Yeah, interesting...I thought CY is more like HI minus free breakfast. Never stayed at an HGI - there does not seem to be so many out there.

The HI rooms seem to be brighter and the nice touches like the curved shower rod and easy to use alarm clock make you feel that they are more innovative.

The Courtyard upgrade seems to go really slowly. I stayed at my first renovated CY in 2003 and it seems most of them are still nowhere near getting upgraded. Some seem to have partial upgrades - the new "red" color scheme sofa but nothing else (even beds) seemed to have changed. The bed is nicer after some upgrades but I was disappointed that they did not make the bathroom better ... and those cheap looking doors just don't seem to go with an upgraded room.

In the case in Naperville IL, the Hampton is right across the street and the pricing was:

Courtyard (newly renovated) = $149
Hampton Inn = $99
Fairfield Inn = $89

Amazingly, the full service Hilton down the road charges less than the Courtyard. Courtyard is heavily booked even at that price.