Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Wayne North by IHG

We were here for a basketball tournament, and the place had everything we wanted: a good location, pool, breakfast, family suites, and meeting spaces. The breakfast was good, but on Saturday there was only one worker, who couldn’t keep up with restocking for the crowd. The pool was nice, though they ran out of towels and the room could’ve been cleaned more often. I think all the problems came from having too few staff. The front desk person was helpful with questions, but there was only one, so you had to catch them when they weren’t busy. Only one elevator ran during our stay, and it was the smaller one, so there were lines and only one cart could fit at a time.

The room was clean, and the shower had good, hot water. At check-in we asked when breakfast opened and were told 7:30 a.m. When we asked why so late, since most places open at 6, the front desk attendant said it was so we could sleep in. That was an interesting answer, though cost cuts or a shortage of qualified staff seem more likely. The stay was decent.

I’m not usually a fan of Inn hotels, but we’re here for my daughter’s tournament because it’s close to the coliseum and breakfast is included. I was surprised by how spotless it is. The beds and pillows are comfortable, too. I brought my own pillow because these hotels usually have uncomfortable ones, but I didn’t need it. I’m definitely coming back next year. They have Dove shower gel, hand wash, and lotion. Dove everywhere!

This was the worst managed and maintained Holiday Inn Express my family and I have stayed in. We were understaffed on help, with staff replying to questions only, “I’m sorry, I wish I could help you.” Key cards kept losing their programming. Our room was cleaned but had no clean towels, and the hallway carpet and elevator areas on the floors were dirty and never cleaned. On the second day, multiple families in our group had no hot water for showers at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast was poor, with undercooked eggs and very little choice. Sound carries through the walls and floors, too. After sporting events, our group of five families usually gathers quietly in the lobby to unwind. This hotel made us leave at 10 p.m. The adults weren’t bothering anyone, the staff were rude, and the manager wasn’t there.