our organization just had a two day retreat at this hotel and can not say enough wonderful things about the entire experience. The staff was so incredibly helpful and professional and went out of their way to make sure that everything went smoothly. We had a group of over 80 people there for meals, for overnight and for two full days and every second was perfect. Couldn't have been any better. And the guest rooms were lovely.

I recently stayed in a one bedroom suite at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites for three nights on a business trip. The location could not be beat, since it is essentially next door to my company. I had read the reviews here and was looking forward to my visit. I must say that I was surprised, however, because the hotel that I experienced during my stay does not align with the reports here.

First the good--I have to say that the staff was friendly, helpful, and efficient. I think they coudl tell that I just wanted to check in and get to my room, and they were very quick and to the point, and respectful as well. I appreciated the quality of the front desk staff. Also, the shower was great and hot.

Then the not-so-good--the room had an odd layout. If you opened the bathroom door and left it open, the hall to the bedroom was blocked. Wha??? So you couldn't leave the bathroom door open. Also, the desk in the living area faced the wall, so if you wanted to watch the TV while you worked, you had to turn your head over your shoulder. Not very convenient.

But the biggest problem was the mattress. After my first night I woke up and my hip hurt. I assumed I had slept "funny" and just limped around all day. After the second night, both my hip and my knee hurt (not a surprise, I figured, from all that limping). But when I woke up, I also noticed that the mattress was hard. And I like a "firm" mattress, but this was just "hard." And of course I then realized why I was having the hip trouble--it had to be the mattress. After I was home a few days with my Sealy pillowtop, I started to recover.

As for the rest, breakfast looked just okay. I can't face another microwaved breakfast sandwich, so I passed on it. The pool area seemed clean and was relatively inviting, but unfortunately I was just too busy to enjoy it.

Will I come back to the Holiday Inn Express in Deerfield/Riverwoods. No. There are other choices nearby that I have used and have found preferable. The price is good, but it just isn't worth it to me based upon the quality of the mattress. Perhaps if they upgraded I might reconsider.

Bed: comfortable with TONS of pillows, cleverly identified with "firm" or "soft" embroidered on the cases. Bathroom: TONS of towels; high-end toiletries; fabulous showerhead; grab bars and other safety features. Breakfast: MANY choices from a complimentary self-serve buffet -- yogurt, eggs, cereals, bagels, sweet rolls, pancakes, bananas, muffins, etc. Free WI-FI. Know that the pool and exercise room are glass-enclosed, so you will be on view. There is also a business center with computers. The staff is both professional and friendly -- Trevor, Gabe, Ally, Olga and others went out of their way to make sure that our stay was perfect. I would give this non-smoking property six stars if I could.

Very nice hotel with great service and convenient location. Great rooms and beds. Recommend. Location is very comfortable. Easy access to major highways to get to downtown and to WI. Pool is very clean and lobby looks really great.