related or personal. Overall, this is a great brand for people who want wellness perks at a good price point.

7. Voco Hotels

Established: 2018

Stay-worthy hotel: Enjoy 30 acres of parkland in a countryside estate at England's Voco Oxford Thames.

Voco is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get. It might be a modern high rise in the middle of Seoul's trendy Gangnam district or a Victorian building attached to Glasgow's Grand Central Station. The surprise is part of the fun, which is exactly what the brand claims to emphasize.

Amenities change from property to property, but there is a common thread of what IHG calls unstuffy luxury that "stands out from the crowd." The brand is still relatively new, but we're excited to see what new cool properties it adds to its portfolio.

6. Regent Hotels & Resorts

Established: 1970

Stay-worthy hotel: Taiwan's Regent Taipei is one of the capital city's most coveted hotels.

This established and respected brand became part of IHG in 2018. Its luxury hotels are scattered in eight cities, six of which are in Asia and two in Europe. Guests love its modern design and upscale dining options, and IHG claims that its locations inspire "even the most seasoned travelers."

If the brand doesn't rank higher it's because its limited portfolio makes it difficult for anyone outside of major Asian cities to get the experience. That said, if you're in one of its locations and have the money to spare, definitely consider staying at a Regent.

5. Hotel Indigo

Established: 2004

Stay-worthy hotel: Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach immerses you in the Indonesian jungle without giving up modern comforts.

Hotel Indigo cares as much about staying in vogue as any gen z influencer whose income depends on it. The collection of boutique hotels does everything in its power to be unique. No property is the same, and each location emphasizes local culture through food, art and experiences.

We love that this brand actually has personality. And we appreciate that it makes you feel like a local in the city you're visiting — especially now that too many hotels often feel separate from destinations. Indigo does try a bit too hard though, redesigning properties every five years. No outfit-repeating for this brand.

4. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Established: 1981

Stay-worthy hotel: Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel is right in front of Miami, Florida's South Beach and offers an array of fun and unique in-house experiences.

Acquired by IHG in 2015, Kimpton is another boutique hotel brand that prides itself on having beautiful designs and unique events. Its target audience is younger travelers who shun cookie-cutter experiences and want to stay in Instagram-ready places.

Every hotel is different, but they all have a focus on fine dining, wellness offerings and bold design. Expect fitness classes with a twist (think aquayoga in the pool), hosted happy hours meant to get guests talking and partnered tours with local companies.

3. Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Established: 1983

Stay-worthy hotel: The Crowne Plaza Paris – Republique was featured in "Modern Family."

An upscale brand geared towards business travelers, the Crowne Plaza was originally a high-end option for the Holiday Inn. Now one of the best-known IHG brands, it has 402 locations worldwide, each with a unique design carefully curated to be beautiful and elegant.

You'll find amenities necessary for business, like meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, quiet zones, gyms and quality bedding. Each property also has an onsite restaurant for those who don't have time to head out into the city.

2. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

Established: 1995

Stay-worthy hotel: Six Senses Yao Noi is one of the most scenic places you can stay in the Thai islands.

Six Sense is IHG's most high-end brand, with hotels that make you swoon. Their design is unique but always impeccable, with thoughtful touches that enhance the beauty of the location's surroundings. This is the brand you want to look into for special trips like a honeymoon or a big birthday. (Or if you're absurdly wealthy, a Tuesday afternoon getaway.)

The luxury chain's whole spiel revolves around wellness. It wants to "cultivate" your five senses (and, we guess, a spiritual sixth sense?) with its spas, restaurants and exclusive events. This mostly empty marketing strategy deducts points from the brand because no guest wants to be treated like they're naive enough to fall for something this cheesy. But if you ignore this, a stay at any of the Six Senses properties will really be an indulgence for the senses.

1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Established: 1946

Stay-worthy hotel: At InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa you'll have direct access to a soothing Japanese hot spring.

IHG's flagship brand is also its most recognized one. The company claims that InterContinental is the "first international luxury travel hotel brand." Whether or not this is disputed, there is no denying that this is a respected hotel name that is synonymous with an upscale experience every traveler dreams of having.

Expect breathtaking design and flawless service in major cities as well as jaw-dropping destinations like the Maldives and Bora Bora. Intercontinental is out of reach for most travelers, but if your pockets are deep (or if you collect enough loyalty points), it's worth the steep price.