I've gone through about the same thing only at a Holiday Inn, in Tampa. So better doesn't always mean you'll get better.

When Pauls mother was in the hospital, 4 of us stayed in Tampa to be closer to her. Long story short, there was partying in the parking lot, in rooms, broken windows, a naked woman running around the parking lot etc etc. The poilce where called and finally at 4am it calmed down some. The next day the front desk gave our room key out to Kim's (sister-in-law) ex-husband while we where out. We come back to find him in the room. We complained, of course, but it didn't help. Again more problems, Kim and her new husband left and I guess the front desk gal thought we all left so next thing we know Paul and I are in the room and here she comes walking right in at 11:30 at night. Shocked to see us there, she ran out. Back down to the front desk we went to complain again. The girl that came into the room would not say what she was doing up there, instead she walked off her job and quit.

After 2 days of He*% all we got for our problems is 2 of our long distance calls for free!

I think when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of who runs the hotel and the area it's in more then the chain. But I still think they should have refunded your money, at the very least, as they should have done for us.