It is actually the same here in the States. Many of the normal Holiday Inns are older properties, built in the 60's or 70's. The HIEs are always pretty new (10 years or less) and feature granite countertops in the bathrooms, nicer decor/furniture, etc. At this point I have seen enough properties that I would generally rather stay in the Express instead of a normal HI. On the other hand, I suppose the normal HIs usually offer amenities that make them better for large group stays such as conference rooms/ballrooms, restaurants, and generally larger public spaces and lobbies; the Express brand seems to focus on upgrading the individual rooms but limits the amount of public space. I don't think I've ever seen an HIE with a multistory atrium, but they are pretty common in the older HIs in the US.