IHG® Dining Rewards program replacing Priority Privilege from 1st July 2014

[Myrna]

I received the offer by phone in November; $269 but including $100 on voucher. Mention this only for comparison.

As you note: Dining benefits are only for participating hotels and in "Asia" are very few: one hotel in Singapore, one in Batam but quite a few in China. The agent told me that more hotels in Asia were joining by January 1st but nothing has changed/added. fortunately I told her to ring back after they join.

Am advised that the free night is anywhere and although I haven't tried to book it (as I haven't taken up the membership), I did get 2 free nights from the "Into the nights promotion" and booked the IC Singapore with them so...I suspect "top IHG hotels" are OK but may be subject to availability.

JV

Thank you, Jacques, for your replies. We are going to be in Beijing for 2 days in May, and if joined, might check out dining at IC in the Olympics area. I have read about IC in Amsterdam and Paris, and thought either could be used for the free night.

 

[Myrna]

I managed to book a $600/night IC with the voucher. Availability seemed to mirror general award night availability though IHG denied a correlation.

Thanks, exceladdict. Good to know that it is possible to redeem the free night for a top IC hotel. Was thinking of IC hotels in Europe - some cost around your figure.

 

[Mark3000]

In case it helps anyone, here is the latest email:

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[TD="width: 600, align: left"]Join IHG Dining Rewards.

Save $70 off your membership.
Enjoy $100 in Dining e-vouchers.
One FREE night - instantly!
Dear xx_xx_xx
Your current membership expires on xx March. Switch to our exciting new IHG® Dining Rewardsprogram, designed to give you more of what you want, in more locations, more often.
Call us on 1800 226 462 and enjoy $70 off the membership fee (only $249*) by joining IHG® Dining Rewards. Plus your membership will be extended until 31 March 2016. You’ll instantly be able to redeem one free night’s accommodation and a world of benefits - all for a single membership price. And by joining before 31 March, you’ll receive an extra A$50 e-Voucher.[/TD]
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The Immediate Benefits: One FREE night at any of IHG’s 4,700 properties worldwide - with no blackout dates. 25% off ALL dining - at all participating outlets. 25% off ALL beverages** - including premium alcohol brands. [TD="width: 19"]

A$50 Dining e-Voucher*** - loaded straight to card.

PLUS an extra A$50 Dining e-Voucher*** - loaded straight to card.

Instant one-level status upgrade in IHG Rewards Club.

25% off IHG’s Best Flexible Rate - up to 7 night stay, single use.

10% off IHG’s Best Flexible and Advance Purchase Rates.

Extra individual hotel offers by monthly newsletter.

Join now and your membership extended until 31 March 2016!

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I found it really useful staying at the Intercontinental Fiji last year. It does seem like a reasonably good deal if you have an IHG stay planned

 

[JohnK]

Silly question that I am sure is in the fine print somewhere.

Are you able to use the Dining e-voucher if you are not staying at an IHG hotel?

 

[straitman]

Silly question that I am sure is in the fine print somewhere.

Are you able to use the Dining e-voucher if you are not staying at an IHG hotel?

You could previously.

No idea about the new program.

 

[Myrna]

Mark3000: Yes, that was the email which I received - expiry date 28 February 2015 for applying.

 

[Myrna]

Silly question that I am sure is in the fine print somewhere.

Are you able to use the Dining e-voucher if you are not staying at an IHG hotel?

A good question. The T&C show:

"We make it simple to save on dining and beverages all year long. With hundreds of participating restaurants, you can enjoy your Dining Rewards discount whether you are travelling or close to home. Members can utilise their Dining Rewards discount with up to 15 guests.

Dining Benefits - 25% Off Dining and Beverage Discount. Members are eligible for a 25% discount that applies to all food and beverage items in participating restaurants and bars on an on-going basis. The Dining & Beverage Discount cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers, including the Cash e-Voucher for Dining benefit described below. The discount is available to groups of up to 16 persons (including the Member). The discount may vary at selected restaurants from time to time.
Membership Card Required.

Members must be present and must provide their Membership card when the bill is requested at the Participating Hotel restaurant or bar to receive their Dining Benefits. The benefits can only be applied in the restaurant or bar when the member settles the bill for the dining/beverages (even if the member is a hotel guest and is intending to charge the bill to their room/folio). The Member must indicate at the time they present their Membership card which of their Dining Benefits – e.g. the 25% Off Dining and Beverage Discount, the Cash e-Voucher for Dining, or a Hotel-Specific Benefit - they would like to have applied to the bill. The Dining Benefits cannot be applied retroactively at the front desk or upon check-out."

The T&C refer to "participating restaurants" and there will be blackout periods. Nothing about "stay" as a requirement. Just had a quick look at the IC in Beijing, it showed no specific dining offer. So, I think if I turned up with card, I would get 25% off for dining - provided I am not using the cash e-vouchers.

 

[muppet]

great info on this thread - i'm thinking of joining. has anyone solicited one of these offers (ie called and asked for an offer)?

if i get a no, i'm wondering if i should HUCA or just suck it up and pay full price / same inclusions.

 

[Kea 02]

great info on this thread - i'm thinking of joining. has anyone solicited one of these offers (ie called and asked for an offer)?

if i get a no, i'm wondering if i should HUCA or just suck it up and pay full price / same inclusions.

I joined last November, I simply asked if I joined today what else could they offer, They offered an extra $50 dining credit. Hope that helps. By the way, paid $279

 

[Creston]

A little off topic so apologies in advance....

I just found my old Priority Privilege membership card.
Does anybody know if these old points expire, and if not can they be transferred to the IHG rewards programme?


Thanks

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I just found my old Priority Privilege membership card.
Does anybody know if these old points expire, and if not can they be transferred to the IHG rewards programme?

i think you may be referring to different programs. The Priority Privelege program referred to here was a purchased discount program where, for a fee, you could access discount accommodation and meal rates and was run by a thrid party company. The new Dining rewards replaces that scheme with a similar one (also for a fee) that is run by IHG themselves.

IHG Rewards Club is the free "frequent traveller" type membership which rewards "stays" with points (and other little niceties like free internet connectivity), which can be redeemed for accommodation and also goes towards status tier recognition. That scheme replaced the older Priority Club. I believe IHG points do not expire, but I cannot recall how old that policy is.

To further confuse, IHG have another paid membership which is the Ambassador program which offers different (better, IMHO) rewards but only with Intercontinental.

Hope that helps.

 

[Creston]

i think you may be referring to different programs. The Priority Privelege program referred to here was a purchased discount program where, for a fee, you could access discount accommodation and meal rates and was run by a thrid party company. The new Dining rewards replaces that scheme with a similar one (also for a fee) that is run by IHG themselves.

IHG Rewards Club is the free "frequent traveller" type membership which rewards "stays" with points (and other little niceties like free internet connectivity), which can be redeemed for accommodation and also goes towards status tier recognition. That scheme replaced the older Priority Club. I believe IHG points do not expire, but I cannot recall how old that policy is.

To further confuse, IHG have another paid membership which is the Ambassador program which offers different (better, IMHO) rewards but only with Intercontinental.

Hope that helps.

Thanks swanning_it.

 

[Myrna]

A little off topic so apologies in advance....

I just found my old Priority Privilege membership card.
Does anybody know if these old points expire, and if not can they be transferred to the IHG rewards programme?


Thanks

When I had the PP card I stayed at a few IC hotels and got points - the PP card auto enrolled me in IHG rewards program. I never looked at the points. I have now joined the Dining Rewards. When I logged into the account, I found the points were there! I may need to use these this year when IHG has one of those sales which costs 5,000 points a night.

 

[exceladdict]

I may need to use these this year when IHG has one of those sales which costs 5,000 points a night.

Bookmark this page and check back late May, most of the good properties this quarter have already been taken. New properties on this list were released around 25 Feb.

In other news, my pack has finally arrived, from the Netherlands. I did like the fancy box though.

 

[Ricardo]

Anybody seen any offers for this ?

I am considering re joining after a few years off it, if I join before April 30th it will be the last requirement for my 'set your sights' promo, so the extra club points would be useful, around 10K plus the bonus for doing my offers, around 25k from memory.

Any comments or suggestions welcome....

 

[exceladdict]

Hi All

A quick report back on using the IHG Dining Rewards Free Night. I cashed mine in to stay at the IC park lane - equivalent cost of room was around 300 pounds for the night, so good value IMHO. Great hotel. Of course, YMMV.

Free night was treated as a standard reward night according to my IHG account 'my activity' statement. I did not receive an upgrade as a platinum member, this is most likely why.

 

[Rick93]

As part of my 'grand' trip associated with attending Gallipoli next month, we are booked into the Le Grand IC in Paris.

I used my IHG Dining Rewards 'free' night, and then paid 50k of points for another night.

THEN, it occurred to me ... I should sign up the misses for a Membership.

So, I got my 50k of points back, and a 410 Euro night ( about $AU575. ) now cost me $AU269.

When I rang IHG DR, they advised, that no Member can hold a 'second' account.

However, I was thinking, that as a Plat. Ambassador, I 'might' get an upgrade for my free night ( maybe, maybe not ? )

... but then, one night will now be on my partner's Membership, and she's NOT an Ambassador ( just a newly minted IHG Gold )

I wonder how we will be treated, when our FIRST night will be mine, and the SECOND night will be hers ??

Will they make us change rooms ( if I get a Plat. Ambassador upgrade ) ??

 

[paultiffen]

Any idea of what the participating restaurants are or if there is any restrictions on the beverages?

For example Cafe Opera has bottles of Grange at about 600 per bottle. With a 25% discount it would be under retail price. I'm also interested in going to Meat and Wine Co but it was excluded under Priority Privilege so not expecting it to be covered here.

 

[gwilli1]

It looks like a couple of US hotels have joined as participating hotels in Dining Rewards ...maybe a sign of a greater participation from the US.

IHG® Dining Rewards- Participating Hotels

 

[ALH]

Have to say, Platinum membership throughout Vietnam was fantastic value. Welcome coughtails on arrival, room upgrades, presents, beautiful fruit baskets. Special deal on Club Access at $ 70 for 3 people instead of $ 120 each in Hanoi. It wasn't busy and the girls offered to make us every coughtail on the menu. Managers at each property introduced themselves. Felt like royalty