Whatever happened to the old Holiday Inn Concept

[abefroman329]

My point, perhaps clumsily made, is that "express" denotes a lower level of service.

Unless it's a train or bus, you're right - as mentioned in another thread, Delta's attempt at competing with low-cost carriers was called Delta Express.

[GaryV]

The full-version hotel is the one I'd expect to have a full breakfast.

Many top-line hotels don't have an included breakfast. They expect you to go to [their?] restaurant.

It's the "express" or mid-range chains that have full hot breakfasts. Many of the lower end chains have the continental version, perhaps with a waffle maker.

[Rothman]

In my experience, the restaurant breakfasts at the likes ot Marriot are worse than running the waffle maker at Choice Hotels.

[SectorZ]

The full-version hotel is the one I'd expect to have a full breakfast.

Many top-line hotels don't have an included breakfast. They expect you to go to [their?] restaurant.

It's the "express" or mid-range chains that have full hot breakfasts. Many of the lower end chains have the continental version, perhaps with a waffle maker.

Holiday Inn Express in the time of Covid in 2020 got pretty pathetic with their free "continental breakfast", as in, a bag with an apple and a Nutri-Grain Bar in it. Certainly an even swap from all you can eat eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls.

[oscar]

Holiday Inn Express in the time of Covid in 2020 got pretty pathetic with their free "continental breakfast", as in, a bag with an apple and a Nutri-Grain Bar in it. Certainly an even swap from all you can eat eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls.

Everybody was doing that, not just HIE.

There's still some inconsistency on breakfast offerings within the HIE and other chains, depending on the rules of state and local health departments.

[Big John]

My point, perhaps clumsily made, is that "express" denotes a lower level of service.

Unless it's a train or bus, you're right - as mentioned in another thread, Delta's attempt at competing with low-cost carriers was called Delta Express.

Midwest Express dropped the "express" so they didn't want to be in that niche.  I miss the chocolate cookies.

[GCrites]

There is one group of people who vastly prefer the outside entry rooms: People who tow. And they ask for first-floor rooms specifically. That way you can park right in front of your room and see/hear if people are trying to steal your expensive cargo such as a race car, trailer full of motorcycles/ATVs or boat. And the thieves know that you will be able to come right out and confront them rather than have to come at them from the fifth floor through stairs, elevators and corridors. This kind of event actually does happen and a lot of times it's bored people stealing the stuff just so they can rip around on it for a while and then dump it rather than sit in their trailer and do drugs/watch movies all day.

[jgb191]

I have seen places where Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express were only a small distance apart, do they still compete with one another or is there a level of cooperation between them? 

Also, I could be wrong but another difference I have noticed is that the original (full service) Holiday Inn includes complimentary shuttle rides to and from an airport, whereas I haven't seen an Express offer airport shuttle service (and even if they do, might be an extra upcharge fee for the Express ones).

Also speaking of airport hotels, I've seen Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Springhill Suites, and Townplace Suites surrounding the same airport -- all of which owned by Marriott.  Are they all competing with one another or do they all cooperate together being that they are all connected by their parent Marriott company?

[jeffandnicole]

I have seen places where Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express were only a small distance apart, do they still compete with one another or is there a level of cooperation between them? 

Also, I could be wrong but another difference I have noticed is that the original (full service) Holiday Inn includes complimentary shuttle rides to and from an airport, whereas I haven't seen an Express offer airport shuttle service (and even if they do, might be an extra upcharge fee for the Express ones).

Also speaking of airport hotels, I've seen Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Springhill Suites, and Townplace Suites surrounding the same airport -- all of which owned by Marriott.  Are they all competing with one another or do they all cooperate together being that they are all connected by their parent Marriott company?

They all compete with each other, but at the same time they are going after different price points, offerings and services valued their customers.

Locations may also be owned by the corporation themselves or by a franchisee.  It's very common for one person/franchisee to own a hotel branded by Marriott and another branded by Hilton, often on the same property in 2 different buildings. While the chains themselves are in competition with each other, the franchise owner is looking to get brand loyalty business from both.

[Ned Weasel]

I have seen places where Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express were only a small distance apart, do they still compete with one another or is there a level of cooperation between them? 

In Oklahoma City, on Meridian Avenue just south of I-40, there used to be a Holiday Inn and a Holiday Inn Express that were literally next-door neighbors, and their signs even shared the same pole (I always thought it was rather impressive to see a single sign pole split into two poles supporting two separate signs).  Both buildings were two stories and had an exterior corridor configuration, but for the most part, those exterior corridors were closed off by walls (this sort of remodeling was done with many older Holiday Inns, actually).  The Holiday Inn had a Holidome, which was fun, except that particular Holidome was rather humid--a design problem that other Holidomes solved by separating the swimming pool.  The Holiday Inn was eventually torn down, and the Holiday Inn Express became a Clarion Inn.  However, I believe that, too, has been torn down, since I can't find it on Google Maps anymore.

[GCrites]

I have seen places where Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express were only a small distance apart, do they still compete with one another or is there a level of cooperation between them? 

Also, I could be wrong but another difference I have noticed is that the original (full service) Holiday Inn includes complimentary shuttle rides to and from an airport, whereas I haven't seen an Express offer airport shuttle service (and even if they do, might be an extra upcharge fee for the Express ones).

Also speaking of airport hotels, I've seen Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Springhill Suites, and Townplace Suites surrounding the same airport -- all of which owned by Marriott.  Are they all competing with one another or do they all cooperate together being that they are all connected by their parent Marriott company?

They all compete with each other, but at the same time they are going after different price points, offerings and services valued their customers.

Locations may also be owned by the corporation themselves or by a franchisee.  It's very common for one person/franchisee to own a hotel branded by Marriott and another branded by Hilton, often on the same property in 2 different buildings. While the chains themselves are in competition with each other, the franchise owner is looking to get brand loyalty business from both.

Yeah in the instance described above even though they are all Marriott-operated, some or all of the buildings could be owned by different people including Marriott themselves.

[CapeCodder]

I'm not a DOT employee, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.