Haile Grand Addis Ababa

We keep choosing Haile when we travel, including many stays in Hawassa and Arba Minch, and Haile Grand Hotel in Addis still impresses us. The rooms are comfortable, the facilities are beautiful, and staff across departments are usually respectful, friendly and welcoming. Those are big reasons we return. On this visit, the outdoor seating area by the waterfall felt different. The staff there seemed dismissive, as if our order wasn’t “enough.” It wasn’t a major problem, but we noticed it. We’ve also seen some employees bickering or being rude to each other more than once, even though they’re polite to customers. I’d like to see that professionalism carry through behind the scenes too. We were traveling with our 8-month-old, and loud music reached our room at night, disrupting his sleep and making it harder for him to settle. Haile Grand is still one of our favorite places to stay, and we appreciate the brand’s standards. We hope the quality we value in Hawassa and Arba Minch is consistent across every service area in Addis.

For my daughter’s birthday, my family and I had lunch at Haile Grand Addis. The food was fresh and delicious, the place was clean and comfortable, and the staff were attentive and friendly. A great setting for a family celebration!

The rooms are spacious, well appointed, and have a really good bed. This is an elegant oasis and a lovely grand hotel, but its people are what make it special. Take time for a long breakfast. The breakfast staff are some of the warmest, friendliest and most hospitable people you’ll meet, and you can feel the spirit of Ethiopia here. Meron and Tewodros are absolute stars!

I wasn’t unhappy with my stay itself. The problem came after I’d left both the hotel and the country. An employee named Hanna called to ask if I had taken a towel. I was confused and even checked my luggage, then wondered why the hotel felt it necessary to call about a “missing towel.” They know I live abroad. What would they expect me to do if I’d taken one by accident, mail it from USA to Addis? I’d spent a lot of money at the hotel, so being asked about a towel felt unthinkable. The manager Meron later called, apparently to apologize, but made the same point as the first employee: they weren’t accusing me of stealing, just saying I might have taken it by accident. I tried to explain that contacting a customer over a missing towel wasn’t a wise move, but I don’t think she understood what I meant. Losing a potential future customer over a cheap towel doesn’t seem worth it. Saba