Review of Holiday Inn Lumberton, an IHG Hotel 3*

This is my very FIRST NEGATIVE review of a Holiday Inn ever in my years of staying at Holiday Inns. Holiday Inn is my second home. I have to travel for my job and like to feel comfortable knowing that where I am staying will be the least of my worries. I have been a platinum member for years. I have paid numerous times for my rooms with cash at many Holiday Inn (& Express). My job has changed a little which now I will be in the Fayetteville/Lumberton area at least once a month if not more. I stayed last night at the Holiday Inn Hope Mills, NC and it was very comfortable. I had no problems or questions asked about paying with cash. They did not require a credit card or a cash deposit. The same is true for the Holiday Inn Wake Forest, NC. I would recommend either of these to anyone. They were great and customer service was tip top! I wanted to try the Holiday Inn Lumberton since one of my facilities is here. I went to check in and gave them my ID and told them I was paying with cash. They informed me that if I paid with cash, it would be a $150 deposit on top of my room charge. I did not have $150 cash plus the room charge. I asked if I could leave all the cash that I had which was a total of $200? The answer was a very quick no! I guess a platinum member that has never given any problem doesn't matter to this Holiday Inn. I didn't become a platinum member by not being a good customer and following rules of the hotel. I have never taken anything or left my room in mess. I WILL NOT BE TRYING THIS HOLIDAY INN again next time even though I know there cash "deposit requirement" nor will I stay when I have my credit card with me. I was told that I would have to drive back to Hope Mills where I stayed last night or I would have to drive to Holiday Inn Pembroke. I had to do the research on the distance. This was not even offered by the front desk. I chose the Pembroke location due to it being closer to my facility in Lumberton. Jonica at the front desk was wonderful. I explained to her what happened at the Holiday Inn Lumberton and she apologized. During my monthly stays in this area, I will be staying at the Holiday Inn Pembroke. It is a further drive, but it is totally worth it for the wonderful customer service and appreciation of being a platinum member and choosing Holiday Inn every time I travel. Holiday Inn Lumberton needs to work on their customer service. They did not offer to help me find an alternate place to stay or anything. I work in Customer Service for a living and I would never treat my customers (especially my long time standing customers) the way that Holiday Inn Lumberton treated me.