Back in Tampa for fours days of business. This hotel has always been convenient but I may have to switch to the nearby Hampton Inn.

Arrived at 5pm. The desk clerk was stocking the adjoining sundry bar. Strangely, she was wearing a sweatsuit. How business-like. Even though she acknowledged my arrival, she continued to stock. "I'll be with ya in a minute..."

Despite being a Platinum Priority Club member, my check in was no different than someone walking in from the street. Nothing was prepared.

She said, my room might not be ready yet. Why not? It is 5pm! She called housekeeping and found my room was ready.

Unpacked and turned on the nightstand lamp. Nothing happened. Bad bulb, perhaps? Nope. No bulb at all! Went to the desk and got a new one.

Next morning no USAToday newspaper at the door, although there were newpapers at most of the other doors.

Returned from work to discover housekeeping had not replaced the soap. No problem since there was still enough to use. Next day, left a note asking housekeeping to leave some additional soap. When I returned later that day, the note remained in the soap dish and no new soap was provided. Back to the front desk for more soap.

Wife had to call repeatedly before someone answered the front desk phone.

In the stairwell, someone had dropped a ketchup packet on the floor. It had been stepped on too. It was still there when I left.

No folio slipped under the door the morning I left. I had to check out at the desk. And I had to wait for the clerk to finish her smoke break. Inconvenient and inefficient.

Poor customer service. For whatever reason, personnel turnover at this hotel is frequent and through these changes in management and staff, this place is NOT what it used to be. What this tells me is that management is NOT paying attention.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Veteran's for a short business trip for 3 nights. Upon my check-in, the lady was in training so it took quite some time for me to check in, but no problem. I got in the elevator which moved very slowly up to the 4th floor. The elevator was musty, without A/C and it was really hot and seemed to take a very long time.

The room was pretty clean, but as I paid close attention you could see where the room needed improvement. The ceiling paint was peeling in large patches on the ceiling. The bathroom was pretty clean, but the one hand towel that I used to dry my hands was very dirty....disgustingly dirty. I didn't notice until after I used it and it caused me to carefully examine all of the towels before I used them for the rest of the trip.

The free breakfast was ok, mostly consisting of bread/cereal and something they call an "omelette" but it is not... I ate breakfast the 1st day and skipped it the rest of the stay.

I would prefer not to stay at this hotel again, but it is in close proximity to my workplace so if I go to Tampa again, I may have no other choice but to stay here. I will bring my own towels next time I stay!!