These days, I'm spread across Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and IHG. The soft product everywhere has grown so mediocre that the programs have become purely transactional for me. Even redemptions at Ritz and W=A have been underwhelming - more limited amenities and service than what those brands once represented.

IHG is basically my rural U.S. play. HIX's are generally pretty good for a roadtrip. I was vaguely aware that IHG had British roots but I've never really thought of any of the constituent brands as particularly British, even IC. The biggest knock on IHG is that it's very thin on the mainline city business hotels. IC and Kimpton tend to price well above the Hilton/Marriott/Hyatt tier. Crowne Plaza simply isn't very good. The other IHG brands that might fit the bill are simply too niche - can't count on them to be everywhere.

When we've driven around the UK we've tended towards small B&Bs. We'll probably always do that just for the Britishness of them but it's good to know there's some HIX options if we need them. I've just never really looked.