You must be paying for the location at this hotel because it's not anything special. I believe it was recently renovated so the rooms are nice enough, and so is the lobby. Bathrooms...they cut corners.
It has a decent bar/restaurant that catered our event's cocktail hour. No complaints.
Front desk staff were somewhat helpful but definitely not above and beyond in any way. Got the feeling that they were bothered by their jobs. Overall lack of eye contact and just a blah attitude. No smiles. no warmth. Very cut and dry. An automated check-in kiosk would have been just as good actually.
Stayed in another hotel on a subsequent night and it was a noticeable difference: smiles, eye contact, some small talk. That makes all the difference.
Maybe the Holiday Inn crew was burnt out, short staffed etc. They do have a lot of people coming through.
If you can get a room elsewhere, you might want to. This is nothing special.
You'll get a nicer room, and friendlier staff if you go just a half mile further into Shadyside.