The Best Hotel Chains For 2025, According To A New Report
Looking for the best hotel chains in the U.S. and Canada? A highly anticipated annual report from J.D. Power reveals which brands are rising to the top in 2025—and what travelers really care about right now. J.D. Power is a trusted consumer research company that also ranks the best airlines, airports, rental car companies and more.
In its 2025 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, J.D. Power evaluates the performance of 102 hotel brands based on factors like food and beverage, guest rooms, facilities, staff service, value for price and more. Using the feedback from more than 39,000 guests, the chains are then ranked across nine key market segments—from luxury to economy extended stay.
Compare this year's list to 2024 and 2023, when I also reported on the top hotel chains and emerging trends.
'J.D. Power's hotel research emphasizes the voice of the customer. That allows hoteliers to target performance improvement initiatives that can help increase guest satisfaction,' Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power. 'All this improves the bottom line. It also allows consumers to make an informed choice about which hotels and brands are doing well in delivering guest satisfaction.'
One of the biggest trends this year? Despite record-high room rates—averaging $158.67 a night—hotel guests across North America say they're getting more value for their money.
Even in the budget categories, travelers are feeling better about what they're getting for the price. Perceived value is up across all hotel segments, from economy to luxury.
And the good news—hotel rates aren't expected to keep increasing. 'We're at an important inflection point in the travel marketplace where several years of record-high hotel demand and the pace of room rate increases is starting to slow,' says Stokes.
Another big trend, according to the report: Guest satisfaction with hotel rooms is improving. Hotels are upgrading decor, furniture and bathrooms—and guests are noticing.
'Across many hotel segments, study results show improvement in guest satisfaction with guest rooms, which declined during the pandemic a few years ago,' says Stokes.
Since the pandemic, J.D. Power has been advising hotel chains and hotel operators to re-start or initiate capital investments and renovations that have the greatest impact on guest satisfaction. 'Even less expensive investments, like upgrading in-room televisions to smart TVs with streaming capabilities or adding more accessible USB outlets, can make the hotel room feel modern and refreshed,' says Stokes.
Another interesting find: Guests who use a brand's mobile app report significantly higher satisfaction—68 points higher, on average—than those who don't. The Top Hotel Chains For 2025
The J.D. Power report also ranks the top hotel brands in various segments based on guest satisfaction—and certain strengths stand out. 'The hotel brands with the highest overall guest satisfaction scores exceed segment competitors in guest satisfaction with guest rooms, staff service, the hotel facility and connectivity,' says Stokes.
There are some familiar names on the 2025 list. 'Some brands continue to hover at or around the top of the list. In this year's study, in the nine categories, we have five brands that have consecutive wins,' says Stokes. 'Many different brands are performing well when it comes to delivering guest satisfaction, but some continue to excel more than others year after year.'
Five brands earned repeat wins in their segments. Hyatt House leads the Upscale Extended Stay Hotels list for the fourth consecutive year. In the Upper Midscale/Midscale Extended Stay Hotels, Home2 Suites by Hilton tops the list for the third year in a row. Midscale's winner is Tru by Hilton for a third consecutive year. In the Economy division, Microtel by Wyndham takes the top spot for a second year. Finally, in Economy Extended Stay, WoodSpring Suites is the winner for the third year in a row.
In the Luxury division, the top three hotel brands this year are the same as last year, just in a different order. Coming in at the top of the list is Ritz Carlton, followed by Waldorf Astoria at number two. Last year's winner—The Luxury Collection—lands in the number three spot.
For Upper Upscale, Omni comes out on top, rising from the fifth spot last year. Hard Rock Hotels is at number two. Last year's winner, Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts, is in the third spot.
In the Upscale category, Drury Hotels is the winner (last year, Drury was classified as an Upper Midscale and won that division). This year, the top brand in the Upper Midscale division is Hampton by Hilton.
Keep reading to see where various hotel chains ranked in the J.D. Power North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study for 2025.
Ritz Carlton won the Luxury hotel division. Pictured here: Half Moon Bay on the Pacific Ocean Coastline. getty Ranked: Luxury Hotels
The scores listed here are based on a scale of 1000.
1. The Ritz-Carlton – 779
2. Waldorf Astoria – 773
3. The Luxury Collection – 757
4. JW Marriott – 746
5. Four Seasons – 740 (tie)
5. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts – 740 (tie)
7. Loews Hotels – 730
8. Grand Hyatt – 722
9. W Hotels – 716
10. Destination by Hyatt – 70
11. Conrad Hotels & Resorts – 705
12. Fairmont – 692
Omni Hotels & Resorts took the top spot in the Upper Upscale category. Pictured: Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza in downtown L.A. getty Ranked: Upper Upscale Hotels
1. Omni Hotels & Resorts – 731
2. Hard Rock Hotels – 727
3. Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts – 716
4. Le Méridien – 713
5. Marriott – 711 (tie)
5. Westin Hotels & Resorts – 711 (tie)
7. Embassy Suites by Hilton – 710
8. Royal Sonesta – 708
9. Tapestry Collection by Hilton – 706
10. Hyatt Centric – 704
11. Hyatt Regency – 702
12. Canopy by Hilton – 701
13. Hotel Indigo – 700
14. Hilton Hotels & Resorts – 698
15. Curio Collection by Hilton – 690
16. Renaissance Hotels – 686
17. Kimpton – 684
18. Autograph Collection – 682
19. Sheraton – 681
20. Graduate Hotels – 678
Drury Hotels topped the Upscale category in 2025. Pictured: Drury Plaza Hotel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. getty Ranked: Upscale Hotels
1. Drury Hotels – 738
2. Best Western Premier – 713
3. Cambria Hotels – 703
4. Hilton Garden Inn – 701
5. Delta Hotels – 699
6. AC Hotels by Marriott – 693
7. Aloft Hotels – 687
8. Element – 686
9. Crowne Plaza – 684
10. Courtyard by Marriott – 681
11. DoubleTree by Hilton – 678 (tie)
11. Wyndham Hotels – 678 (tie)
13. Hyatt Place – 676
14. Sonesta Hotels & Resorts – 667
15. Ascend Hotel Collection – 665
16. Radisson – 663
17. SpringHill Suites – 661
18. Four Points – 651
19. Sonesta Select – 636
Hyatt House led the Upscale Extended Stay category for the fourth year in a row. Pictured: Hyatt House in downtown Redmond, Washington. getty Ranked: Upscale Extended Stay Hotels
1. Hyatt House – 705
2. Staybridge Suites – 680
3. Residence Inn – 679
4. Homewood Suites by Hilton – 673
Hampton by Hilton ranked first in the Upper Midscale category. Pictured: Hampton Inn property in Hornell, New York. getty Ranked: Upper Midscale Hotels
1. Hampton by Hilton – 694
2. Fairfield by Marriott – 678
3. Holiday Inn Express – 667
4. Best Western Plus – 665
5. Holiday Inn – 653
6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson – 646
7. Wyndham Garden – 643
8. Comfort Suites – 641
9. Comfort Inn – 631 (tie)
9. Trademark Collection by Wyndham – 631 (tie)
11. La Quinta – 625
12. Clarion – 618
Home2 Suites by Hilton took top honors in the Upper Midscale/Midscale Extended Stay category for the third year in a row. Pictured: Home2 Suites in Indianapolis. getty Ranked: Upper Midscale and Midscale Extended Stay Hotels
1. Home2 Suites by Hilton – 711
2. Candlewood Suites – 673
3. TownePlace Suites – 665
4. Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham – 653
5. MainStay Suites – 620
6. Sonesta ES Suites – 611
7. Sonesta Simply Suites – 584
8. Extended Stay America – 558
Tru by Hilton led the Midscale category for the third consecutive year. Pictured: Tru by Hilton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. getty Ranked: Midscale Hotels
1. Tru by Hilton – 723
2. Wingate by Wyndham – 656
3. Best Western – 646
4. Sleep Inn – 616
5. AmericInn – 608
6. Ramada – 589
7. Quality Inn – 583
8. Baymont – 575
Microtel by Wyndham claimed the top spot in the Economy category for the second year in a row. Microtel by Wyndham Ranked: Economy Hotels
1. Microtel by Wyndham – 619
2. Days Inn – 588 (tie)
2. SureStay – 588 (tie)
4. Howard Johnson – 584
5. Americas Best Value Inn – 576
6. Econo Lodge – 558
7. Super 8 – 546
8. Studio 6 – 540
9. Red Roof Inn – 533
10. Travelodge – 522
11. Motel 6 – 519
12. Rodeway Inn – 468
13. OYO – 386
Sanford, Florida, Woodspring Suites hotel exterior. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Ranked: Economy Extended Stay Hotels
1. WoodSpring Suites – 600
2. Extended Stay America Select Suites – 538
3. InTown Suites – 512
4. HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof – 492
5. Suburban Studios – 467 MORE FROM FORBES: Forbes How This Hospitality Visionary Is Rewriting The Rules Of Luxury Travel By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes The 20 Best Cities To Live In The World, According To A 2025 Report By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes 17 Of The World's Greatest Places To Visit In 2025, According To A New Report By Laura Begley Bloom
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