Holiday Inn Chicago Dwtn - The Mart, an IHG Hotel

In short, I was not a fan of this hotel. I would not stay here again and would not recommend it. In long, here are the main issues we faced: The walk to the hotel room was a bit absurd. You have to take 2 separate elevators to get to the rooms. The first elevator is at the back of the entrance, and when you reach the hotel lobby on floor 15, you then have a walk to the other side of the building for your second elevator. That alone isn't enough to bring my review down, but it was inconvenient. If you want some food after a long day of walking and want to deliver door dash to your room, good luck, because the lobby staff will not let them deliver the food to your room. This has never been an issue in any other hotel I have visited. You will be forced to grab your food at the counter yourself. There also isn't a single soda machine on the property, leaving the only option being a small market area where you will pay 4$ for a single small can of soda. Of course, the payment will then ask for a tip, as if they aren't charging an absurd amount already. You also won't know it even costs 4 dollars until you are already paying, because there are no price tags in the market area. The staff, while generally friendly, were unknowledgeable about the hotel. We asked where the sauna was and were told it was near the pool. When we changed and went to visit it after a day of walking, we were greeted with an out of order sign. This was not a new change either, as we asked another employee if it would become available soon and maintenance informed them over radio that parts were on order. The sauna was a major reason we chose this specific hotel, so we felt cheated by this, out of our money and time. This alone is not the reason for the rating though. The rooms were also not great. The mattress itself was ok, but the single sheet and comforter on it were a very rough texture, they almost felt starched. After our sauna fiasco we decided a bath would be nice, but the drain to our tub turned out to be non-functional. This also made showering annoying as we had to avoid stepping on a metal chunk coming out of the drain while we showered. Even the small adjustable mirror on the wall was dangling and did not feel attached. Also, they would not tell us over the phone, but in person we were told checking in 4 hours early would be a 50$ charge. Luckily the bellhops were friendly and able to hold our luggage instead because that $50 charge felt unreasonable for an already available room. The most I can give this hotel is that the bellhops were friendly and there weren't bugs or anything. I can also say the second lobby on the 15th floor was pretty. Finally, the brown line metro was an ok distance, about a 10 minute walk. In conclusion, I will not be back and will not be recommending this hotel to anybody.

2 weeks ago

This was our first time staying at this Holiday Inn and we were pleasantly surprise. The Staff are extremely kind and very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. The room was great and very spacious along with the bathroom. The pool & sauna were excellent and that area was very spacious as well! We also loved the water dispenser that had carbonated water and regular water that was cold. We had a wonderful view of the city and really enjoyed are time there. We do plan on going back we loved it so much.

4 months ago

Outside of this being a paid work trip I would NOT stay here on my own expense. The room was dingy , outdated and dirty. “Premium queen” is equal to a Motel 8. Outlets so loose you can’t even use them. The air vents have an inch of dander and are loose. The walls of bathroom also gross. The lobby is pretty and has nice views.

4 days ago

From the start, the hotel staff helped with early check-in, answering all questions and were overall friendly and professional. Room was very spacious, had great views and was clean. It was also equipped with ironing supplies, hair dryer and ample convenient outlets. Would highly recommend and hope to be back soon.

a month ago

The hotel is convenient because of its location however, the rooms are dirty. The carpets are filthy. The linens are stained. There’s no hot water in the showers from time to time depending on how many people are using it at the same time. The staff can vary from kind caring to rude and uncaring. When I asked to change my room because I had to take a cold shower two days in a row, I was told that they were oversold and they were unable to accommodate me. In the meantime, there was no food in the hotel because I was told it was there slow season. I highly recommend staying elsewhere when in Chicago.

a month ago

Would stay again. Staff was very friendly. Close to coffee, food, subway etc. The view was great and we were facing another building. Room was a good size and beds comfortable. Fridge is on the small side. Coffee in the room was nice but not my favourite flavor. Recommend!

2 months ago

I don’t have particularly high expectations for hotels, but this one was a disappointment due to a severe lack of amenities and poor upkeep. That said, the staff were friendly and did their best to help, but most of these issues were beyond their control. Unusable Wi-Fi – The internet was so slow I couldn’t even join a video call, which is unacceptable for a hotel catering to business travelers. No breakfast, despite signage advertising one – I went down at 7 AM only to be told they got rid of breakfast a long time ago. If breakfast isn’t available, at least remove the misleading signs posted around the hotel advertising it. Fitness center issues – It was uncomfortably warm (around 80°F) with no mats for stretching or yoga. Broken Peloton bike – The seat and handlebar clamps wouldn’t stay tightened, causing both to drop mid-ride. This is a serious injury hazard. Sparse, incomplete room setup – My room felt empty and unfinished, with obvious missing furniture and exposed cables. Not welcoming at all. Lack of basic amenities – No minibar, snacks, or even a bathrobe. The body wash and shampoo were empty, meaning staff hadn’t bothered to check. The staff were kind and tried to be helpful, but the hotel itself is poorly managed and lacks essential amenities. I wouldn’t stay here again.

2 weeks ago

Angelina was absolutely wonderful and checked me in fast while helping find a room that met my needs. She really showed her professionalism and pride in her work this evening and has made this experience such a positive one. My room is perfect and it could not have been easier to unpack, relax, and enjoy my stay. Thanks so much

a month ago