IHG has in the present day revealed the total particulars of its revamped loyalty program, which we’ve been anticipating for fairly a while. That is along with the bank card portfolio not too long ago being refreshed.
Traditionally IHG Rewards hasn’t been very aggressive with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. That’s lastly altering, and I’m actually impressed. IHG has drastically improved elite perks, together with free breakfast for high tier elite members, plus the introduction of Milestone Rewards, providing confirmed suite upgrades and membership lounge passes. Let’s go over all the main points.
IHG Rewards turns into IHG One Rewards
To begin, IHG’s loyalty program is being rebranded as IHG One Rewards. That is a part of a much bigger focus by IHG to advertise unity, and to emphasise that all of us share one world.
To coincide with the launch of the brand new program, IHG is launching a brand new cellular app, which members ought to begin to see within the coming weeks. IHG is promising a a lot improved expertise by means of the app, so hopefully that’s the case.
IHG One Rewards has 5 membership tiers
IHG One Rewards has 5 membership tiers, as follows::
Under is a chart evaluating the membership advantages by elite tier.
Whereas many of the new perks come within the type of Milestone Rewards, and whereas breakfast is a big new perk (I’ll cowl each beneath), let me simply be aware just a few issues in regards to the different perks:
- Early check-in and late check-out isn’t something to get too enthusiastic about, because it’s not assured for any elite tier, however fairly is topic to availability
- IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will get entry to award night time reductions a number of instances per yr, just like the supply we not too long ago noticed; there aren’t any particular guarantees about how usually we’ll see these, although
- IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will get suite upgrades as much as customary suites; nonetheless, I’m informed there’s not really a coverage change right here in comparison with the previous guidelines, however fairly motels will simply be higher coached and inspired to attempt to improve friends, together with as much as 48 hours earlier than arrival
- IHG Diamond Elite members will get entry to a devoted telephone quantity, which ought to supply higher customer support
IHG Diamond members get free breakfast
One of the crucial thrilling options of the brand new IHG One Rewards program is that choose elite members will lastly obtain complimentary breakfast. Particularly, Diamond Elite members will be capable of choose breakfast as their welcome amenity:
- It will embody a sizzling breakfast for 2 individuals; motels can exclude sure objects (like alcoholic drinks or specialty coffees), however this does appear to be a “actual” breakfast, and never a watered down continental breakfast
- The one properties excluded from this are restricted service properties that already supply breakfast to all friends, plus Candlewood Suites, Vacation Inn Membership Holidays, InterContinental Alliance properties (in Las Vegas and Macau), choose Kimpton areas, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties
I’d take into account it to be enormous that IHG is lastly providing free breakfast as an elite perk, and it’s a reasonably reliable providing at that.
IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards program
Probably the most thrilling side of the IHG One Rewards program is the introduction of Milestone Rewards, which is a method that members can get confirmed suite upgrades, membership lounge passes, and way more. Particularly, members will obtain perks for each 10 elite nights that they earn in a calendar yr, from 20 to 100.
At 20 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select one of many following:
- 5,000 bonus IHG factors
- Two meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
- A confirmable suite improve
At 30 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select one of many following:
- 5,000 bonus IHG factors
- Two meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
At 40 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select two of the next:
- 10,000 bonus IHG factors
- 5 meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
- A confirmable suite improve (restrict one)
- An annual lounge membership (restrict one)
At each 50 and 60 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select one of many following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG factors
- 5 meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
At 60 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select one of many following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG factors
- 5 meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
At 70 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select two of the next:
- 10,000 bonus IHG factors
- 5 meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
- A confirmable suite improve (restrict one)
- An annual lounge membership (restrict one)
At 80, 90, and 100 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can select one of many following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG factors
- 5 meals & beverage rewards price $20 every
It’s necessary to notice that IHG Milestone Rewards are particularly linked to what number of elite nights you earn in a calendar yr. So in the event you obtain standing by means of a bank card, you wouldn’t mechanically be entitled to Milestone Rewards.
For context, I worth IHG factors at 0.5 cents factors. Subsequently the meals & beverage rewards usually symbolize a greater worth than the factors, in the event you’re attempting to make a choice. Personally I’d fairly persistently choose the confirmed suite upgrades or lounge passes after they’re choices.
How do IHG confirmed suite upgrades work?
It’s thrilling to see IHG lastly introducing confirmed suite upgrades:
- These can be utilized to substantiate a set improve for a keep of as much as 5 nights
- These can solely be utilized on paid stays when reserving eligible charges
- These could be utilized by calling IHG One Rewards buyer help between 14 days and in the future previous to arrival
- There’s no waitlisting mechanism right here, however fairly if there’s a normal suite on the market, you’ll be able to affirm it at the moment
- The improve could be as much as a normal suite, although if that’s not accessible you’ll be able to affirm an improve to a different premium room that’s not a set
- Sooner or later there are plans for this course of to be doable on-line, and for members to have the ability to waitlist upgrades
How do IHG annual lounge memberships work?
IHG can also be lastly introducing membership lounge upgrades as a part of the Milestone Rewards program:
- These can be utilized to substantiate an improve to a membership room at some point of a keep
- These can be utilized on each paid and award stays
- These can be utilized at nearly any IHG property with a membership lounge, together with InterContinentals
- These could be utilized by calling IHG One Rewards buyer help
- These upgrades are legitimate for the yr through which they’re issued, plus 12 months
Personally I discover the “annual lounge membership” branding to be a bit complicated. These are one-time passes, so plainly they need to be marketed as lounge entry passes, fairly than any kind of an annual membership.
How do IHG meals & beverage rewards work?
The meals & beverage credit could be accrued over time, and can present up in your IHG account. That method you’ll be able to select whether or not you wish to redeem them individually, or use a number of towards a single buy.
My tackle the brand new IHG One Rewards program
The brand new IHG One Rewards program drastically exceeds my expectations. As talked about above, beforehand I didn’t take into account IHG to have aggressive elite perks, however that has lastly modified:
- IHG is lastly providing breakfast as an elite profit, and it sounds prefer it’s a full, sizzling breakfast, fairly than a continental one
- Members can earn as much as 4 confirmable suite upgrades per yr and as much as two lounge passes per yr, which is thrilling
- The truth that you earn your first confirmable suite improve at 20 elite nights is fairly outstanding, as that’s the simplest to achieve confirmable suite improve within the business
- It seems like IHG is instructing motels to be extra proactive about suite upgrades for elite members, however there’s nonetheless not a lot there in the way in which of ensures, other than when a confirmed suite improve is used
So, am I prepared to modify some loyalty to IHG?
- My largest concern is that I discover IHG’s portfolio to be fairly uninspiring; other than restricted service properties, I fairly like Kimpton and Six Senses (despite the fact that Six Senses isn’t absolutely built-in into IHG but), however I discover most InterContinental properties to be fairly drab
- It’s unlikely I’d earn the 70 elite nights per yr to earn Diamond Elite standing, although I may spend $40,000 per yr on a co-branded bank card to earn the standing; whereas this might get me free breakfast, the problem is that it wouldn’t get any of the precious Milestone Rewards
All issues thought of I’m actually impressed by this system. This received’t make me swap my loyalty absolutely to IHG, just because I don’t discover the portfolio to be that fascinating. However it can trigger me to remain at IHG properties a bit extra.
I can’t assist however surprise what the long run holds for the InterContinental Ambassador program. This can be a separate paid membership program that provides perks at InterContinental properties. With IHG’s new loyalty program providing extra sturdy perks at InterContinental properties, I think about we’re going to see a big refresh to this over time.
Backside line
Particulars of IHG’s new loyalty program have simply been introduced, and I’m impressed. The brand new program is known as IHG One Rewards. With this, we’re seeing the introduction of free breakfast for high tier Diamond Elite members. Moreover, we’re seeing the introduction of the Milestone Rewards program, providing all the pieces from confirmable suite upgrades, to membership lounge passes.
IHG’s loyalty program has lastly advanced to the purpose that it’s aggressive, and that’s thrilling.
What do you make of IHG’s new loyalty program?