Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites North Seattle - Shoreline, an IHG Hotel

I booked a three night stay at the Holiday Inn Express on Aurora Blvd in Seattle using credit card points on May 29. I drove to my destination on July 18 and the hotel was completely shut down, the signs were taken down and the parking lot closed off. I immediately called the nearest Holiday Inn and they were able to find rooms for my stay, however, they demanded I pay the full price. I’ve talked to multiple Holiday Inn employees and not ONE has admitted fault on behalf of Holiday Inn for not letting me know it was closed down. I was literally offered nothing despite there not being a place for me to stay. The employee, Ruth, told me I could only stay where I book - so in an abandoned building?! I ended up having to pay for other accommodations, which was incredibly expensive last minute during the summer months. This is by far the worst customer service experience I have ever received. I will avoid IHG at all costs. I did receive my credit card points back from my bank which definitely treated me with far more respect than IHG.

I've reviewed this hotel many years ago. We've stayed here regularly when visiting family. I just want to add how impressed I was when we were there in June of this year. COVID protocols were in place. Seattle had yet to lift some of the mask requirements. All the staff were masked up but what impressed me most was the breakfast. They usually have a selection of eggs, pancakes, bagels, cereal and muffins buffet style. Since that had to be canceled due to COVID I expected to get nothing or very little for breakfast but that was NOT the case. When we checked in we received a menu with most everything that appears at the breakfast buffet. We ordered our breakfast and the time we wanted it and it was in a "to go" box hot and ready to eat at our requested time. No, the Holiday Inn does not serve gourmet food however it was the same food we would have gotten had the breakfast buffet been open. The person at the front desk explained that there was construction going on nearby and the workers would stay there. They didn't want them to have to take out food from restaurants every day. I was impressed at the level of caring. Recently we stayed at a nice hotel in Maine (where most COVID restrictions were eliminated) for twice the price and got a granola bar and a packaged muffin or pastry. AND they charged us a resort fee! Thanks Holiday Inn Express Shoreline, see you next year!