Holiday Inn Des Moines Dtwn - Mercy Area by IHG

Reviews

• MM

  Mamashark

  5 days ago
  1.0
  Very disappointing experience. We arrived Thursday, and while taking a bath, my husband noticed visible black mold in the bathtub. We reported it to the front desk today and have photos. The employee simply thanked us for letting him know and told us to “have a great day.” No one documented the issue, inspected the room, offered to move us, or provided any resolution. Finding mold in a bathtub is unacceptable, but the lack of concern after reporting it was even more disappointing. I would expect better from a hotel.
• MM

  Matt Moyer

  Aug 11, 2026
  2.0
  I’ve stayed over 400 nights with IHG; I can honestly say this is the worst IHG hotel I’ve ever been to. I booked a room for three nights, with zero mention that the air conditioning , and parking lot were complete disasters. I called the hotel wondering if they were even open, and I revived nothing but immediate attitude from the lady that answered the phone. I was told to “park across the street on laurel like everyone else”. It’s 9:30 at night, I’ve traveled 12 hours to get here, I’m not from here, and you bark orders at me like that? The entire hotel is closed off, with literally no mention on the app. I was told from the same rude front desk lady “it says on the website” As she was checking me in, she let me know the AC is out, and I could have a box fan if I wanted. A box fan. It’s 82 degrees outside at 9:30 at night. I now have to find a new hotel. Honestly this place should lose their IHG franchise
• BS

  Brian Shipley

  Aug 9, 2026
  1.0
  Go somewhere else!!! I only stay at Holliday Inn when I travel and of all the IHG hotels I have stayed, this one is one that should be condemned. I checked in after walking my family 200 yards from the makeshift parking lot(because the actual parking lot IS condemned, which was not mentioned when booking)to the hotel only to have to deal with rude and unprofessional staff. We made our way to our room on the 4th floor that I have smelled better smelling bathrooms on deployments than this hallway. Opened the door to the room and the smell was unbearable. It was hot and musty, smelled like a cellar and sewer collided. I immediately called IHG(wasn't going to deal with the front desk again)to have my arrangements moved elsewhere which took an hour and the nearest place was 2 hours further down my trip route. IHG, YOU NEED TO ELIMINATE THIS LOCATION.! Cost me 3-1/2 hours and and more rewards points and I still gotta deal with obtaining a $50 "incidentals" charge that this hotel did not refund. I SAY AGIAN DO NOT STAY HERE!!
• CC

  Conner C

  Aug 9, 2026
  2.0
  I want to like this hotel more cuz IHG hotels are usually nice. The lobby is nice, staff are nice and helpful, beds are comfortable, the breakfast was good. Lots of options. The downsides are that the parking lot is completely blocked off so to check in , so you have to park on the steep driveway entrance then walk up to the building, and parking is crossed the street in DMACC or Mercy staff parking. it’s pretty noisy depending what room you’re in. Especially room 418 where the window is permanently cracked and won’t shut unless you’re the hulk, so you’re really hearing traffic 24/7 loud and clear. And the AC didn’t work for shit. the more we turned it down to get cooler inside, the hotter it got. had it on 68, then the inside temp went from 71 to 75.. in the middle of summer.
• TP

  Tonya Potter

  Aug 5, 2026
  2.0
  Okay, upon reading reviews, I was super nervous to arrive. Due to an athletic event we were at our team was required to stay at all the same hotel. Therefore I couldn’t change. I will admit it was not as bad as the reviews stated, we were on the first floor. I requested a load for to ensure the AC would work. I would imagine floor seven through 10 probably have air conditioner problems due to the height heat rises You know. The AC worked as it should. However, the entire hallway smelled like vomit. The room upon entering smelled like old cigarettes must’ve been a smoking room at one point in time I think that’s where people are getting the musty smell from it. It’s old cigarettes front desk, staff was pleasant, the bartender she wasn’t unpleasant, but she lied and said that Iowa State law says you can’t have a water bottle refilled water bottle in the bar area which it’s 2026 googles at our fingertips that’s not the case. It is due to bars and restaurants being responsible for their patrons intoxication therefore they don’t want you to Self serve in their bar because they’re responsible for what you do after you leave. The lobby is large, but not much seating. Our team normally likes to gather in the lobby and play games and or maybe eat pizza altogether they would not allow us to bring food or drinks into the bar area even when it’s closed and the lobby was not big enough to hold 20-30 people at the same time. There was a meeting room in our hallway, which was locked couldn’t get into it probably had to pay for it. Being so close to the hospital, it was very loud ambulances and firetrucks all night long. And the parking lot is a massive issue. You have to park across the street and lug all your stuff over which we had people with us in wheelchairs and that was a long haul. I would highly recommend unless you have to stay someplace else.