What is your IHG Rewards status?
Platinum Ambassador

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Not really

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked standard King room got standard King room with Parliament view at least

How are the rooms?
This is a newish HIX and the look and layout are familiar to anyone that has stayed at HI/HIX. Room was clean, bed was comfortable, AC efficient and good water pressure. Standard HIX room

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
GOOD
Comfortable and clean room
10 minute walk to Byward Market, 15 to Parliament


BAD
No recognition of Platinum status except when I ask about upgrade to Suite (which were available to book on the app). Told nothing was available, didn't feel like fighting it.
No asking how my stay was at checkout
Breakfast items were not hot, mostly tepid
24 hour coffee not available after breakfast and no staff around
Lobby cleanliness and upkeep not what it should be. My coffee cups were still on the desk where I worked 24 hours later, had to wipe down the table myself, etc.
No recycling bins in room
SLOW elevators from hell(pet peeve of mine) due to bad setup. Doors take 5 seconds to close, elevators stop on the way up even when down call button is only one lit, all of these cause huge delays and crowded elevators. Most of these are simple configuration that are easy to improve. Was faster for me to go up the stairs to the 7th floor
Area around the hotel is not the best, not a concern for me but I can see how some could be put off

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
There was a huge storm prior to my arrival and a lot of power outages in Ottawa, hotel was full and clients were being walked here from other hotels. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and try it once more when I am back but I am not sure the issues above are directly related to that. They seem more like cost cutting to me. This hotel also paled in comparison with the HIX Trois-Rivieres I reviewed earlier this week, the contrast was stark.