These Are North America’s Best Hotel Chains

When deciding which hotel to stay at, the plethora of options may feel overwhelming. There are seemingly countless chains and boutique hotels to choose from at every price point, from modest accommodations to luxurious experiences. When it comes to the major chains, to help narrow down the options, we turned to the experts in the field of consumer behavior and satisfaction at J.D. Power, who recently released their 2025 North America Guest Satisfaction Index Study. This study examined 102 hotel brands and ranked them based on a 1,000-point scale. Take a look at the winners in each category below.

1. Luxury Chains

Average score: 734 out of 1,000

• The Ritz-Carlton (779)
• Waldorf Astoria (773)
• The Luxury Collection (757)
• JW Marriott (746)
• (tie) Four Seasons and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (740)

The Marriott group’s Ritz-Carlton brand boasts the highest score of any hotel chain in North America — luxury or otherwise. Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria portfolio is a close runner-up, while Fairmont has the lowest ranking (692) of the 12 chains in the luxury category.

According to the study, one of the most important amenities when it came to guest satisfaction was having a smart TV in the room — 40% of surveyed guests considered this a “need to have” feature, with 60% saying they used smart TVs during their stay.

2. Upper Upscale Chains

Average score: 701 out of 1,000

• Omni Hotels & Resorts (731)
• Hard Rock Hotels (727)
• Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts (716)
• Le Méridien (713)
• (tie) Marriott and Westin Hotels & Resorts (711)

Omni Hotels & Resorts tops the list of what J.D. Power classifies as “upper upscale” chains, which offer premium amenities and dining at a slightly more affordable price than luxury hotels. Omni’s rating of 731 is just a few points higher than that of runner-up Hard Rock Hotels. At the bottom of this category, you’ll find Graduate Hotels at No. 20 with a score of 678.

Hotels in this category (and all other categories) were likelier to receive higher rankings if they invested in maintaining high-quality rooms. Guests reported being satisfied by furnishings that were kept in good condition, nice bathroom fixtures, and comfortable bedding, to name a few. Common issues that led to negative ratings included excessive noise, unpleasant odors, and disputes during the check-in process.

3. Upscale Chains

Average score: 682 out of 1,000

• Drury Hotels (738)
• Best Western Premier (713)
• Cambria Hotels (703)
• Hilton Garden Inn (701)
• Delta Hotels (699)

With a satisfaction rating of 738, Drury Hotels takes the cake in the “upscale” category. This chain currently operates over 150 locations in 30 states, primarily in the Midwest, Southwest, and South. On the flip side, Sonesta Select ranks last of the 19 upscale chains, with a rating of 636.

One reason that Drury Hotels ranks so highly is the perceived value from guests. In the 2025 J.D. Power study, the “upscale” category was one of the three categories that saw the most significant positive gains in terms of perceived value compared to the nightly rate that guests paid.

4. Upscale Extended-Stay Chains

Average score: 679 out of 1,000

• Hyatt House (705)
• Staybridge Suites (680)
• Residence Inn (679)
• Homewood Suites by Hilton (673)

Upscale extended-stay hotels provide amenities such as an in-room kitchen or laundry. With its score of 705, the Hyatt House chain takes the top spot in this category for the fourth consecutive year. This is also the only category in the entire study with fewer than five entries. The average score in this category is 679, a few points higher than the 677 average across all categories.

5. Upper Midscale Chains

Average score: 662 out of 1,000

• Hampton by Hilton (694)
• Fairfield by Marriott (678)
• Holiday Inn Express (667)
• Best Western Plus (665)
• Holiday Inn (653)

In the “upper midscale” category, familiar hotel chains such as Hampton by Hilton, Fairfield by Marriott, and Holiday Inn Express top the list. But Hampton by Hilton is a clear runaway, netting a satisfaction ranking that’s 32 points higher than the average for this category.

One key finding from the study across all hotel categories was that users of the hotel’s mobile app reported higher levels of satisfaction than those who hadn’t downloaded the app. Guests in the former category rated their stay at an average of 699 on the 1,000-point scale, compared to an average of 631 for those without the app.

6. Upper Midscale and Midscale Extended-Stay Chains

Average score: 643 out of 1,000

• Home2 Suites by Hilton (711)
• Candlewood Suites (673)
• TownePlace Suites (665)
• Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham (653)
• MainStay Suites (620)

For the third-consecutive year running, Home2 Suites by Hilton ranks the highest among upper midscale and midscale extended-stay hotels. Ranking last of the eight chains in this category was Extended Stay America, with a score of 558 out of 1,000.

Happiness aside, J.D. Power found that the average daily rate for a hotel room across all categories rose to $158.67 in 2024, denoting the highest such value on record. Interestingly, despite the cost increase, guests in every category reported higher levels of satisfaction.

7. Midscale Chains

Average score: 613 out of 1,000

• Tru by Hilton (723)
• Wingate by Wyndham (656)
• Best Western (646)
• Sleep Inn (616)
• AmericInn (608)

Tru by Hilton offers the best experience at the midscale price point, while Baymont by Wyndham holds the eighth and bottom spot in this category with a 575-point score. The “midscale” category is generally defined by hotels that offer limited services that fulfill basic needs. Historically, these hotels have provided amenities such as Wi-Fi, TVs, and gym access, but in recent years, many midscale chains have taken steps to update their offerings to attract a new clientele. As a result, you may now find features such as breakfast buffets, pools, and smart TVs during your stay at a midscale chain.

8. Economy Chains

Average score: 544 out of 1,000

• Microtel by Windham (619)
• (tie) Days Inn and SureStay (588)
• Howard Johnson (584)
• Americas Best Value Inn (576)

Economy hotels offer bare-bones accommodations at an affordable price, so it should probably come as no surprise that their satisfaction scores rank far lower compared to luxury and upscale chains. In the “economy” category, one chain stands out on top: Microtel by Windham, the only economy chain to crack the 600-point threshold. This category also includes the worst-rated hotel chain in the study: OYO, with a rating of 386.

9. Economy Extended-Stay Chains

Average score: 544 out of 1,000

• Microtel by Windham (619)
• (tie) Days Inn and SureStay (588)
• Howard Johnson (584)
• Americas Best Value Inn (576)

There’s only one chain in the “economy extended-stay” category that J.D. Power considered above-average, and that honor goes to WoodSpring Suites, with a satisfaction score of 600 out of 1,000. Hotels in this category cater to extended-stay travelers but offer more limited and basic amenities than those in the upscale or midscale extended-stay range.

About the data: J.D. Power’s NAGSI (North America Guest Satisfaction Index) Study is one of the longest-standing hotel satisfaction studies in the industry. The 29th edition of the study analyzed the viewpoints of 39,219 hotel guests who stayed at properties in North America between May 2024 and May 2025 across seven key dimensions — check-in/check-out, communications and connectivity, facilities, food and beverage, guest room, staff service, and value for price — with questions specific to each hotel category. You can read the full report here.