New IHG Rewards structure from March 2022

[serfty]

again upgraded to a Queenslander suite with club access.

TDKWYA!

 

[jakeseven7]

Very underwhelming if this commentary pans out. Suspect its valid as the website has good IHG contacts

IHG Rewards is planning a major relaunch in March - what will change?

According to a leaked document circulated to hotel staff in China, IHG Rewards is planning major changes to go live at the end of March with new status tiers.

www.headforpoints.com

Looks extremely underwhelming. But are we surprised? It’s never been great.

 

[oz_mark]

Word on the street is that this has been pushed back to April.

 

[Mattg]

Some more details.

IHG Launches IHG One Rewards With Breakfast, Suite Upgrades & Lounge Access

IHG launched IHG One Rewards with enhanced benefits of breakfast, confirmed suite upgrades, and lounge access.

loyaltylobby.com

Actually the changes look better than I expected.

 

[dairyfloss]

It actually looks quite attractive, especially compared to the limited offerings beforehand …. But also it will be harder to make status, and the benefits that you earn to select are determined on room nights, rather than nights OR spend, which is a little frustrating for some. We tend to spend a lot on fewer nights (e.g. mid-high suites on revenue bookings), and generally reach points/spend based targets well ahead of night based qualifications.

Also curious to see what happens to IC Ambassador, as there’s a lot more overlap in the new program. Dare I note the quirk of renewing attained Spire by extending Ambassador also now likely at risk…….

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[exceladdict]

It actually looks quite attractive, especially compared to the limited offerings beforehand …. But also it will be harder to make status, and the benefits that you earn to select are determined on room nights, rather than nights OR spend, which is a little frustrating for some. We tend to spend a lot on fewer nights (e.g. mid-high suites on revenue bookings), and generally reach points/spend based targets well ahead of night based qualifications.

Also curious to see what happens to IC Ambassador, as there’s a lot more overlap in the new program. Dare I note the quirk of renewing attained Spire by extending Ambassador also now likely at risk…….

Cheers,
Matt.

Yes, I was planning to give this a shot at the end of this year. I won't hit the diamond/spire renewal threshold otherwise.

 

[dairyfloss]

Yes, I was planning to give this a shot at the end of this year. I won't hit the diamond/spire renewal threshold otherwise.

I can't extend AMB until early June (supposedly you can do it as far out as 92 days from its expiration date), but was hoping I could sneak in another year before the risk shot up!

 

[bullerdude]

Overall sounds promising compared to what I was expecting! Will be interesting to see if IC Ambassador continues as a shortcut to platinum.

 

[gaz0303]

90% of my IHG stays are in Holiday Inn Express or Holiday Inns for work. The ability to accumulate points via challenges and redeem them for personal travel was the real value for me. I might redeem 40000 points for ambassador membership and lock in platinum for the next year.

 

[exceladdict]

Full site appears to be live: Join IHG® One Rewards and achieve IHG One Rewards Elite status and enjoy more benefits

Noticed "reward night discounts" for platinum and diamond. Will hold off booking a couple of stays later in the year to see what this ends up looking like!

 

[SYD]

Full site appears to be live: Join IHG® One Rewards and achieve IHG One Rewards Elite status and enjoy more benefits

Noticed "reward night discounts" for platinum and diamond. Will hold off booking a couple of stays later in the year to see what this ends up looking like!

I was going to post the link earlier but got an “Access denied” error… Seems to be working now.

Yes, also curious about the award discount for plats and diamonds.

 

[andye]

90% of my IHG stays are in Holiday Inn Express or Holiday Inns for work. The ability to accumulate points via challenges and redeem them for personal travel was the real value for me. I might redeem 40000 points for ambassador membership and lock in platinum for the next year.

Have just signed up for Ambassador (was enrolled a few years ago). Wouldn't accept my card online but sorted out with a pretty quick call to a nice operator. Will be interested to see what upgrade I get (or not) at CP Albert Embankment with Platinum

 

[dairyfloss]

I found this in the IHG One Rewards FAQs, though naturally it doesn't stop them from changing what these programmes do or don't include... or decided when 'this time' ends

Luxury Loyalty

1. Are there any changes coming to InterContinental Ambassador, Royal Ambassador and/or Kimpton Inner Circle programmes?

We are not making any changes to InterContinental Ambassador, Royal Ambassador or Kimpton Inner Circle programmes at this time.

 

[gaz0303]

I joined Ambassador today. Had 40000 points left over from pre-covid travel to pay joining fee. Just booked a weekend stay in Sydney and will save $830. Like above, had to call to process the transaction.

 

[drron]

I really have appreciated the Platinum status with the Ambassador membership. Have even been upgraded at Holiday Inns and at one complimentary brekkie thrown in.
But we are not going to reach 40 nights in a year. With what i have done so far and with all hotels booked for this year I will only make 20 nights.
So for me it is certainly hoping Ambassador gives you platinum status. If all my Christmasses come at once diamond would be nice but obviously ain't going to happen.

 

[Shinjetter]

I was so close to getting Spire status with my stay at Hayman island this weekend. I looked at the status again, they changed it to 120,000 points. I just missed it by slightly for that 55k points. I'm assuming if I get Spire before they change, I might get Diamond Elite status when they change...

 

[travelbee26]

Well my run with Ambassador continues. Staying this weekend at the IC Sanctuary Cove to use my Ambassador free weekend night. Was meant to be 2 weeks ago but the floods put paid to that. Just checked my booking and have been again upgraded to a Queenslander suite with club access.

How was your stay at IC Sanctuary Cove? My husband and I stayed there under ambassador and the “club” room we were given was dirty and dusty. After asking for it to be cleaned there were still long black hairs in the bathroom. Overall we were very disappointed with our stay, and so we’re other guests that we spoke to over breakfast. This was about 4 years ago, and we’ve not been back since.

 

[drron]

Because of covid my Ambassador weekend was used at sanctuary cove in 2021 and 2022. both times upgraded to a Queenslander suite and no problems with the room. The only problem we had this year was that on the first night they were short staffed because some staff isolating and 2 large functions on. The woman looking after the club was obviously doing something else as well so at one stage I went up and poured another glass for both of us. she exploded saying we were not allowed to do that. i and one other couple complained and she wasn't there the next night.

We enjoyed our stay both times but will have a lot more choice next year and likely the weekend will be in Lisbon.

 

[dairyfloss]

I've just renewed IC AMB using some surplus IHG Rewards points in my account... and am happy to report that my Diamond Elite status has been updated to reflect 31 Dec 2023, from 31 Dec 2022. Keep it on the 'down low', good folks.

 

[exceladdict]

I've just renewed IC AMB using some surplus IHG Rewards points in my account... and am happy to report that my Diamond Elite status has been updated to reflect 31 Dec 2023, from 31 Dec 2022. Keep it on the 'down low', good folks.

Think I may do the same shortly - I think further status extensions are unlikely. Just wondering whether to wait for a bonus offer...