Hotel4Real!

The Holiday Inn Express brand has evolved a lot in recent years, at least in China, as they have been under fierce attack in the midscale market from many local brands. Gone are the grand, above-and-beyond hard product and 4-star service, new Holiday Inn Express properties have become more efficiency-oriented, with newer but smaller rooms, fewer bells and whistles, and more self-serve amenities than ever before. The Jinan Quancheng Square property was one of the first all-new HIX properties I’d experienced, and overall I was okay with the experience.

First thing of notice was location, and that was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to book here for my short layover in the city. It was located in the middle of the core downtown and tourist areas, with most attractions within walking distance and plenty of dining and shopping options nearby. The hotel did lack a driveway or a carport, but once I walked in I was pleasantly surprised by how well put together the lobby felt. Albeit smaller, the lobby was filled with local elements in the decor department, without losing any functionalities.

Check-in was nothing special, efficient but lacked any sense of connection, which I would have preferred. I booked a premium room, and when I asked them what the difference was versus the regular rooms, I was met with an answer equivalent to “I don’t really know I just work here”, although in a very roundabout and polite way. Well, I guess they wanted me to find out myself.

And find out myself I did – the room was, though small, quite well designed and obviously looked (and smelled – more on that later) brand new. Apart from the bathroom area, most other things were open concept, making the room feel brighter and more airy. The bed was harder than I would have liked but still comfortable, and the bathroom featured a separate sink and toilet/shower area, which was adequate – functional enough for the purpose but nothing extraordinary.

As the hotel was brand new – it opened 2 months before my stay – I was able to enjoy the brand new amenities and technologies, but that also meant that my sinuses had to suffer a little, as the room smelled like an Ikea showroom i.e. new furnishings. Leaving the window open helped a little bit, but I really hope the smell dissipates with time as it can be a bit disruptive for sensitive guests like myself.

The view outside was okay even though I was only on the 5th floor (the building has 9 stories). One thing that amused me was how the window slid open and out from right in the middle, and stuck out full length into the room. I saw that as a hazard, but I digress as I did not actually hurt myself during the stay.

The hotel also featured a free laundry room and a gym. While I didn’t use the gym myself, I thought it was pretty good with most equipment you’d expect from a hotel gym present. Breakfast the next day was a little strange, as there was no dedicated service staff. Instead, the kitchen staff was tasked with prepping the food, clearing the plates and also greeting guests. Thus I was quite confused and even didn’t understand him when an chef-looking older gentleman asked me what my room number was in a very assertive way. The buffet itself was pretty good, nothing remarkable but also more than adequate.

All things considered, I think my stay at the property was good, in that it served the exact purposes it was supposed to serve, and delivered the exact experience as advertised. In my opinion, that’s a positive evolvement in general, as long as IHG doesn’t overdo it and neuter the experience further.

RealScore

Service: 7.5

Design and Room Size: 7.5

In-room Amenities: 7

Bathroom Size and Layout: 8

View from (my) Room: 7

Hotel Location: 8

Available Guest Facilities: 7

Food Quality: 7

Food and Beverage Service: 6

Executive Lounge Quality: N/A

Final RealScore: 7.38

Final RealRating: A

Hotel is built/opened: 2026

Total number of rooms: 92

Length of stay: 1 night

Membership level at check-in: Silver

Room type experienced: Premium Room (better amenities)