IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched the IHG One Rewards program, a revamp of its existing IHG Rewards program following an announcement in January 2022.
Some of the major changes in the program include:
- A new tier and bonus point earning structure
- Free Breakfast for Diamond Elite members as a Welcome Amenity choice
- Exclusive access to Reward Night Discount Promotions for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members
- More opportunities for Elite members to receive early check-in, late check-out (subject to availability)
- Room upgrades (to suites, if available, or another premium room type for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members)
- Introduction of Milestone Rewards for every 10 nights stayed; starting at just 20 nights to a maximum of 100 nights stayed
The new tier and bonus points earning structure will be effective immediately while the rest of the enhanced benefits will be effective from early June 2022.
With regards to the changes to the membership elite tiers, IHG has introduced a new lower tier Silver Elite status (10 nights to qualify) which is equivalent to the Gold Elite status in the old program and offers 20% bonus points.
Gold Elite status (20 nights or 40K points to qualify) is now a mid-tier status in the program and offers 40% bonus points.
In addition, Spire Elite has been rebranded to Diamond Elite (70 nights or 120K points to qualify) with this change and offers 100% bonus points.
Platinum Elite (40 nights or 60K points to qualify) remains unchanged and offers 60% bonus points.
With the revamp of the membership tiers, some of the membership benefits have been enhanced as well and we will cover the major benefits in more detail. As an overview, here is a summary of the membership benefits by tier:
Full details of the list of benefits can be found here.
Free Breakfast for Diamond Elite members as a Welcome Amenity choice
This is perhaps one of the major changes in the new program as IHG had not previously offered its elite members free breakfast as a welcome amenity. This certainly represents a positive change as free breakfast can provide significant savings at luxury properties if it is not included.
The breakfast provided is not just a continental breakfast but includes one main menu item with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages or a full buffet with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages per person which is a great benefit to have.
More opportunities for Elite members to receive early check-in, late check-out (subject to availability)
All members are now entitled to 2 pm late check-out while Platinum and Diamond Elite members are entitled to early check-in both subjected to availability. We would find this an insignificant benefit as both late check-out and early check-in are not guaranteed in this case.
Room upgrades (to suites, if available, or another premium room type for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members)
Similar to early check-in and late check-out, this benefit is on a space available basis at the hotel’s discretion. Upgrades may include the next best available room, such as suites, rooms on higher floors, corner rooms, newly renovated rooms, or rooms with preferred views. Room upgrades have been an existing policy and we would not have high expectations on receiving a room upgrade since its subjected to availability.
Exclusive access to Reward Night Discount Promotions for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members
There are not many details right now but we believe the rewards night discount could be similar to what IHG has been offering such as the recent “20% off on award stays” offer back in March 2022. It would be great if IHG can offer larger and more frequent award stay discounts for Platinum and Diamond elite members.
Introduction of Milestone Rewards
Another significant change in the new program would be the introduction of milestone rewards, which reward members for their loyalty with benefits such as bonus points, food and beverage rewards, confirmable suite upgrades, and annual lounge pass membership upon hitting a certain number of nights in a year.
Milestone Rewards benefits are as follows:
The food and beverage reward is a USD 20 voucher valid for 12 months from milestone selection and is only applicable to food and beverage charges during a hotel stay.
While the confirmable suite upgrade is valid for 12 months from milestone selection and is applicable to one room upgrade to an entry-level suite for stays up to a maximum of five nights. This can only be redeemed by contacting IHG Customer Care between 14 – 1 day before arrival and it is not valid at Six Senses Hotels Resort Spas.
As for the annual lounge membership, it provides access to the hotel’s club lounge for the member plus a registered guest for the duration of the stay. Upon selection, the membership is valid for the rest of the year plus an additional 12 months.
Of the milestone rewards, in terms of value, we would personally select the annual lounge membership and the confirmable suite upgrade, followed by the food and beverage rewards and then the bonus points in that order.
Conclusion
Generally, we must say that the changes have exceeded our expectations given that IHG’s loyalty has traditionally been underwhelming.
The annual lounge membership, confirmable suite upgrades, and free breakfast for loyal members (where applicable to each brand) would be especially valuable at luxury IHG properties such as InterContinental Hotels, Regent Hotels, and Six Senses Hotels Resort Spas.
