Holiday Inn Riyadh - Izdihar by IHG — Hotel in Municipality of Olaya

the Holiday Inn Izdihar is very nice, as are the staff - nice & cordial - but service/response is very uneven. I arrived at 2AM as part of a company delegation having meetings the following day in the hotel (so they knew we should be up and talking to our Customers at ca. 08:30 am). 1st they put me in a wing RIGHT NEXT to an extremely busy main road = impossible to sleep (the traffic noise sometimes even exceeded the level of the noisy air conditioner...!). It took 1/2 hour or so before someone brought me the key to a new room (meanwhile I couldn't do anything, e.g. take a shower, because, of course, I didn't know when that person would show up..# The beds have no sheets, but rather what we would call a 3-season comforter here in Europe. Even with A/C, this is Saudi Arabia! - far too much weight & warmth in this climate. So I usually ask for a sheet or just an empty comforter-cover #= double sheet#. That also took ca. 1/2 hour so I went looking for the guy doing room service I'd seen in my 'old' hallway and just took one. I told him who I was and that I was taking it back to my room #number#. As I crossed through the entrance lobby #on the 1st floor# I also told the night clerk #who was glaring at me as if I'd stolen the chandelier out of the dining room#. Finally I got to bed nearly 2 hours after I arrived.... The water in the room does not get hot, period. Once I let it run for like 20 minutes - this is a real sin considering how much energy it takes to desalinate every liter of water in KSA! - while it may be cheap in terms of cost, it's not very environmentally friendly. Well in any case the water gets to maybe 30C, nothing like 'hot'. The drain in my shower was very slow and badly needs suctioning. Lighting controls aren't well laid out for convenience #well maybe for the installing electrician..# They are doing something to the cable TV feed, 1/4 of the picture #e.g. CNN# is chopped from either side. This is not the case in other hotels in KSA so it's not a universal problem. there is printed info on the screen which impossible to read because it's been cropped out. Why? On the other hand the staff are very friendly and helpful with e.g. transport outside the hotel. And of course I know they mean well. The food was quite good, at the typically high standard...

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Riyadh - Izdihar, and unfortunately, it was one of the worst hotel experiences I've ever had. From the moment I checked in, it was clear that this hotel falls far short of the standards expected from a reputable brand like Holiday Inn.

First and foremost, the service was abysmal. The staff seemed indifferent and unresponsive to guest needs. From the unfriendly front desk staff to the unhelpful housekeeping team, it was evident that customer service is not a priority at this hotel. I had to request basic amenities multiple times, and even then, they were delivered with an air of annoyance and delay.

The room itself was in a terrible condition. It was outdated, poorly maintained, and lacked cleanliness. The bed was uncomfortable, with lumpy pillows and stained sheets that made for a restless night. The bathroom was even worse—moldy tiles, a leaking faucet, and an unpleasant odor that lingered throughout my stay. It was clear that the room had not been properly cleaned or maintained, which was both unhygienic and unacceptable.

Adding to the misery was the noise level. The walls were paper-thin, and I could hear every conversation, door slam, and noise from the corridor and neighboring rooms. This lack of soundproofing made it impossible to relax or get a good night's sleep.

The amenities were also disappointing. The pool area was dirty and poorly kept, and the on-site dining options were subpar, with limited choices and mediocre food quality. Breakfast was a particular letdown, with stale pastries, cold dishes, and inattentive service that made the experience even worse.

The location of the hotel might be convenient for some, but even that could not compensate for the overall poor experience. The hotel’s lack of attention to detail and disregard for guest satisfaction made my stay extremely unpleasant.

In conclusion, I would strongly advise against staying at the Holiday Inn Riyadh - Izdihar. My experience was nothing short of terrible, and I would never consider returning. There are far better options in Riyadh that offer superior service, comfort, and value for money. This hotel needs a serious overhaul in both management and facilities before it can be considered a decent...

This is an old property with lots of things to fix, such as noisy AC with thermostat which no longer works, water leaking all over bathroom when showering. So no matter what it’s still an old property. However more intensive staff training and attention to details need to be done. I was not acknowledged of my status when I arrived at midday and was only told the room is not ready, please take a seat and wait until 3pm. I didn’t get the staff name. Thankfully, It became obvious later that she is not how all staff are as my experience with the second female staff (Sarah) was exceptional. When I checked in at 12 noon. After being told to wait until 3pm, I asked if I can use the gym and she told me yes but you have to pay. In my 20 years of being a member I have never been told to pay for the gym while I wait.

I waited until 1pm and I asked another staff (Sarah) if my room was ready. Sarah was exceptional. She thanked me for being a member and proceeded to tell me that if I want to stay in the same wing my room will take another hour to be ready. However she will upgrade me and a room is ready now at the other wing across the road. Our concierge staff will help with your luggage. What an Angel. I have been traveling from Sydney for 24 hours to get to the hotel. Of course I agreed.

In the restaurant, for whatever reason the person at the desk is always on the phone. It’s not a good look.

The gym on both wings can best be described as a museum. Both need upgrading just like the entire property.

Simple things can make an old property welcoming:

shoe cleaner on every floor

housekeeping staff knowing difference between normal coffee sachets and decaf. I was only given all decaf.

fix water going everywhere when showering

Other than Sarah, the catering staff doing eggs at breakfast is a very...