As the saying goes.. 'when you have nothing good to say, say nothing'... but I have both positive and negative feedback or to be more precise... 'best reasons to stay' and 'areas of improvement'..

The Hotel is in the middle of St. Georges Bay/ St. Julians.. an area densely packed with hotels and apartments, bars, restaurants and shops.. but its mid winter now so it completely alters what you can expect. It has a direct bus from the airport and good frequent connections to the city. there is also a taxi at the door of the hotel 24/7 but Malta has major traffic issues so be prepared for heavy traffice, slow journeys and high fares. I stayed here 6 years ago, when the new club lounge had opened and it was an excellent stay.. even though the hotel was undergoing renovation and the site next store was being transformed into an 8 storied Holiday inn Express.

Now the renovations on the lobby, reception and bar are complete and its very impressive.. very modern, polished and classy.

But my Check in didn't go go with the surroundings..

As I was transferring from the HIE next door, I popped to IC reception after b/f and asked if it was possible to check in early.. (so I could then transfer my bags and leave for downtown meetings early and not have to wait until 3pm to check in).. I was informed (considering the hotel had less than 10% occupancy) that 1pm was the earliest I could check in (I'm spire elite IHG rewards!) as it would 'take some time to prepare the room'!!!.

The receptionist then 'advised' me to take extra time to do my packing'!!! and she was 'super excited' at the prospect of my arrival.... (Why the false/fake enthusiasm?).

I arrived at 1pm to meet the lovely Shylene at reception who explained the reception computers were undergoing an upgrade and so she could not complete all procedures and as She did her best to get me checked in, she had to get assistance from the tech support team as the machine for programming the room keys were not working..

Eventually It came back online and I got the keys to a room at the very furthest point from the reception on the 11th floor. It was a LONG walk... only to discover when I got there that the keys didn't work.. So back I walked to reception to be told that the keys were issued for the wrong room!

I know I'm not the only hotel guest who concludes that a poor check in procedure can have a knock on effect on the stay...

I couldn't understand that after I left reception to go to the incorrectly allocated room, that they didn't send someone after me with the keys to the correct room, as it was on the same floor, so I didn't have to trudge back to reception with my luggage to be told they knew of the error! When I did get to the room, it was spacious with a good balcony overlooking the garden. There was no direct sunlight to any of the rooms on that floor. The bathroom was a little dated but the power-shower made up for this..

The Bed and Sleep quality was excellent, the TV/Internet top class.

I got a call that evening from a very nice receptionist asking if all was ok as she was informed that I 'had some issues at check in'!! a poor choice of words considering I didn't have issues, the HOTEL had issues at check in... I was merely the pawn in a poorly played game of chess!

During the stay I was able to use the gym/pool etc which was followed by a complimentary bottle of wine and Chocolates as part of Spire Elite amenities, not as an apology for the room mix up..(delivered by a very friendly and positive room service agent), and this proved a good sedative and helped with a good nights sleep.

On check out next morning, I was asked if my stay was OK, I said technically, yes... but then the receptionist noted that it was listed on the room profile that I 'had some issues with my stay'!!!! and called a senior receptionist who I informed that it was the check in procedure of the hotel that was in error NOT the guest.. He then placed a card in front of me and handed me a pen and asked if I would list any complaints I had there and then.. this not only was AMBUSHING a guest on departure but the other guest who was also checking out found it both amusing for him but embarrassing for me... At this point I just wanted to leave and go check in BACK at the Holiday Inn Express next door where I did not experience any of this DRAMA! (it must be the first time in IHG history that a guest was HAPPY to leave an IC and return to an HIE!). I kindly informed the senior receptionist that anything i had to say would be in my review so other guests dont get labelled as 'having issues' NOT of their making!

Finally.. for others considering this hotel, check before you book if 1. the Club Lounge is open (it was closed), 2. The Sky Beach is open, (it was closed) 3. The 10th floor Pool is open and supervised, 4. The beach and Restaurant Paranga are open (closed in winter) and 5. that there isn't continuous construction work happening not only to the right of the hotel, but to the back and the left... (the construction work is NOT at the InterConti premises but literally at all walls connecting to the hotel.. and it starts at 8am to 6pm so if you are out all day you wont be affected.

So I now have mixed feelings about returning to the InterConti Malta and to be on the safe side I have booked all 4 nights of my next stay at the HIE next door.

ps.. Hotel management, Please Please dont patronize me with one of the algorithm generated replies!!