IHG Platinum status fast track

[Mattg]

I received this offer this week - Reach Platinum Elite Status Faster

Basically, register for the offer and stay 2 nights at IHG hotels within 90 days to get IHG Gold elite status until the end of 2022. Stay 5 nights within 90 days to get Platinum status. You can register any time between 8 March & 31 August 2021.

Did anyone else get this offer or is taking it up?

 

[SYD]

I didn’t receive the offer (already Plat) but there was an article on LL the other day. Certainly great for anyone who needs a status boost.

I’m wondering if this works for current Plats (and Golds) to retain or increase status? There’s nothing in the Ts&Cs precluding it (that I could tell). I have a vague recollection of retaining status on a similar offer in the past but I could be mistaken.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Buy Ambassador membership is easier IMO as Platinum goes with it.

 

[SYD]

Buy Ambassador membership is easier IMO as Platinum goes with it.

That’s certainly the short cut in normal years, although it’s still US$200 or 40,000 pts but obviously most beneficial if you‘re actually staying at InterCons.

For those who don’t fork out for ICs, the 2 or 5 nights is a gift for Gold/Plat status and the few perks you might get at a CP or HI.

 

[oz_mark]

That’s certainly the short cut in normal years, although it’s still US$200 or 40,000 pts but obviously most beneficial if you‘re actually staying at InterCons.

For those who don’t fork out for ICs, the 2 or 5 nights is a gift for Gold/Plat status and the few perks you might get at a CP or HI.

If you had a plan to stay the nights, then yes. But if you are just staying the nights to complete a fast track, then buying ambassador may be cheaper.

 

[muppet]

I have been a plat for quite a while ... are there any benefits to it? Never noticed anything. Sometimes a drink voucher lets me have a spirit instead of just beer.

I think this is nice for someone doing the stays anyway. These are not elite tiers worth losing sleep over.

 

[SYD]

Greater points earning is one of the main benefits. The possibility of room upgrades is the other.

If you’re a regular to a property you can get better treatment. Upgrades, Bottles of wine. Drinks vouchers etc.

 

[SYD]

Greater points earning is one of the main benefits. The possibility of room upgrades is the other.

If you’re a regular to a property you can get better treatment. Upgrades, Bottles of wine. Drinks vouchers etc.

Oh, the other benefit is to status match to Hilton

IHG has lost a bit of lustre. “Accelerate” offers used to make it easy to earn points and “Points Break” were good burn opportunities.

 

[Poss]

I was Gold .... and was immediately upgraded to Platinum after a 6 night stay in Newcastle. Got upgraded on my next stay at Crowne Plaza in Hobart and also upgraded at Holiday Inn at Darling Harbour. For me the value was in the upgraded rooms. Apart from that I got an additional drink voucher during my last stay.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I might register but I doubt if I'll complete the challenge. Well and truly over IHG rewards, especially the limitations on points on discount rates. Seen similar offers elsewhere (best western, Accor, not sure if there are others).

 

[Carrots]

For those that qualify, you might find you end up on an almost evermore Status... by default I hit IHG Plat in 2018 and I've been Plat ever since.
(default meaning I wasn't chasing it, all my stays were location/convenience driven)

Had my first stay in a IHG hotel since September 2018 earlier this month. On a side note, amusingly received an Ambassador join up offer last week with a bonus 20k points. Makes it tempting.

 

[funnymummy]

Would you know if points plus pay rewards night count towards this offer?
I have read the T&C and it mentions $

 

[Mattg]

Would you know if points plus pay rewards night count towards this offer?
I have read the T&C and it mentions $

Not 100% sure but I don't think so.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Would you know if points plus pay rewards night count towards this offer?
I have read the T&C and it mentions $

Points + pay do not count as paid stays. They are in effect award stays where you buy some of the points required for the stay. You can see this in that if you cancel a points + pay stay the full refund is in points.

 

[SYD]

Points + pay do not count as paid stays. They are in effect award stays where you buy some of the points required for the stay. You can see this in that if you cancel a points + pay stay the full refund is in points.

The min spend for this promo is only US$30 per night, so potentially a points stay plus spend on F&B could count?

 

[funnymummy]

The min spend for this promo is only US$30 per night, so potentially a points stay plus spend on F&B could count?

Yes I saw the amount and wondered - hoping the brains trust has input -otherwise I might risk it and book an extra night

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

The min spend for this promo is only US$30 per night, so potentially a points stay plus spend on F&B could count?

Points + pay hasn't counted for other promos. As noted above the pay part is buying points, rather than directly paying for a room.

 

[SYD]

Points + pay hasn't counted for other promos. As noted above the pay part is buying points, rather than directly paying for a room.

Yes but the question is whether dinner and a drink charged to your room folio will tick the US$30 per night criteria?

 

[Mattg]

Points + pay hasn't counted for other promos. As noted above the pay part is buying points, rather than directly paying for a room.

Quick Q - does Points & Cash normally count towards elite status outside of these kinds of promos?

I had a Points & Cash stay in Brisbane last year and didn't earn anything for it. On my account statement it says "Non-Qualifying Stay: Discounted Rate **". But the IHG Rewards website also lists

• Points & Cash Stays Count Toward Elite Status

as a Gold benefit. So I'm a bit confused about this.

 

[SYD]

Quick Q - does Points & Cash normally count towards elite status outside of these kinds of promos?

I had a Points & Cash stay in Brisbane last year and didn't earn anything for it. On my account statement it says "Non-Qualifying Stay: Discounted Rate **". But the IHG Rewards website also lists

• Points & Cash Stays Count Toward Elite Status

as a Gold benefit. So I'm a bit confused about this.

Yes. They should count as a “Elite Qualifying Night” (both Reward night and P&C). I might be wrong, but I think that was a fairly new feature of IHG Rewards to match Hilton?

Thanks for the link to Ts&Cs, I couldn’t find those earlier, but to answer my own question above and the rest of yours - you only earn Points on “Qualifying Stays” which are paid rates and explicitly exclude Reward nights (and P&C).