HGI in the US

I've stayed at a number of HGI's in Europe and have been pretty impressed. In fact, those experiences were a key reason I decided to get the Citi Reserve card/Gold and put some more business to Hilton.

So, in the last week, I've stayed at 2 HGI's and one Doubletree in the US and I have to say I have been underwhelmed. I just checked into the HGI near PDX and the bed/bedding is tired, the room uninspired/dowdy, there is too little parking - entertainment/TV is limited. Last week in Atlanta at a Doubletree, I got put into a room on the top floor that was right across from the building AC compressor - it sounded like an engine room - in my room! I had them switch me to another room and they moved me down a floor where I could still hear the compressor (lower volume). An HGI near Charlotte Monday was better but at breakfast, the server forgot my toast, they laid out place settings with forks but no knives or spoons. Room was better but the bathroom was cramped.

Comparing that to HGI's in Lecce Italy and Bologna (now changed to another brand), the US properties are mediocre and a very small step up from Hampton. Both of these US HGI's are bottom 10% Courtyards.

I know it's a small sample but are US HGI's this mediocre?