My wife & I will be at the Holiday Inn with the AI plan 7/31-8/7 and we have no experience with this type of travel. We are supposed to have best available accommodations on check in. If I have to ask for an upgrade is it best to be up front about it or will that offend the staff? Tips are included in the AI plan but I have read that the staff will sometimes ignore AI customers in order to get tips from regular guests. Should I plan on tipping some anyway? Has anyone used the spa services at the HI and what is the verdict?

the intermezzo spa at the HI is great. Ask for Danny for your massage he is very good.

When we went last year, we got an upgrade and didn't even ask. Rather good view. We had the AI when we went there on our first trip. We went 2nd week in Dec and didn't have any trouble getting service - except at the restaurant, but only went there once. If we thought the service was great, we tipped. if it was just service, we didn't.