HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES-EDMONTON SOUTH BY IHG, Edmonton

The hotel sits off Gateway Boulevard, providing quick access to Calgary Trail and the Anthony Henday ring road. Edmonton International Airport is roughly 15 minutes by car, while Whyte Avenue and the University of Alberta are about 7-8 km away. West Edmonton Mall is approximately a 20-minute drive. South Common Mall, IKEA, and numerous restaurants-including a Japanese Village and Pho Langs-are within a 1-km walk or a short drive. The Century Park Transit Centre provides rail access to downtown Edmonton. While the location is car-friendly with ample free parking, rooms facing Calgary Trail (the front side) can experience significant highway noise; requesting a room on the opposite side or a higher floor can improve sleep quality.

The hotel offers 191 rooms, including 50 suites, all of which are non-smoking and many are wheelchair accessible. Standard rooms come with either two queen beds or one king bed, while suites include a sofa bed and a separate sitting area. All rooms include a work desk with lamp, iron and ironing board, and a private bathroom with built-in transfer shower seats in accessible units. Room decor is modern (renovated in 2022), and the overall feel is bright and spacious, particularly in the suites with high ceilings. Some guests noted that rooms on the highway side can be noisy, but interior-facing rooms are generally quiet. Beds and pillows are consistently described as comfortable, though a few guests found the beds hard in specific rooms. There is no balcony available.

The Express Start breakfast offers a variety of hot and cold options: scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes from a self-serve machine, breads, pastries, cereals, and fresh fruit. The breakfast area is spacious with large windows, and staff are noted for being friendly and efficient, often replenishing items quickly. For safety, a breakfast attendant serves hot items, and some options are individually wrapped. Coffee and tea are available 24/7 in the lobby. There is no on-site restaurant for lunch or dinner, but restaurant delivery from nearby venues (including Swiss Chalet, Hudsons, and Japanese Village) can be arranged, and a small on-site convenience store offers snacks and drinks.

The heated indoor pool and whirlpool/hot tub are open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, offering year-round relaxation. The fitness centre (open 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM) is equipped with two treadmills, one bicycle, one rowing machine, one elliptical, free weights, dumbbells, and a flat bench; equipment was updated in 2022. For families, the pool and hot tub are popular with children, and there are off-site children's activities nearby. The pool area is clean and well-maintained, though some guests noted that the water can feel heavily chlorinated. There is no spa, waterslide, or sauna on site.

The hotel offers 24-hour front desk service, free luggage storage, and express check-in/check-out. A business centre provides printing, faxing, copying, and scanning, plus office supplies for meetings. Two meeting rooms (Oxford and Cambridge) accommodate up to 30 people theatre-style or 20 classroom-style, with a full wet-bar in the Oxford room. Laundry facilities (self-service, open 6:00 AM-12:00 PM) and same-day dry cleaning are available. Accessibility features include ADA-compliant elevators, braille signage, wheelchair-accessible public areas and rooms, roll-in showers, grab bars, and accessible parking with a ramp to the entrance. Pets (dogs and cats) are allowed on the first floor for CAD 25 per pet per night; there are pet-friendly walking trails nearby. The hotel uses IHG Green Engage for environmental sustainability.