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IHG Rewards Club Highlights – Be in the Know

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Get the Most Out of the IHG Rewards Club Program! Come on in to find out how!

June 2016

We greatly appreciate when you click on any of our hotel links or ads and book a stay directly with IHG to enjoy the best price!

Last year, IHG implemented several positive changes that I'm sure pleased their more than 90 million IHG Rewards Club members. 

The IHG Rewards Club is the biggest hotel loyalty program in the world and when the Kimpton Karma program combines with the IHG Rewards Club program in 2017, the program will get even bigger!

IHG introduced Spire as the highest Elite level and decreased the number of nights and points required to achieve each Elite status level:

Gold:

  • 10 qualifying nights or 10,000 Elite qualifying points

  • 10% bonus on all base points

  • Late checkout when available

  • Complimentary weekday newspaper

  • Exclusive toll-free service line

Platinum:

  • 40 qualifying nights or 40,000 Elite qualifying points

  • 50% bonus on all base points

  • All of the benefits of Gold status plus complimentary upgrades and guaranteed room availability

  • Elite Night Rollover - if you earn more nights than you need to achieve Platinum or Spire Elite status, those nights will rollover and count toward next year

Spire (NEW in 2015):

  • 75 qualifying nights or 75,000 Elite qualifying points

  • 100% bonus on all base points

  • All of the benefits of Platinum status including Elite Night Rollover

  • A 25,000 annual points bonus or gift Platinum status to a friend or family member

Additional IHG Rewards Club Program Highlights:

  • Members continue to enjoy free internet

  • Reward Nights always get you closer to your next Elite membership level

  • IHG’s Best Price Guarantee ensures you get the best room price

  • You must earn or redeem points once every 12 months to keep your account and points active

  • We value IHG Rewards Club points at 0.7 cents per point, which is the estimated value we would be willing to pay for IHG points if we could buy them for cash; it’s also the minimum value we feel you should expect before redeeming your rewards points; keep this in mind when considering any point purchase or redemption

Earning IHG Rewards Club points:

  • InterContinental (including the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas) stays earn 10 points per eligible dollar spent in the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean; you earn 2,000 points at all other properties

  • Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Hualuxe, Even and Holiday Inn (including Holiday Inn Resorts, Holiday Inn Vacations and Holiday Inn Express) stays earn 10 points for every eligible dollar spent

  • Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites stays earn 5 points for every eligible dollar spent

  • While you can earn airline miles INSTEAD of IHG points for each stay, you will always enjoy more value when you choose to earn IHG Rewards Club points

  • Earn points through IHG’s partners for activities like renting a car and dining

What type of nights and points are Elite qualifying?

  • Nights completed and base points earned by paying any qualifying rate (generally rates offered through IHG are qualifying but not those booked through a third-party site like Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc. or discounted group or tour rates) for hotel stays - see the terms and conditions for more information
  • Points collected from partner transactions (e.g. car rentals, IHG credit card purchases, dining, etc.)
  • IHG Rewards Club Bonus Points Packages
  • Meeting Rewards

What Type of Points are NOT Elite Qualifying?

  • Promotional points
  • Points vouchers
  • Points purchases
  • Points transfers and deposits

Redeeming IHG Rewards Club Points:

  • While you can redeem your points for a variety of products and services (e.g. shopping, gift cards, buying airline miles, booking flights on over 200 airlines, etc.) you will always enjoy the most value redeeming your points for IHG Stays

  • IHG reward nights have no blackout days, if a standard room is available it is yours

  • Enjoy 5,000 point reward stays with PointBreaks

  • Points & Cash stays are a good value

    • If you choose the option to pay 5,000 less rewards points and $40 per night, you are paying 0.8 cents per point

    • If you choose the option to pay 10,000 less rewards points and $70 per night, you are paying 0.7 cents per point

    • If you choose the option to pay 15,000 less rewards points and $90 per night when available, you are paying 0.6 cents per point (this is a fantastic option to buy points all year long for less than we believe they are worth!)

    • Special note: Your debit or credit card will be charged right away for the $40, $70 or $90 per night depending on the option you choose and if you cancel your stay you will not receive the money you paid per night back in the form of a cash credit, you will instead have 5,000-15,000 points for each night of your stay credited to your account (depending on the option you chose)

And if you want a true Luxury for Loyalty Experience, consider Ambassador Status:

Ambassadors enjoy an annual free weekend night, 5,000 bonus points each stay, guaranteed upgrades, 4 p.m. checkout when available, a complimentary in-room movie each stay, Gold status or higher across all IHG hotels and many additional benefits! If you’d like more information, see our great Tip on Ambassador and Royal Ambassador Status! 

The Wrap-Up:

The IHG Rewards Club has many great benefits including a new membership level – Spire. And IHG reduced the number of nights and stays required to achieve each Elite status level last year!

Members continue to enjoy free internet, reward Nights get you closer to your next Elite membership level and IHG wants to ensure you get the best price with their Best Price Guarantee. And you'll need to earn or redeem points once every 12 months to keep your account and points active.

And remember, the $90 and 15,000 Points & Cash option when available, allows you to purchase points for 0.6 cents per point, which provides a great option to purchase points for less than we believe they are worth!

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