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We have been waiting for the full details of the new loyalty program from IHG. The credit card portfolio is being refreshed.
The IHG rewards haven't been very competitive with other rewards. That is finally changing, and I am really impressed. Free breakfast for top tier elite members is one of the improved perks. Let's go over all the details.
IHG Rewards becomes IHG One Rewards
The loyalty program is being changed to IHG One rewards. This is part of a larger focus by IHG to promote unity, and to emphasize that we all share one world.
The new IHG One Rewards logo
The new program will coincide with the launch of a new mobile app, which members should start to see in the coming weeks. Hopefully, that experience will be improved through the app.
Six Senses Fiji
IHG One Rewards has five membership tiers
There are five membership tiers for IHG One rewards.
IHG One Rewards membership tiers
The membership benefits are compared by elite tier.
IHG One Rewards membership benefits
Breakfast is a huge new perk, but there are a few other things about the other perks.
Early check-in and late check-out isn’t anything to get too excited about, as it’s not guaranteed for any elite tier, but rather is subject to availability
IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will get access to award night discounts several times per year, similar to the offer we recently saw; there are no specific promises about how often we’ll see these, though
IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will get suite upgrades up to standard suites; however, I’m told there’s not actually a policy change here compared to the old rules, but rather hotels will just be better coached and encouraged to try to upgrade guests, including up to 48 hours before arrival
IHG Diamond Elite members will get access to a dedicated phone number, which should offer better customer service
The new elite perks won't kick in immediately because they are valid as of June 2022, when tier names should be updated.
Kimpton Paris
IHG Diamond members get free breakfast
One of the most exciting features of the new program is that elite members will receive complimentary breakfast. Breakfast will be a welcome amenity for Diamond Elite members.
This will include a hot breakfast for two people; hotels can exclude certain items (like alcoholic beverages or specialty coffees), but this does seem to be a “real” breakfast, and not a watered down continental breakfast
The only properties excluded from this are limited service properties that already offer breakfast to all guests, plus Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, InterContinental Alliance properties (in Las Vegas and Macau), select Kimpton locations, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties
I think it's a pretty legitimate offer that IHG is finally offering free breakfast as an elite perk.
InterContinental Los Angeles
IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards program
The introduction of Milestone rewards is one of the most exciting aspects of the program, as it allows members to get confirmed suite upgrades, club lounge passes, and much more. Members will receive perks for every 10 elite nights they earn in a year, from 20 to 100.
At 20 elite nights, IHG One rewards members can choose one of the following.
5,000 bonus IHG points
Two food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
A confirmable suite upgrade
At 30 elite nights, IHG One rewards members can choose one of the following.
5,000 bonus IHG points
Two food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 40 elite nights, I hg One rewards members can choose two of the following.
10,000 bonus IHG points
Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
A confirmable suite upgrade (limit one)
An annual lounge membership (limit one)
At both 50 and 60 elite nights, IHG One rewards members can choose one of the following.
10,000 bonus IHG points
Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 60 elite nights, IHG One rewards members can choose one of the following.
10,000 bonus IHG points
Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 70 elite nights, I hg One rewards members can choose two of the following.
10,000 bonus IHG points
Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
A confirmable suite upgrade (limit one)
An annual lounge membership (limit one)
At 80, 90, and 100 elite nights, IHG One rewards members can choose one of the following.
10,000 bonus IHG points
Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards
It's important to note that the number of elite nights you earn in a calendar year is linked to the IHG Milestone rewards. If you receive status through a credit card, you wouldn't be entitled to rewards.
I value IHG points at less than a dollar per point. If you are trying to make a selection, the food and beverage rewards are a better value than the points. When they have options, I usually choose the confirmed suite upgrades or lounge passes.
Hotel X Brisbane
How do IHG confirmed suite upgrades work?
It is exciting to see IHG introduce confirmed suite upgrades.
These can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for a stay of up to five nights
These can only be applied on paid stays when booking eligible rates
These can be applied by calling IHG One Rewards customer support between 14 days and one day prior to arrival
There’s no waitlisting mechanism here, but rather if there’s a standard suite for sale, you can confirm it at that time
The upgrade can be up to a standard suite, though if that’s not available you can confirm an upgrade to another premium room that’s not a suite
In the future there are plans for this process to be possible online, and for members to be able to waitlist upgrades
How do IHG annual lounge memberships work?
The club lounge upgrade is part of the Milestone rewards program.
These can be used to confirm an upgrade to a club room for the duration of a stay
These can be used on both paid and award stays
These can be used at virtually any IHG property with a club lounge, including InterContinentals
These can be applied by calling IHG One Rewards customer support
These upgrades are valid for the year in which they’re issued, plus 12 months
The annual lounge membership branding is a bit confusing. It seems that they should be marketed as lounge access passes, rather than annual memberships.
How do IHG food & beverage rewards work?
The food and beverage credits will show up in your account over time. You can redeem them individually or use multiple for a single purchase.
My take on the new IHG One Rewards program
I was expecting a program that exceeded my expectations. Previously, I didn't consider IHG to have competitive elite perks, but that has changed.
IHG is finally offering breakfast as an elite benefit, and it sounds like it’s a full, hot breakfast, rather than a continental one
Members can earn up to four confirmable suite upgrades per year and up to two lounge passes per year, which is exciting
The fact that you earn your first confirmable suite upgrade at 20 elite nights is pretty remarkable, as that’s the easiest to attain confirmable suite upgrade in the industry
It sounds like IHG is instructing hotels to be more proactive about suite upgrades for elite members, but there’s still not much there in the way of guarantees, aside from when a confirmed suite upgrade is used
Is it time to switch loyalty to IHG?
My biggest issue is that I find IHG’s portfolio to be rather uninspiring; aside from limited service properties, I quite like Kimpton and Six Senses (even though Six Senses isn’t fully integrated into IHG yet), but I find most InterContinental properties to be rather drab
It’s unlikely I’d earn the 70 elite nights per year to earn Diamond Elite status, though I could spend $40,000 per year on a co-branded credit card to earn the status; while this would get me free breakfast, the issue is that it wouldn’t get any of the valuable Milestone Rewards
IHG’s portfolio of 17 brands
I'm really impressed by the program. I don't find the portfolio to be that interesting so I won't switch my loyalty to IHG. It will cause me to stay at IHG properties a bit more.
I wonder what the future holds for the InterContinental Ambassador program. perks at InterContinental properties are offered by this paid membership program. I think we are going to see a significant refresh to this over time with the new loyalty program from InterContinental.
Staybridge Suites Savannah
Bottom line
I'm impressed by the details of the new loyalty program. The new program is called IHG One rewards. We are seeing the introduction of free breakfast for Diamond Elite members. The introduction of the Milestone rewards program offers everything from confirmable suite upgrades to club lounge passes.
IHG's loyalty program has evolved to the point that it is competitive and exciting.
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