Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport by IHG — Hotel in Melbourne

Except nearby Melbourne airport location, everything is really wrong with this hotel and it doesn’t deserve to be part of IHG group. Problems start already on arrival, supposed hotel shuttle has to be pre-arranged by calling the hotel. Not everyone can do it especially when coming from overseas. I got told to wait 15-20 mins for the shuttle to come to pick me up, which is ridiculous considering that hotel is only about 5 minutes walk. Not everyone can do that however especially with luggage or in rain. If you don’t want to wait just head through the airport parking and hotel is 5 minutes walk on the other side of car park. The busy street crossing is quite dangerous and there is no easy way across. Next challenge is if you arrive outside of “office hours”. Doors close at 11pm, again ridiculous for busy airport location and you have to wait again by the side doors for one of the front clerks to open the doors for you. Checkin experience was another disaster, took forever and that is despite being Platinum rewards member. First they insist on some artificial incidentals charge, then upfront payment which is not ok especially for frequent guests, then the card reader wasn’t working, night shift manager wasn’t much helpful actually quite rude and didn’t apologise for the inconvenience. It took 20 mins to get to my room from arrival. Hotel is quite old 70’s style and really needs urgent renovation especially bathrooms. Rooms are quite spacious, but bathrooms claustrophobic small and there is no shower, just old style bath tubs really inconvenient for elderly and disabled. Beds are big and comfortable, liked the choice of hard and soft pillows. Wifi was okay. There is a small kitchenette with kettle to make tea or coffee and desk for work. Breakfast not included so again you will be overpaying for not fresh and not healthy food which is not worth the money. Better wait and grab something at airport if you can. Checkout experience wasn’t any better. Took 10 minutes, printer wasn’t working and none could figure out what was wrong. Similar with shuttle back to airport if you have not pre-arranged it a night before you have to be prepared for a long wait. Overall for the absolute ridiculous price it’s not worth your money. Better to choose nearby ParkRoyal hotel or even nap at airport bench. I hope IHG revokes their association with this place soon as it’s not up to...

Absolutely unbelivable! Experience tonight in this hotel. Where I stay for the night. Rooms are OK, staff very friendly and welcome me and thank me for being a IHG member etc... Until I ask for the internet and found out that on all my 3 devices internet does not work and fact is the following. I arrived and my phone could not connect. I went back to front desk and I am been told that everyone can connect and that my device is the issue as all the front desk staff can also connect with their personal devices. I should reboot my device and so I did. Same happens so I am told that actually it's my device. So I go and get my 3 other devices to show that it is exactly the same issue... Then Mat from reception showed me that the business ce ter Mac has internet and I showed that it is not a wifi connected device but a lan cable... That is very different. So it got escalated to the duty manager. A men came out, did of course not even say hello or apologized in any way but told me that I was agressive with his team and that he would not help me. Just like that and that even more he would immediately cancel my booking. Yet it is midnight... I left with my 3 unconnected devices to my room saying that I will not leave the place now. Yet, I still do not have internet that is a basic service for me to work but more then that, I have in my hospitality carrer never seen such an unprofessional behaviors and attitude! What an agressive men looking at me with so much anger... It's unbelivable rather then to apologize and try to find a solution with a 4G Sim or anything like that I don't know... This would have sorted all issues. Or at least tell me that there are current issues rather then to tell me rubbish. I know It pretty well and there are issues with the network at the hotel I am 200%...

I have been fortunate to travel the world and have stayed at many 5 star hotels. Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport was not a 5 star hotel, but it was definitely the best hotel I have ever stayed in.

It had a small-business feel, despite it's large title and it was clearly a hotel that valued inclusively and diversity WHICH I LOVED!!! I teach my children these values, but they are rarely seen in practise. It was so lovely to see such large scale diversity throughout the entire hotel.

All the staff were from various cultural backgrounds, which is very important to me because it tells me what the business and ita management team stand for and promote.

They offered halal food which is immensely helpful for Muslim guests and does not affect any other guest.

The staff really promoted the small-business-personalised-care feel. The staff member who drove the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel was also the staff member who checked in a different guest and also bright me my juice at 11pm at night.

The vibe and feel of the place is what made our stay incredibly special. I have never felt that way about the bigger, fancier hotels I have stayed at and will look for an excuse to take my international flight from Melbourne instead of Brisbane from now on, just to have that one nights stay at Holiday Inn.

I will also ensure my international flights are booked later in the day so I can take advantage of our members late check-out benefit.

Thank you for being such an incredible hotel with a clearly fantastic ethos...