New Changes to IHG Rewards Club - 1st. July 2015

[codash1099]

IHG have announced today that the new status is called 'SPIRE'. Details here: IHG Rewards Club launches new top tier status: Spire Elite | Miles Down Under

Is that short for "inspire" or "expire"?

 

[plugster2011]

Totally uninSPIREd (rim shot) by the lack of additional benefits. Feeling better about moving my stays away from IHG for now. Just got to burn up my remaining points and use my final Ambassador BOGO and I'll be done.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

printing those cards is just a waste of plastic. I see no change that's very enticing, in fact all it's really done is devalued Gold from being worth, maybe fifty bucks, to basically now being totally worthless for status (although 10% bonus points are worth a little bit). What's the point of this new tier? I can understand why they refused to release details for so long......there was nothing to release and it took them this long to pluck up the courage to announce......what? An extra 50% point bonus per stay and a once off gift of questionable worth? Is that it? No space available guaranteed suite upgrades? No Club access? No complementary breakfasts? Still a boring elite reward scheme IMHO, that offers absolutely no incentive to gain loyalty over just chasing sales and discount promos at all competing properties.

 

[anat0l]

I wonder if the free Velocity Platinum and Gold partner status offers will be shifted up after the new IHG statuses come into force?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I wonder if the free Velocity Platinum and Gold partner status offers will be shifted up after the new IHG statuses come into force?

Does anyone in their right minds waste their comp. status on IHG? :shock:

When I first heard of this new tier, I wondered if an IHG platinum (ie. me) would be upgraded to the new tier by buying the DR membership. Now that I can see the new tier "benefits" my thought process is currently......"who cares"!

IHG obviously believe they're successful enough to not have to attempt to woo new status members, and after IHG dropped out of CNS, Hilton is far easier for me to retain in any case. C'est la vie.

 

[Meggsy]

printing those cards is just a waste of plastic. I see no change that's very enticing, in fact all it's really done is devalued Gold from being worth, maybe fifty bucks, to basically now being totally worthless for status (although 10% bonus points are worth a little bit). What's the point of this new tier? I can understand why they refused to release details for so long......there was nothing to release and it took them this long to pluck up the courage to announce......what? An extra 50% point bonus per stay and a once off gift of questionable worth? Is that it? No space available guaranteed suite upgrades? No Club access? No complementary breakfasts? Still a boring elite reward scheme IMHO, that offers absolutely no incentive to gain loyalty over just chasing sales and discount promos at all competing properties.

Whilst I totally agree with everything you have said, IHG have stated there are more benefits coming throughout 2016 for the new Spire level. Will be interesting to see if this is just bait or some real benefits.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Whilst I totally agree with everything you have said, IHG have stated there are more benefits coming throughout 2016 for the new Spire level. Will be inserting to see if this is just bait or some real benefits.

If a staged roll out is to bait us, wouldn't you think they'd start with something tempting?

 

[exceladdict]

Totally uninSPIREd (rim shot)

I'd call that a basket. Best pun on it I've heard so far.

 

[andye]

Does anyone in their right minds waste their comp. status on IHG? :shock:

.

I did, thought I'd made a mistake and was then very well-treated (suite upgrade, club access) in the Glasgow CP. Did very well out of Set Your Sights too. Don't stay in hotels often enough for it to be a big mistake anyway and my waistline is proabably better without free breakfasts too.

 

[dairyfloss]

I was thinking of trying the Dining Rewards status upgrade method to give Spire Elite a go for 12 months. I'd never get there through stays/points at IHG properties on current behaviours. Turns out the FAQs have been updated to address this for existing Platinum Elite members already... see below:

How does my IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club status upgrade work?

A: When you join IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Dining Rewards you will automatically receive a one-level status upgrade in IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club. Please note, Spire Elite is excluded. If you are currently a Club member, you would be automatically upgraded to Gold Elite; and if you are already a Gold Elite member, you will be instantly upgraded to Platinum Elite. A non-IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club member who joins IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Dining Rewards will automatically be enrolled in IHG[SUP]®[/SUP] Rewards Club and be upgraded to Gold Elite. Please see ihgrewardsclub.com for more details on the benefits of Elite Status and full Terms and Conditions.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I did, thought I'd made a mistake and was then very well-treated (suite upgrade, club access) in the Glasgow CP. Did very well out of Set Your Sights too. Don't stay in hotels often enough for it to be a big mistake anyway and my waistline is proabably better without free breakfasts too.

:shock: I bet IHG has an andye painting on the wall for staff to laugh at every time they pass.....to make them feel better.

Sorry, couldn't help myself (all in jest, plenty of places have a swanning_it portrait for a similar reason). So you got a suite upgrade and club access in Glasgow? I get exec lounge every visit (provided there is one on property) and suite upgrades quite a lot (except CNS). Breakfast......OK so the waistline is better without, but at least the option would be nice!

What's that old saying that's resonating right now?........"come in spinner"?.......or perhaps, "one born every minute"?........I'm not sure which it is.

 

[plugster2011]

I was thinking of trying the Dining Rewards status upgrade method to give Spire Elite a go for 12 months. I'd never get there through stays/points at IHG properties on current behaviours. Turns out the FAQs have been updated to address this for existing Platinum Elite members already... see below:

Cheers,
Matt.

so if you are platinum when you join DR one of their major selling points is lost (a status bump). further diluting the value. they rang me constantly for 2 months after my March expiry. i said i'd pay $199.00 and not a cent more (they were offering $249). needless to say we didn't come to terms.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

so if you are platinum when you join DR one of their major selling points is lost (a status bump). further diluting the value. they rang me constantly for 2 months after my March expiry. i said i'd pay $199.00 and not a cent more (they were offering $249). needless to say we didn't come to terms.

Similar to me. They don't ring me anymore.......

 

[Reise]

I was a little surprised that the Spire Elite Choice Benefit was between Gifting Platinum Elite OR 25k points.
Don't know anyone that would value a Platinum Elite upgrade at 25k - I wonder if it is a reflection of the number of hotels in Oz versus US and maybe IHG membership is a more attractive option there.

I was interested to read about the ihg Auction site: IHG® Rewards Club Auctions
It seems to indicate some value in being a Platinum Elite but again it is USA-centric.

Ultimately if someone is after Platinum Elite for 25k of points ... let me know!

 

[JohnK]

I was thinking of trying the Dining Rewards status upgrade method to give Spire Elite a go for 12 months. I'd never get there through stays/points at IHG properties on current behaviours. Turns out the FAQs have been updated to address this for existing Platinum Elite members already... see below:

Well there goes the selling point of Dining Rewards.

I am not sure what status I will be at the end of the year but may just miss making Gold as I am not staying at IHG much these days. If I am not Gold there is no incentive to join Dining Rewards to be give the 3rd level Gold status as the benefits are poor at best.

 

[dairyfloss]

Well there goes the selling point of Dining Rewards.

I am not sure what status I will be at the end of the year but may just miss making Gold as I am not staying at IHG much these days. If I am not Gold there is no incentive to join Dining Rewards to be give the 3rd level Gold status as the benefits are poor at best.

Yup - I'll probably end up just sticking with Ambassador for ICs, and not worry about the broader IHG Elite levels. I generally only stay at ICs anyway. My Ambassador renewal is paid with points, and so there's no real cost to me keeping it year-on-year, provided I would stay a handful of nights with the right bonuses.

Cheers,
Matt.