Holiday Inn Express by IHG Taps Brooke Averick and Connor Wood for "Unpacking" Campaign, Bringing Analog Connection Back to the Breakfast Table

New survey crowns the "morning debrief" a beloved ritual – brought to life over breakfast with a limited-edition card game and the signature tastes of Costa Coffee and smartwater

ATLANTA, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- While the night before may create the memories, the morning after is when the stories come to life. Replaying what happened, swapping perspectives, reliving the moments that deserve a second conversation — that's the "morning debrief" realized. To match, new research from Holiday Inn Express by IHG supports that it's one of the most anticipated parts of travel today for Gen Z and millennials.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/ihg-hotels-and-resorts/9370551-en-holiday-inn-express-by-ihg-brooke-averick-connor-wood-unpacking-morning-debrief-campaign

Now travelers can make the most of the moment with a new Morning Debrief card game, available at select Holiday Inn Express properties, and custom content from "Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast" creators Brooke Averick and Connor Wood, bringing to life how a simple morning-after conversation can become a memory of its own.

Known for turning candid, unfiltered conversation into an art form, the duo gathers in a new digital spot entitled "Unpacking at Holiday Inn Express by IHG" over a hot, complimentary Holiday Inn Express breakfast, featuring the signature smooth taste of Costa Coffee alongside the pure, crisp taste of smartwater. As they talk through tattoo plot twists, hot-button takes and more, Brooke and Connor remind travelers of the simple joy of lingering over breakfast, swapping stories and connecting in person.

"At Holiday Inn Express, mornings are what we do best. We've spent decades helping guests start their day right with a fresh, hot, complimentary breakfast at over 3,000 locations worldwide," said Justin Alexander, vice president of global brand management at Holiday Inn Express by IHG. "The morning debrief reminds us that the little things matter, from hot breakfast and fresh coffee to refreshing water and a comfortable place to reconnect after an eventful night. Our research shows that some of the most memorable moments of a trip happen in the unhurried conversations that follow."

Debrief Data, Decoded
Holiday Inn Express surveyed 1,000 Gen Z and 1,000 millennial adults in partnership with Talker Research about their post-experience habits, and the findings confirm what many have long suspected: the debrief is a cornerstone of human connection. More than half (55%) say that ritualistic recap is more exciting than the night itself, and most (64%) call it "an absolute must" after any big event, such as a vacation, a party or a night on the town.

It tracks with a broader cultural shift. As Gen Z and millennials increasingly prioritize analog, in-person connection, they're not texting the good stuff — they're saving it for when everyone's in the same room.

Key findings include:

• 73% say it's a special bonding experience that can't be replaced with a text or a phone call.
• 83% say a comfortable setting is non-negotiable.
• 65% say coffee is a necessity. Millennials are even more adamant, at 68% vs. 63% of Gen Z.
• The average debrief lasts 85 minutes.
• 52% have extended a stay longer than planned just to make time for a trip debrief.
• 57% say a vacation isn't truly over until the post-vacation debrief; 51% debrief with their group nearly every day while traveling.
• 63% say debriefs help them savor trip memories, and 61% say the ritual makes them want to travel more.
• Top topics: Funny moments (49%), photos and videos (44%), planning the next hangout (40%), drama or gossip (39%).
• Top debrief fuel: Eggs and omelets (51%), bacon or sausage (50%), pancakes (45%).

Meet the Morning Debrief Card Game
To help travelers make the most of those 85 minutes, Holiday Inn Express created the Morning Debrief card game – a special-run deck of 30 prompts that walks travelers through the recap in three acts.

"Last Night" cards get the stories flowing with prompts like who was the main character of the night and what was the biggest plot twist. "Unpack It" cards dig deeper, asking players to share their hottest take or what they almost said but didn't. And "This Morning" cards turn the conversation into action, like challenging the group to pick one thing they've always talked about doing together and choosing a date to make it happen.

Guests can enjoy the game at select Holiday Inn Express properties nationwide. A limited number of decks will also make their way to followers through surprise drops on Holiday Inn Express social channels – follow along for the latest.

Costa Coffee, Now Brewing Coast to Coast
With more than 50 years of coffee craftsmanship, Costa Coffee has built a legacy of delivering premium coffee experiences to consumers around the world. Last year, Holiday Inn Express announced an exclusive partnership with The Coca-Cola Company's Costa Coffee to bring that expertise to hotels across the United States. Today, Costa Coffee is available complimentary to guests at more than 2,200 Holiday Inn Express hotels nationwide.

With 65% of Gen Z and millennials calling coffee a non-negotiable for a proper debrief, the timing couldn't be better. Every morning-after conversation now comes with a freshly ground, brewed cup of Costa Coffee, whether travelers are rehashing a night out, reliving a family vacation or ranking the most memorable moments of a group trip. Because for many travelers, that first cup of coffee doesn't just start the day, it starts the conversation.

To learn more, visit holidayinnexpress.com and follow along on Instagram @holidayinnexpress, TikTok @holidayinnexpress and Facebook @HolidayInnExpress.

Editor's Note: Participating Holiday Inn Express by IHG properties include: Philadelphia-Midtown, Ft. Washington-Philadelphia, Edgewood-Aberdeen-Bel Air, Manchester-Airport, Lexington Downtown Area-Keeneland, Athens, Syracuse-Fairgrounds, White Marsh, Franklin-Berry Farms, Murfreesboro West, Asheville-Woodfin, Memphis/Germantown, Charlotte North, Pittsburgh-Monroeville, Jacksonville West-I295 and I10, Jacksonville Southeast-Medical Center Area, Greenville South-Piedmont, Anderson-I-85, Sebring, Valdosta West-Mall Area, Lake Placid, Cortland, Pittsfield-Lenox-Berkshires, Wilmington-Newark, Hawthorne-Elmsford North, Fort Walton Beach-Eglin Area, St. Paul Northeast (Vadnais Heights), Pensacola Beach, Hagerstown, Hattiesburg West-University Area, Slidell, Gonzales, Harvey-Marrero, Chicago-Hoffman Estates, Chicago North Shore-Niles, Columbus Edinburgh, Onalaska-La Crosse Area, Elkhorn-Lake Geneva Area, Sauk City, Lockport, South Bend-Casino, St. Peters, St. Louis South-I-55, Wentzville-St. Louis West, Houston Northwest-Cypress Grand Parkway, Mission-McAllen Area, Nacogdoches Southwest, Rio Grande City, Duluth North-Miller Hill and Eau Claire West-I-94.

About Holiday Inn Express
For travelers on the go, Holiday Inn Express provides more where it matters most – a great night's sleep with our Express Recharge program, focused service from genuine people, and the Express Start Breakfast™ included in the rate, all designed to help guests feel more than ready for their day. As the fastest growing brand for IHG Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express aims to enable real, human connections for our guests by providing a simple, smart travel experience. For more information, visit www.holidayinnexpress.com, and connect with us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

About IHG
IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON: IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE: IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 21 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 160 million members, IHG has more than one million rooms across 7,100 hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of a further 2,400 properties.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo
• Premium: Noted Collection, voco, Ruby, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, EVEN
• Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner, avid
• Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
• Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.

For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company's purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include smartwater, Dasani, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. We're constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people's lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts