Location and Access – The hotel is on a prime ocean front position separated from the Praia de Iracema by a busy road. Nearby are many similar high-rise hotels and residences. There are only very limited shopping, restaurant and bar choices within close walking distance. The nearest supermarkets are a 10 to 15-minute walk. Fortaleza centre is 25 to 30 minute walk. Airport is 25 minutes by car – but allow extra time due to a major highway construction project. Close to the Beira Mar with some interesting places and amazing street art. Uber can get you to most places safely and cheaply

Google Earth – The hotel can be seen on Street View

Architectural Style – A brutal high rise 23 storey building clad in blocks of smoked glass and black and white ceramic tiles

I am going to divert from my usual review format as there are issues that have been raised by other commentators on TA which need a response and I think that the hotel management may be in the process of taking action to address these points

Staffing and Hospitality – My first hurdle. I don’t speak any Portuguese. Before arrival email enquiries were responded to quickly, professionally and in English. Check in and Check out on 2 occasions went very smoothly and any requests dealt with satisfactorily including storage of luggage during a side trip to Brasilia. Door and security staff were always very welcoming. Housekeeping – invisible but excellent with room and public areas perfectly clean. Restaurant staff equally hospitable with the egg chef even taking time (as well as cooking) to write on guests’ egg orders “Tenha um bom dia – Luana!”

Restaurant – Breakfast – Part of my stay coincided with Carnaval weekend when the hotel was full. During those few days the buffet breakfast was very busy and free tables were difficult to find. Despite this the buffet was always well stocked. Comments have been made in other reviews about the contents of the breakfast buffet. I have to say I found the variety and quantity of the international and local specialities on offer more than adequate and combined with eggs, omelettes and tapioca dishes cooked to order was more than sufficient to satisfy any appetite. I had dinner only once during my stay mainly due to the limited menu choice and prices higher than in other restaurants

Public Areas – There is a small manicured garden at the entrance and a covered area with seating. The double height reception area looks to have undergone a recent renovation and you would hope to be a sign of things to come. On the ground floor is a well equipped Gym. On floor “J” (first floor) a small pool area, jacuzzi, sauna, play and games rooms. The whole of this area looking very tired and by the time of my departure the pool, jacuzzi and sauna had been demolished and were due to be replaced over a 45 day period

4 lifts serve all floors and I never had to wait more than a few seconds for one to arrive. Corridors leading to guest rooms are fairly bleak and dowdy with ceramic tiled floors. Ideal for wheeled luggage but with a downside of accompanying noise

Guest Rooms – There are a number of options and I selected a suite with lounge, dining area, kitchenette, separate bedroom, 2 bathrooms and balcony

Unfortunately, this is where the comparison with the modern reception area comes to an abrupt halt. It is apparent that the hotel rooms are in a time warp. There had been an unsuccessful attempt at partly updating décor at some time in the past but this clashed with original features. For example, modern dark wood effect panels and furnishings, a complete mis match for the original orange wooden doors. An enormous space but with many design faults. Such as the badly located bathroom light switches, the inability to close the bathroom door with the bath mat on the floor. A large TV in the bedroom but no TV in the lounge. If a family were staying here would they all want to gather in the bedroom to watch TV? Outdated iPad dock. Poorly equipped and arranged “kitchenette”

The WiFi was unpredictable. Excellent at times and at others annoyingly unavailable

Having stayed at some of the most fantastic and some of the worst hotels around the World I don’t want to give too negative an impression. There is nothing basically wrong here. The accommodation was spectacularly spacious and clean, the furnishing and fittings, lighting and A/C were ok, bed and linens were good, Bathroom was acceptable with hot and cold water (although taps. shower fittings do need an upgrade). Overall décor was bland and uninspiring

Comment – The hotel has decided to invest in a considerable project to renew the pool/leisure area. If this is being carried out for health and safety reasons that is a perfectly sound decision. However, if this is just for cosmetic reasons; then the results will look good on the website photos and in brochures, but it will not overcome guest’s disappointment when they are shown to an outdated bedroom. Significant investment is needed to upgrade guest bedrooms to bring them up to contemporary standards. Certainly, a modern interior hotel designer could work wonders with my room

Security – CCTV throughout the hotel. Manned security staff on reception. Supposedly a guest register check for guests returning to the hotel after 22:00. Card key access to bedrooms and pool area. Room safes
During my stay the local police were taking industrial action in the Ceara region and consequently there was a strong military presence in the main tourist areas of Fortaleza

Eco Features – the usual request to re-use towels. Key card to control power and A/C. It looks like the memo from head office about sustainability has not yet been received in Fortaleza. Tea and Coffee cups are polystyrene with plastic lids and plastic stirrers in a plastic bag and drinking glasses also come in their own plastic bags. I went and bought a real cup and coffee jug from a local market. In the bathroom single use toiletries are generously replaced

Value for Money – Bearing in mind this was not the most contemporary or luxurious Holiday Inn I have ever stayed in but, taking into account the space in my suite, the staff and the excellent breakfast the rate I paid was very reasonable

X Factor – As a first time visitor to Brazil I was grateful to be able to reserve accommodation with an internationally recognised brand with the expectation of standards with which I was familiar. In this respect I was not entirely disappointed, but steps need to be taken to comprehensively upgrade rooms and suites if I were ever to return

I am of black ethnic origin and stayed in this hotel with white European friends who had a hotel room next to mine. We all have local friends but when it came to me inviting a local friend to visit me in my room for drinks before we went out, the hotel security prevented me from doing so unless I paid an additional amount equivalent to half a nights stay. My white European friends were not stopped by security and forced to do the same and were able to have visitors in their room on a number of occasions throughout their stay. My complaint to the Hotel Manager and to IHG with regards to this racially discriminating experience has been totally ignored. Do not expect to treated fairly if you stay at this hotel and are of the BME community!!!