This rather bland, generic chain hotel is located about two blocks from the ICC, which is one of its prime selling points. You certainly don’t come here for the ambiance or amenities, which are unremarkable. That is not to say it’s a bad place to stay – far from it. City Lodge may be fairly charmless but it’s supremely functional, and fits the bill if you’re just in town for a business function and need a decent, no-frills place to stay the night (as I was).

The low-rise building sits in the middle of the busy downtown area, and tries to be a bit of an oasis, with lots of trees and lawns surrounding the u-shaped building and pool area. However since it’s located at a busy intersection, the grounds are not exactly quiet and serene.

The 160 rooms are decorated very unimaginatively in shades of orange and brown, and have modern conveniences like flat-screen TVs, coffee and tea kettles, wall-mounted air con, and ample closet space. Bathrooms have separate tubs and showers and spiffy granite countertops. None of the rooms has a particularly nice view, especially the rear-facing ones, which overlook a parking lot.

The onsite restaurant is not exactly fine dining but acceptable — the plastic laminated menu sort of illustrates the caliber of food you’ll get: sandwiches, salads and steaks, and few pastas and curries. Service is attentive and prompt here, as it is throughout the hotel.

A small workout room is available for the fitness-inclined, and several meeting rooms and a boardroom are available for business travelers.