Offer to retain IHG diamond ambassador for 2024

[maia200]

I have received an offer from IHG which allows me to retain Diamond Ambassador status throughout 2024. The offer was to purchase 110,000 points at US $1375. Since I hardly use IHG and was going to let it expire anyway this year this is hardly an attractive offer for me.

 

[sudoer]

Got a similar offer - buy 100k EQPs for $1500 USD. Definitely not taking them up on the offer!

I wonder if this was the rationale behind that short-lived Diamond match last year.

 

[Gold Member]

120,000 Elite qualifying points (EQPs) to secure IHG Diamond Elite for another year for $1,200 USD (~$1800 AUD). I’m a little bit confused though as they’re described as EQPs which when I follow the link to buy, tells me my current EQP balance is 9,066. And then the language describes how these EQPs can be used towards award redemption etc. In that case I assume these points will add to my existing points balance. Any insights? The link for buying the EQPs is https://storefront.points.com/IHG-EQP/en-US/buy

Assuming they‘re treated like regular points, since I value IHG points at 0.7 cpp, this is like paying an extra $550 for the status extension. They‘re currently running a 100% bonus promo but I don’t believe I can use that to requalify - it must be the EQP buy points link at the price quoted.

It’s quite a bit more expensive than the IC AMB renewal loophole that has seemingly been shutdown. Certainly welcome nevertheless.

Anyone else get a similar offer? For reference, I’m currently at 9 nights with 6 nights booked in a week’s time.

Buy points to secure Diamond Elite through 2024​

You’re in luck, GM. For just a short time, you can extend your top-tier status by buying Elite Qualifying Points. These points lock in your Diamond Elite status through 2024 and can also be redeemed for Reward Nights, experiences, catalogue items, and much more. Buy 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points by 31 December 2023 to extend your Diamond Elite status and all the benefits that come with it through 2024.*​

*This Offer is available to IHG One Rewards members for qualifying purchases of IHG One Rewards Elite Qualifying Points made during the period from 12:00 AM ET November 16, 2023 and 11:59 PM ET December 31, 2023 inclusive. A member may only purchase Elite Qualifying Points once under this promotion. Purchased Elite Qualifying Points will count toward a Member’s Year-To-Date status qualifying points balance (for example, towards Diamond Elite tier status for 2024).The Member must purchase enough to either meet or exceed the Diamond Elite Qualifying Points threshold to maintain Diamond Elite status through all of the 2024 calendar year. This offer does not apply to the yearly points purchase cap that is set at 150,000 points during a calendar year. Elite Qualifying Points will be awarded upon completion of the transaction, and new Elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days. Renewed Diamond Elite status gained from the purchase of Elite Qualifying Points will be valid for the remainder of 2023 and all of the 2024 calendar year. Elite Qualifying Points and resulting status will be awarded to the recipient of the Elite Qualifying Points purchase only. Price includes all applicable fees. Elite Qualifying Points are non-refundable and are applicable toward all IHG One Rewards awards. Elite Qualifying Nights are not part of this offer and cannot be purchased. This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipients only and may not be forwarded. Offer is subject to change.

 

[maia200]

It could possibly be. I do not value it that much and have used 10nights this year. Only one at an Intercontinental.

 

[gaz0303]

I need to buy 120000 points to keep my status from the earlier loophole. Most of my IHG stays are at HI express. Think I’ll pass.

 

[SYD]

120K here also….

 

[The-Aviator]

The link doesn't seem to work for me. I got about halfway to qualifying on points so might be tempted by a purchase offer.

Update - Got in but says I'm ineligible. Unlucky!

 

[oz_mark]

Got a similar offer - buy 100k EQPs for $1500 USD. Definitely not taking them up on the offer!

I wonder if this was the rationale behind that short-lived Diamond match last year.

Not sure how far in advance it was planned, but I certainly suspect that removing the Ambassador quirk was part of monetising extensions in other ways (e.g. I have had double night offers since then)

 

[Lynda2475]

I only earnt 28k EQPs this year as quite a few stays did not have suitable IHG properties. Was offered to purchase 100k to keep Diamond, have yet to look at $ cost.

Uncertain re any big travel plans for 2024 yet given a change in job and having burnt all my QFF points.

 

[FishFood]

Interesting option, but not one I'm planning on taking. Still hopeful I can jump ship with a status match to another program before my diamond disappears

 

[AustSerbKor]

110k here. Should I chance buying points with 100% bonus and see if that extends my status?

 

[SYD]

110k here. Should I chance buying points with 100% bonus and see if that extends my status?

If you do please report back!

I was wondering if the “other” method of buying discounted points works/counts? I suspect not.

I only looked at the link briefly but it appears to be a specific targeted page. Doesn’t IHG normally take you via points.com to purchase points?

 

[exceladdict]

120,000 Elite qualifying points (EQPs) to secure IHG Diamond Elite for another year for $1,200 USD (~$1800 AUD). I’m a little bit confused though as they’re described as EQPs which when I follow the link to buy, tells me my current EQP balance is 9,066. And then the language describes how these EQPs can be used towards award redemption etc. In that case I assume these points will add to my existing points balance. Any insights? The link for buying the EQPs is https://storefront.points.com/IHG-EQP/en-US/buy

Assuming they‘re treated like regular points, since I value IHG points at 0.7 cpp, this is like paying an extra $550 for the status extension. They‘re currently running a 100% bonus promo but I don’t believe I can use that to requalify - it must be the EQP buy points link at the price quoted.

It’s quite a bit more expensive than the IC AMB renewal loophole that has seemingly been shutdown. Certainly welcome nevertheless.

Anyone else get a similar offer? For reference, I’m currently at 9 nights with 6 nights booked in a week’s time.

Buy points to secure Diamond Elite through 2024​

You’re in luck, GM. For just a short time, you can extend your top-tier status by buying Elite Qualifying Points. These points lock in your Diamond Elite status through 2024 and can also be redeemed for Reward Nights, experiences, catalogue items, and much more. Buy 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points by 31 December 2023 to extend your Diamond Elite status and all the benefits that come with it through 2024.*​

*This Offer is available to IHG One Rewards members for qualifying purchases of IHG One Rewards Elite Qualifying Points made during the period from 12:00 AM ET November 16, 2023 and 11:59 PM ET December 31, 2023 inclusive. A member may only purchase Elite Qualifying Points once under this promotion. Purchased Elite Qualifying Points will count toward a Member’s Year-To-Date status qualifying points balance (for example, towards Diamond Elite tier status for 2024).The Member must purchase enough to either meet or exceed the Diamond Elite Qualifying Points threshold to maintain Diamond Elite status through all of the 2024 calendar year. This offer does not apply to the yearly points purchase cap that is set at 150,000 points during a calendar year. Elite Qualifying Points will be awarded upon completion of the transaction, and new Elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days. Renewed Diamond Elite status gained from the purchase of Elite Qualifying Points will be valid for the remainder of 2023 and all of the 2024 calendar year. Elite Qualifying Points and resulting status will be awarded to the recipient of the Elite Qualifying Points purchase only. Price includes all applicable fees. Elite Qualifying Points are non-refundable and are applicable toward all IHG One Rewards awards. Elite Qualifying Nights are not part of this offer and cannot be purchased. This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipients only and may not be forwarded. Offer is subject to change.

My offer’s wording is slightly different, suggesting I buy 100k, currently have about 25k qualifying points this year.

Buy points to secure Diamond Elite through 2024
You’re in luck, exceladdict. For just a short time, you can extend your top-tier status by buying Elite Qualifying Points. These points lock in your Diamond Elite status through 2024 and can also be redeemed for Reward Nights, experiences, catalogue items, and much more.

Buy 100,000 Elite Qualifying Points by 31 December 2023 to extend your Diamond Elite status and all the benefits that come with it through 2024.*

I had to read this a few times to see the "and can also be redeemed for awards nights" in the offer text, as for a while I was reading this as you would get the status nights, but not have your points balance boosted by the same amount. It’s not explicitly mentioned in the T&Cs:

*This Offer is available to IHG One Rewards members for qualifying purchases of IHG One Rewards points made during the period from 12:00 AM ET 16 November 2023 and 11:59 PM ET 31 December 2023 inclusive. A member may only purchase points once under this promotion. Purchased EQPs (Elite Qualifying Points) will count toward a Member’s Year-To-Date EQP balance. If the Member purchases enough to cross the Elite Qualifying Points thresholds to maintain Diamond status, that status will be granted. EQPs will be awarded upon completion of the transaction, and new elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days. Renewed Diamond status gained from the purchase of EQPs will be valid for the remainder of 2023 and all of the 2024 calendar year. EQP points and resulting status will be awarded to the recipient of the EQP purchase only. Price includes all applicable fees. EQP Points are not refundable and are applicable toward all IHG One Rewards Club awards. Elite Qualifying Nights are not part of this offer and cannot be purchased. This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipients only and may not be forwarded. Offer is subject to change. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

If fraudulent activity is suspected, IHG reserves the right to withhold Diamond status level pending further investigation. Final determination of a member’s eligibility to receive the status level is at the sole discretion of IHG based on the findings of the investigation. Please allow up to 72 hours for points to post and appear in the recipient's account. All other IHG One Rewards Terms and Conditions apply. All other IHG One Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions apply.

Elite Qualifying Points balance correct as of 9 November 2023. For purposes of the Offer, the required Elite Qualifying Points balance required to maintain Diamond status is the number communicated to the member in the Offer and may not be contested by a member.

This one-time email was sent by Points.com Inc. on behalf of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) as a result of your recent interest in the IHG One Rewards Elite Qualifying Points promotion. The IHG One Rewards Elite Qualifying Points promotion is powered by Points, located at 111 Richmond Street W., Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5H2G4, Canada.

This email was sent by Points.com Inc. Click here to manage your subscriptions.

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I'll probably need to buy 100k points at 1000 USD. Assuming 100k, that's costing ~1535 AUD.

I'm looking at a stay at IC Singapore next year which would be 50k points/night instead of 483 AUD. Using these points towards 2 nights there, I'd “save” 966 AUD (~.95c/p AUD). So, would still be 600 AUD or so out of pocket.

The diamond bonus, vs gold which I'd drop to (assuming no soft landing to platinum), would probably award another 5000 points if i had a similar number of stays to this year (unlikely), but let’s generously call it $50 worth so still $550 out of pocket.

The benefits would be free breakfast, and higher chance of upgrades. I’ve had some very generous upgrades this year at properties in AU including Crowne Plaza Hobart as well as IC Melbourne (ambassador probably helped as well there), but upgrades are never guaranteed so you never know. The other question is whether platinum - which is awarded with ambassador at $200 or 40k points - would get the same upgrades.

This year, Mrs Excel and I have enjoyed 12 nights of free breakfast courtesy of diamond - so if you valued those at $25 per person or $600 total, we’re coming out just in front. Of course the big question is whether we are expecting the same number of stays next year (possibly not).

If you do please report back!

I was wondering if the “other” method of buying discounted points works/counts? I suspect not.

I only looked at the link briefly but it appears to be a specific targeted page. Doesn’t IHG normally take you via points.com to purchase points?

Yeah, i think the landing page is a points.com page, specifically set up for this promo.

 

[Lynda2475]

Whilst it appears to be a personal offer in the email, I notice that there is now an advert on AFF linking to a similar non personal offer.

 

[Rick93]

My AMB Membership expired 1st. Nov.
Had the offer of Renewal on logged-in page for about a month before.
Let it go past expiry, but had the funds available few days ago.
Found Renewal offer gone from logged-in page.
Rang them, and asked to Renew over phone .... but only if 15k points included.
No prob.
Done at $AU315.94
Points credited immediately.

 

[oz_mark]

My AMB Membership expired 1st. Nov.
Had the offer of Renewal on logged-in page for about a month before.
Let it go past expiry, but had the funds available few days ago.
Found Renewal offer gone from logged-in page.
Rang them, and asked to Renew over phone .... but only if 15k points included.
No prob.
Done at $AU315.94
Points credited immediately.

Yes, but did it extend your Diamond status?

 

[maia200]

Yes, but did it extend your Diamond status?

That is what I want to know as well?

 

[Rick93]

No. Renewing alone, did not extend my Diamond Elite status.

I received the 'offer' of buying 110k points for $US1,375. to retain Diamond for 2024.

I too, will not be accepting that particular offer.
I Renewed Ambassador, as I needed a Weekend Voucher for NYE 2023.
I'll be staying at Sanctuary Cove IC on Sat 30th. Dec., and getting Sunday 31st. ( NYE ) for free !! ( Club Lounge access ), valued at $AU975.

Booked Club Access Marina-view room ... upgraded a month in advance to Queenslander Suite.

 

[levelnine]

Shame the party is over for essentially free renewals of Diamond status. Was good while it lasted. Will ride out my benefits until the end of 2024 and hope IHG's stellar IT delivers another gift to us before then.

 

[SYD]

Pondering this offer a little more. I have a current stay and maybe others before the 31 Dec deadline that will lift my Elite Qualifying Points balance. Since this offer is purchasing “Elite Qualifying Points”, presumably I don’t need to buy 120k but the difference between 120k Diamond requal and my actual balance?

Also, if I then through 40k of those points back to renew AMB, I’ll retain both for the net dollar amount?

Probably still not super attractive but maybe worth it if the AMB status extension is reinstated next year after they weed out the throng of Instant Diamonds from this year? (Like me ).