We hosted an international conference at this hotel and the connecting conference facility. Whatever you do, be very wary of signing any hotel contracts for conferences at "blocked rates." While we knew were would be liable for any no-shows, the contracts are very vague and used total nights vs. letting us use a rooming list. We sent them rooming lists every two weeks with dates and names, but they said that those didn't count as a method of notifying the hotel that you didn't need the additional rooms. They needed a written document to acutally cancel X number of nights, which was very confusing to calculate if you have many people staying for different dates, etc. We even checked at the front desk at the beginning and end of the conference to ensure that we had no "no-shows," and they said that everyone was checked in and all was OK. Apparently, they must have changed their minds. Don't expect them to communicate any potential pitfalls to save you any money. They let you find out the hard way...on our credit card statements 3 weeks after the conference, with no notice or receipts. Had they notified us on the first night for the "no-shows" (for which they had a detailed rooming list), we could have filled the rooms. Do hotels do this to charge twice??? That can't be possible.

As far as the facility, it was good, quite, but the beds were definitely "no frills." However, the STAFF WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. Food in the restaurant was EXCELLENT, but service was a little slow. Overall good experience if it weren't for the contract issue. It cost us thousands of dollars. For conferences, I recommend the Antarisuites across the street. Same convenience for less cost, and more honest communication regarding contracts.

I stayed at this Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora while on the management of a major trade event at the ajoining Cintermex Exposition Centre. The hotel and Cintermex are part of an extremely impressive gallery of shops and offices that really form a complex that need not even be left.

I have broken my review into the GREAT, the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY with some 'bottom line' statements and recommendations:

GREAT:

# 1 - I stay at a lot of top-notch hotels for work and this one ranks along with any I have stayed at here in the U.S. - the service, rooms, dining, and facilities are all excellent.

# 2 - The furnishings of the room and looby are great - there are coy ponds and asthetic vegitation in the lobby, and the rooms are nicely-appointed with all marble bathrooms.

GOOD:

# 1 - The fitness and pool areas are very nice - not quite up to par with the rest of the hotel, but very nice and appreciated after a nighttime of enjoying the hotel's excellent hospitality services.

# 2 - I was pleased to encounter English-speaking staff, but . . . as an English-speaker going to Mexico I TOOK THE TIME TO LEARN SOME SPANISH! I believe anyone who goes to another country (even for a short time, let alone to relocate) should learn the language. I did not EXPECT to encounter English at ATMS, and government forms in Mexico! it's just common-sense, isn't it? Also, I was sure to enter the country legally (ok, I've made my point)

# 3 - Hotel services: friendly congenial staff and top-notch food service

BAD (room for improvement):

# 1 - I tried to use the pool outside but the water was frigid-cold. the attendant told me that the water heater was out - unfortunately it was out thru my whole stay (4 days). No big deal, but I would have liked to have used the beautiful pool more comfortably.

UGLY:

# 1 - Not a knock on the hotel, but be prepared to watch yourself should you stray too far. Some local associates we were working with also warned us of the danger of straying and highly recommended staying on major thoroughfares in downtown Monterrey.

Bottom Line / Recommendations:

# 1 - This area is an interesting contrast of worlds. On your cab to the hotel, you will encounter flocks of begging children on dusty street corners. In addition to other cars on the road, you will also see the occasional boney horse-pulled wagon. Yet, the hotel / convention centre complex is as modern as any here in the U.S. Hopefully, it is helping spur economic activity of this manufacturing region and creating more jobs for Mexicans. Many of the problems we face north of the border could be eliminated if Mexicans could find jobs at home.

This was a GREAT steal. The hotel has a nice decor and is very modern. The rooms are big and have good views of the mountains. They offer free wireless on the top floors and have a good pool. The location is not in the downtown area, it is nearby a sesame street themed park, but downtown is a short cab drive away. I could say that they do speak english well as i speak no spanish and managed to get along with the staff.

We stayed here one night prior to an eight day business vacation. We actually had booked this hotel for 5 nights but due to a "mistake" we cancelled our 5 nights and rebooked with another one in Monterrey. Our mistake was after all a blessing. This hotel turned out to be headquarters for the yearly Grand Prix that was in town the same time as our dental convention. The hotel accoustics were poor, the music from the lounge came loudly in our eighth floor room with the door shut and TV blaring. Dining was so-so, no ambiance with bright lighting, much like eating at Denneys. I don't expect a lot but I'd expect more than this from a Holiday Inn. The hotel is on the convention center property and highly rated, but I'd rather stay near Old Town.