This difference has been discussed here many times, because there is a very different image held by NAmericans of HIs than is found in the rest of the world. I have often argued that HI has a real image problem in NAmerica because its roots are budget or at least mid-level in most minds. That was why the CP brand was created, to move HIs up a level in the minds of NAmericans. This is a hold over from the 50s and 60s when HIs started and were reasonably priced, standard amenity highway hotels in the USA.

The overseas version are generally of a higher quality and I don't believe hold the same negative, or low end, image for travellers. And this means anyone whose experience s with HIs come from outside NAmerica is quite shocked by what they often find in this part of the world.