Holiday Inn Istanbul Sisli by IHG

My wife is an IHG member, and we expected much better hospitality, respect, and professionalism. Instead, my family and I felt unwelcome during our 13-day stay. The way we were treated felt disrespectful and unprofessional, and we genuinely felt there was discrimination in how we were spoken to compared with other guests. The trouble involved a pool staff member’s rude behavior and the evening duty manager’s poor attitude. When we raised it, the manager showed little concern and didn’t handle the situation professionally or try to resolve it. That was completely unacceptable. I hope management takes this incident seriously, investigates the conduct of both staff members, and takes appropriate action so another guest doesn’t have this experience. Respect and professionalism should come first in hospitality.

The breakfast was good, and the location is great, right next to the Tram. The hotel itself is nice, with basic facilities and services. Front desk staff could use some training to make their service more efficient and pleasant. People were smoking in non-smoking rooms, and even after I reported it several times, the hotel did nothing. The smell was really bad and affected my asthma.

The concierge, Samet, really made our stay. He checked us in, greeted us warmly each day he worked, and kept checking whether we needed anything. He also helped with several requests that made things wonderful for us. We stayed for 24 days and enjoyed it very much. The room was fairly large and had a good workspace, though the busy street and intersection outside made it noisy. The breakfast area was pleasant and the staff attentive, but the food was a bit underwhelming.

We stayed in connecting rooms (801 & 802), which worked really well for our family. They were comfortable, clean, well maintained, and relaxing. Mr. “Samet” at the front desk gave us a warm welcome, kept smiling, and provided exceptional service. The reception staff were welcoming and professional from the moment we arrived. The location was convenient and easy to reach, close to restaurants, shops, and main attractions. Breakfast had a good variety, and the hotel services were delivered with care and high standards. A wonderful stay, and I’d happily come back.