The Hotel by itself was not bad, though located in a questionable neighborhood, but the front desk staff is just terrible. Here's the sequence of events - I register at the front desk and then go up to our room only to find that our keys don't work. So I walk down and the clerk reissues another, without even an apology. I go back up again and find out the Fridge/MW we asked for was not available in our room. I go back down, again, and the clerk (with an unforgettable name of 'Junior' and a very unprofessional attitude) says that only the King suites had them, despite what the Hotel website says. It's almost as if you are in a East European Student Hostel and not a 'business-traveler' hotel as Holiday Inn Corp positions ts 'Express' brand as.
I then ask for a King suite since we were promised a Fridge/MW, but he says that they don't have any available. I insisted that with a child traveling with us, that was an absolute necessity, and after about 10 minutes of back and forth, surprise, surprise he miraculously finds one! He then asks me if the earlier room was clean and if we had used it (we didn't even have time to unpack!!) and then asks that I return the keys to the earlier room immediately, which involved another trip up and down to get my wife's key. I almost decided to quit at that point. Anyway we were tired from a long flight and decided to stay. So after a total of 3 trips back and forth from our room, we finally settle down. The stay in the room was pleasant enough, though by the second night one of our keys stopped working. I decided not to bother asking for a replacement again.
I work as a Marketing Manager for a large Travel distribution corporation, and plan to follow up with Holiday Inn corporate with my issues regarding unprofessional staff at hotels carrying their brand.

This Inn was located in the Northgate area, not too far from the Northgate Mall. Busy street but very quiet in the hotel. I heard some rain during the night, but unless there was a siren, no street noise. Room was a suite, very clean and had a microwave, small refrigerator, countertop with bar sink. Bed was SO comfortable. Breakfast was the usual hard boiled eggs, cereal, bagels, toast, danish and yogurt. Large dining room with big screen TV. The staff kept up the dining area and was very helpful at check in. I liked that there was no charge to park there, yet a few blocks away was I-5 and you could be in downtown Seattle in 10 minutes (in non-rush hour times). Also close to the zoo. Not really an area where you can walk to dinner. Recommend driving toward Northgate Mall as there were plenty of places to eat on streets around the Mall. We did not go in the Mall, so maybe more there as well.

This hotel is on the borderline of a not so good neighborhood and is a little far out of town to be called Seattle. Only a two lane road gets you into downtown, much rush hour traffic. Rooms okay, clean.

Seattle currently is going through a major road Construction project. I-5 through Seattle has lane closures all day long. If you are planning an activity near the airport, Safeco Field, or in the city, be advised you will most likely be sitting in traffic coming from or going to the hotel.
That being said, once here the place is great. 4 stories of comfort. Breakfast area I thought was a little small but the 2 women working it were constantly refilling all of the empty bowls and pitchers.
Room was very comfortable and clean.
However, I did not explore the local area during my visit which I think was a good idea. I get the feeling that this hotel is not in the best of neighborhoods.
If headed to Seahawks Training Camp in Kirkland, to Everett, or Vancouver, this would be the place to stay.