voco Gent by IHG

Without my consent, they enrolled me in an IHG loyalty membership, which may violate EU and Belgium privacy law. I wouldn't trust them with personal data or emails. The rooms are stone cold, too: the AC is set to cooling even when it's 10 C outside. If you ask, they will give you a mobile electric heater. The room was 170 euros per night, by the way.

Construction noise woke me suddenly at 8:00 AM, after I'd already spent much of the late night dealing with room problems. It came from drilling right outside my room. When I first asked to move because of the air and comfort issues, the front desk refused, saying the hotel was full and that I should just put up with it for the night. After nearly an hour of exhausting back and forth, a room suddenly became available. That change in their story felt dishonest and unprofessional. The air in my assigned room was nearly unbearable. The air conditioning didn't work, there was no ventilation, and the whole property smelled sharply of construction chemicals and paint. The extensive renovations hadn't been disclosed when I booked. Selling a room with equipment failures and such poor air quality is unreasonable. My stay fell far below the standards I expect from the IHG brand. I was deeply dissatisfied with the lack of transparency, the staff's lack of empathy, and the physical discomfort. Selling rooms that are clearly unfit for habitation without warning guests about active renovations is deceptive. I would not recommend the hotel until the construction is finished and the front desk team has been retrained in basic customer service and honesty.

The staff made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived and were available throughout my stay. I found the food varied and delicious, and my room was clean and cozy, with a very comfortable bed. I had a great experience and would definitely recommend staying here.

The location was good and easy to reach, and the staff were nice and helpful. But there was no water in the room when I arrived, which felt stingy at this price. The temperature controls didn't work, and although I booked a double, I got twin single beds. The gym was closed for renovation during my visit even though it was still advertised. The restaurant was decent, but expensive for what it was.