Choosing a hotel in a location you have never been to can be quite difficult, especially if you are concerned about details not found on hotel websites, like the size of the working desk.
Nonetheless, online articles and customer reviews help a lot. Torn between Holiday Inn by Intercontinental and Courtyard by Marriott? This article lists six feature differences and explains each point intently to help you decide which hotel brand to choose. Read on.
Here’s the Difference Between Holiday Inn and Courtyard Marriott
Holiday Inn is a mid-priced family-friendly hotel brand that offers full services at affordable rates. At the same time, Courtyard by Marriott is an upscale hotel brand that mostly caters to business travelers. The most notable difference between these two brands is in their target market, which affects the type of services they offer, the location of their properties, and the cost of their rooms.
Quick overview
| Category | Holiday Inn | Courtyard Marriott |
|---|---|---|
| Target Clients | Family-friendly atmosphere, affordable rates. | Primarily business travelers, also accommodates families. |
| Accommodation | Standard rooms, suites, and executive rooms. | Standard rooms, suites, and premium rooms. |
| Unique Amenities | Swimming pools, fitness centers, on-site restaurants. | Meeting rooms, business centers, fitness centers, swimming pools, 24-hour marketplaces. |
| Location | Suburban, rural areas, tourist destinations, and business centers. | Urban areas, business districts, and airports. |
| Price | Generally more affordable. | More expensive due to stylish rooms, amenities, and location. |
| Loyalty Programs | Part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group Rewards Club. | Part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. |
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Brand and Target Market
Holiday Inn is a mid-range Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) brand.
It is a brand well known for its family-friendly atmosphere and affordable rates.
When it was first established in 1952 by Kemmon Wilson (who was gravely disappointed by the quality and consistency accorded to traveling families), the idea was to have hotel properties that were family-friendly, predictable, clean, accessible, and, most importantly, affordable.
And it achieved what it set out to do so much that it had constructed over 1000 properties worldwide in 16 years, setting the bar and dominating the motel market.
On the other hand, Courtyard by Marriott is a slightly more upscale and one of Marriott’s mid-priced brands that primarily targeted business travelers but grew with time to accommodate traveling families and the pleasure market.
To compete with the likes of Holiday Inn, Courtyard expanded its properties and updated them by redesigning the lobby and offering bar services that operated extended hours to create a social setting.
Room Design and Layout
Based on their target market and growth over the years, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott are popular hotel chains offering their guests comfortable accommodations.
As competing entities, these brands offer similar rooms with slight name variations.
Holiday Inn hotels, for example, offer traditionally designed properties with comfortable and functional rooms.
And it offers a range of room types in all its properties;
- Standard rooms
- Suites
- Executive rooms
The standard rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with comfortable beds, a work desk, and an en-suite bathroom.
Their suites, however, are larger and feature a separate living area with a sofa bed and a kitchenette with a microwave and mini-fridge.
On the other hand, the executive rooms are designed for business travelers and offer additional amenities, such as a separate check-in desk and access to an executive lounge.
Courtyard by Marriott, on the other hand, offers more modern and stylishly designed rooms with open spaces and communal areas.
Type of rooms include;
- Standard rooms
- Suites
- Premium rooms
Their standard rooms are spacious and feature comfortable beds, a work desk, and an en-suite bathroom.
Like any other suite, Holiday Inns Suites and Courtyard Suites are equally larger and feature a separate living area with a sofa bed and a kitchenette with a microwave and mini-fridge.
The premium rooms are designed for business travelers and offer additional amenities such as a separate check-in desk and access to an executive lounge.
Hotel Amenities
The type of amenities a hotel offers has much to do with its target market and the price it charges for its rooms.
But because Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott target almost the same clients, their amenities are almost identical.
Holiday Inn hotels started as family-centered properties but branched out to accommodate business travelers.
In contrast, Courtyard started as a business travelers-centered brand but grew to accommodate leisure and traveling families.
In comparison, Holiday Inn by Intercontinental has a range of amenities such as;
- Free WiFi
- Swimming pools
- Fitness centers
- On-site restaurants
- And a business center for business travelers who require the services.
Courtyard by Marriott, on their part, typically offers a larger selection of amenities to its guests, which includes;
- Free WiFi
- Meeting rooms
- Business centers
- Fitness centers
- Swimming pools
- 24-hour marketplaces
- Family rates
- A mini-fridge in each room
- Complimentary guest microwave etc
Range Of Services
Both Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott strive to provide excellent service to their guests to stay constant and reliable.
The difference in their services, though, is the approach.
Holiday Inn Focusses focuses on providing personalized service to their guests.
Guests often feel valued by personalized services and will strive to stay loyal to the brand.
Holiday Inn offers concierge services, a 24-hour reception desk, and a shuttle service to and from the airport to meet individual customers’ needs.
The hotel also offers laundry services and has a currency exchange desk for international travelers.
The same goes for Courtyard by Marriott, only that this brand prioritizes efficiency and ensures guests have everything they need for a productive stay.
Brand Loyalty Programs
Holiday Inn hotels are part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group Rewards Club, while Courtyard by Marriott hotels are part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
Intercontinental and Marriott, as brands, offer their guests loyalty programs with various rewards and benefits.
Intercontinental’s loyalty program is called IHG Rewards Club. Its members can earn points for every stay at an Intercontinental hotel or one of its affiliated brands, such as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, etc.
Here’s a review of Holiday Inn from a happy customer on Tripadvisor;
These points can be redeemed for free stays, airline miles, merchandise, and more.
Members can enjoy complimentary room upgrades, late check-out, and exclusive rates.
For example, an IHG Rewards Club member could redeem 30,000 points for a free night at the Intercontinental Times Square in New York City.
Marriott’s loyalty program, on the other hand, is called Marriott Bonvoy, and loyal members can equally earn points for stays at Marriott hotels or any of its affiliated brands such as Courtyard, Sheraton, Westin, etc.
Just like with IHG, Marriott’s loyal members can be redeemed points for free stays, airline miles, car rentals, and more.
Members can also enjoy free Wi-Fi, exclusive rates, and late check-out.
For example, a Marriott Bonvoy member could redeem 50,000 points for a free night at St. Regis in Bali.
Location and Prices
While both hotel brands have properties in various locations, the specific locations and target markets may differ.
Holiday Inn hotels are often found in suburban, rural areas, tourist destinations, and business centers.
Courtyard by Marriott hotels are usually located in urban areas, business districts, and airports.
Between the two brands, Courtyard by Marriott tends to be more priced based on stylish rooms, amenities, and location.
But the prices of different properties or brands vary greatly depending on several factors such as location, time of year, demand, amenities, etc.
For example, a room at the Intercontinental Times Square in New York City could cost upwards of $300 per night in peak season, while a room at the Holiday Inn in a smaller city could cost around $100 per night.
Here’s a review of Courtyard Marriott from a customer on Tripadvisor:
Similarly, a room at the Courtyard by Marriott in a busy business district could be more expensive than a room at a Courtyard in a quieter suburban area.
Prices are not the same across the board, and one’s destination determines how much they will pay for a hotel.
But because hotels have a presence online, one can easily check on the website or call to confirm prices, among other things.
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