The Big Win returns - Spring 2014
Dec 14, 2013, 9:28 am
#91
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 315
Hi guys, I have some basic questions about the Big Win.
I need to stay four separate nights at two different holiday inns and two different holiday inn expresses, a total of four nights including two Saturday nights.
I searched in my area (within 15 miles) and found four different hotels: holiday inn, holiday inn hotel & suites, holiday inn express and holiday inn express hotel & suites. I'm wondering if XXX hotel & suites is considered as the same brand as XXX. If so, XXX hotel and suites and XXX are two different XXXs. Then I can fuifill the requirements by staying at these four hotels. Thank you guys.
I need to stay four separate nights at two different holiday inns and two different holiday inn expresses, a total of four nights including two Saturday nights.
I searched in my area (within 15 miles) and found four different hotels: holiday inn, holiday inn hotel & suites, holiday inn express and holiday inn express hotel & suites. I'm wondering if XXX hotel & suites is considered as the same brand as XXX. If so, XXX hotel and suites and XXX are two different XXXs. Then I can fuifill the requirements by staying at these four hotels. Thank you guys.
Dec 14, 2013, 9:56 am
#93
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 59
Completed the current Big Win and ended up with 90,400 points (plus the regular/bonus points, etc.)
The early 2014 promotion for me is as follows:
12 nights - 11,200
4 brands - 19,200
1 stay Best Rate + Breakfast - 2,000
3 Saturdays - 5,600
4 Holiday Inn hotels - 6,400 ****(see below)
Complete all 5 - 44,000
Grand total = 88,400
Not sure yet if it's doable, no idea what's happening in the new year at this point.
****Now the promotion is called "Stay Smart" which I believe the tagline for Holiday Inn EXPRESS hotels. When I open up that option it says
"Change your view - Stay at 4 Holiday Inn® hotels and earn 6,400 points"
But under terms and conditions it says:
"...after required number of qualifying room nights have been consumed by the member between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014 (both dates inclusive) at Holiday Inn Express® hotels hotels worldwide."
So we have a discrepancy here.
The early 2014 promotion for me is as follows:
12 nights - 11,200
4 brands - 19,200
1 stay Best Rate + Breakfast - 2,000
3 Saturdays - 5,600
4 Holiday Inn hotels - 6,400 ****(see below)
Complete all 5 - 44,000
Grand total = 88,400
Not sure yet if it's doable, no idea what's happening in the new year at this point.
****Now the promotion is called "Stay Smart" which I believe the tagline for Holiday Inn EXPRESS hotels. When I open up that option it says
"Change your view - Stay at 4 Holiday Inn® hotels and earn 6,400 points"
But under terms and conditions it says:
"...after required number of qualifying room nights have been consumed by the member between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014 (both dates inclusive) at Holiday Inn Express® hotels hotels worldwide."
So we have a discrepancy here.
Dec 14, 2013, 9:59 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,503
A bit more strenuous than last time, but not awful. 87,800 for:
- 8 nights
- 2 Holiday Inn stays
- Stays at 3 other brands
- 3 Saturdays
- One rate at the "best flexible plus breakfast" so figure $30 more than AAA
So for me that breaks into:
- work: 5 nights total in three stays: Staybridge, HI, HIX
- leisure: Saturday night stays at Candlewood, Candlewood, HI w/breakfast
My bigger problem is that there are only 16-17 Saturday nights in that period, I already have 3 award stays where switching to a IHG revenue stay would be stupid, and 5 Saturdays where I know I have to be home.
I'll need to see what Hyatt does for their spring promo before I decide if I'm going to chase this one. None of my co-workers are IHG fans, so the work trips will have to be solo ones.
ETA: I have the same HI/HIX issue as the previous poster. Thanks for pointing that out.
- 8 nights
- 2 Holiday Inn stays
- Stays at 3 other brands
- 3 Saturdays
- One rate at the "best flexible plus breakfast" so figure $30 more than AAA
So for me that breaks into:
- work: 5 nights total in three stays: Staybridge, HI, HIX
- leisure: Saturday night stays at Candlewood, Candlewood, HI w/breakfast
My bigger problem is that there are only 16-17 Saturday nights in that period, I already have 3 award stays where switching to a IHG revenue stay would be stupid, and 5 Saturdays where I know I have to be home.
I'll need to see what Hyatt does for their spring promo before I decide if I'm going to chase this one. None of my co-workers are IHG fans, so the work trips will have to be solo ones.
ETA: I have the same HI/HIX issue as the previous poster. Thanks for pointing that out.
Dec 14, 2013, 10:04 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Now I'm TOTALLY confused! I need 5 brands, so either HI and HIX are the same ... or they're NOT!
Dec 14, 2013, 10:07 am
#97
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 59
Dec 14, 2013, 10:12 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: KNO, ID
Programs: KF Gold, QF Gold, MR Platinum, Accor Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 613
Hi guys, I have some basic questions about the Big Win.
I need to stay four separate nights at two different holiday inns and two different holiday inn expresses, a total of four nights including two Saturday nights.
I searched in my area (within 15 miles) and found four different hotels: holiday inn, holiday inn hotel & suites, holiday inn express and holiday inn express hotel & suites. I'm wondering if XXX hotel & suites is considered as the same brand as XXX. If so, XXX hotel and suites and XXX are two different XXXs. Then I can fuifill the requirements by staying at these four hotels. Thank you guys.
I need to stay four separate nights at two different holiday inns and two different holiday inn expresses, a total of four nights including two Saturday nights.
I searched in my area (within 15 miles) and found four different hotels: holiday inn, holiday inn hotel & suites, holiday inn express and holiday inn express hotel & suites. I'm wondering if XXX hotel & suites is considered as the same brand as XXX. If so, XXX hotel and suites and XXX are two different XXXs. Then I can fuifill the requirements by staying at these four hotels. Thank you guys.
I need to stay four separate nights at two different holiday inns and two different holiday inn expresses, a total of four nights including two Saturday nights.
Dec 14, 2013, 10:14 am
#99
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: KNO, ID
Programs: KF Gold, QF Gold, MR Platinum, Accor Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 613
Dec 14, 2013, 10:15 am
#100
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 59
I think in the new promotion people are getting tripped up on the BRAND challenge vs. the HOLIDAY INN / HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS challenge.
In the BRAND challenge, if you stay one night at Holiday Inn and another at Holiday Inn Express, you now have 2 brands. That's done, put it to bed, no further discussion needed.
In the new promotion my challenge says Stay Smart - stay at 4 Holiday Inns, yet the T&C says Holiday Inn Express. I have a feeling something will be corrected at some point and I'll end up at one or the other.
In the BRAND challenge, if you stay one night at Holiday Inn and another at Holiday Inn Express, you now have 2 brands. That's done, put it to bed, no further discussion needed.
In the new promotion my challenge says Stay Smart - stay at 4 Holiday Inns, yet the T&C says Holiday Inn Express. I have a feeling something will be corrected at some point and I'll end up at one or the other.
Dec 14, 2013, 10:24 am
#101
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: KNO, ID
Programs: KF Gold, QF Gold, MR Platinum, Accor Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 613
My 2014 Big Win is quite easier than the former one; there is no need to stay in two different locations (Japan and OZ; Hellloooo!!! the Big Win points wont cover my airplane tickets 
)
- 6 nights : 8,800
- 4 brands : 19,200
- 3 book online : 2,200
- Survey : 100
- 2 saturday nights : 4,800
- views.dashboard.offer.q.header (I think it's dining expenses during stay : 400
- 2 stay smart in two different properties (in HIX I think) : 4,800
- Win Big : 40,000
Total: 80,300
The funny thing is:
Stay Smart;
Stay at 2 Holiday Inn® hotels and earn 4,800 points.
However, when I looked at the T&C; it mentioned that :
So...which one should I follow ? the promotion title or the T&C since HIX and HI are two different brands.
)- 6 nights : 8,800
- 4 brands : 19,200
- 3 book online : 2,200
- Survey : 100
- 2 saturday nights : 4,800
- views.dashboard.offer.q.header (I think it's dining expenses during stay : 400
- 2 stay smart in two different properties (in HIX I think) : 4,800
- Win Big : 40,000
Total: 80,300
The funny thing is:
Stay Smart;
Stay at 2 Holiday Inn® hotels and earn 4,800 points.
However, when I looked at the T&C; it mentioned that :
Number of bonus points or bonus miles listed above will be awarded after required number of qualifying room nights have been consumed by the member between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014 (both dates inclusive) at Holiday Inn Express® hotels hotels worldwide
Dec 14, 2013, 10:25 am
#102
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 315
HI and HIX are different brand. I've just finished my stay in HIX Semarang. Before this stay, I only ever stayed in IC, CP, and HI. Therefore my Elite Qualifying Brands were shown as 3. After my paid stay in HIX Semarang, the status of my Elite Qualifying Brands now shown as 4. Therefore, it is different brand. Morever, you said that :
Therefore the T&C is very clear; you HAVE to stay in 2 different HI and 2 different HIX including 2 saturday nights.
Therefore the T&C is very clear; you HAVE to stay in 2 different HI and 2 different HIX including 2 saturday nights.
Dec 14, 2013, 10:48 am
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
The breakfast issue is an annoying pain, but I found a Holiday Inn where the breakfast rate is an additional $10 (which is also the "a la carte" price of their buffet breakfast as well, so no savings there); I think it's worth it more to finalize the darned completion lode than for the extra 2K in and of itself.
I normally book the AAA rate. I usually have to pay significantly more for the regular Flex Rate, and then $10 more than even that to add breakfast to Flex. (Is there ever a AAA + breakfast rate, and even if there is, would that count for this promotion, or does it have to be the specific rate called "Flex + Breakfast"?)
Dec 14, 2013, 11:13 am
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
And additional $10 over what rate?
I normally book the AAA rate. I usually have to pay significantly more for the regular Flex Rate, and then $10 more than even that to add breakfast to Flex. (Is there ever a AAA + breakfast rate, and even if there is, would that count for this promotion, or does it have to be the specific rate called "Flex + Breakfast"?)
I normally book the AAA rate. I usually have to pay significantly more for the regular Flex Rate, and then $10 more than even that to add breakfast to Flex. (Is there ever a AAA + breakfast rate, and even if there is, would that count for this promotion, or does it have to be the specific rate called "Flex + Breakfast"?)
I'm Dutch, Scottish and New England Yankee, so I hear you loud and clear on the extra outlay, but at check-in I'll just have to mumble "The things we do for points ..." and try to enjoy my breakfast the next morning!
Dec 14, 2013, 11:44 am
#105
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
My new offer is 68,000 points total for:
8 nights (9,600)
3 brands (11,200)
1 night w/ breakfast rate (2,000)
1 survey (100)
1 night on credit card (1,500)
2 Holiday Inns (4,800)
2 HIXs (4,800)
Win big (34,000)
This is more nights and fewer points than my previous offer (5 nights/91k points) so I'm a little disappointed. That said, if I do it in 8 nights it works out to 8,500 bonus points per night, which is still a pretty nice deal.
The thing is, I'm not sure I want to pay for another 8 nights with IHG. During the current Big Win offer I tried out a few CPs and HIs in places where I normally stay with Marriott brands, and I learned the IHG properties suck.
8 nights (9,600)
3 brands (11,200)
1 night w/ breakfast rate (2,000)
1 survey (100)
1 night on credit card (1,500)
2 Holiday Inns (4,800)
2 HIXs (4,800)
Win big (34,000)
This is more nights and fewer points than my previous offer (5 nights/91k points) so I'm a little disappointed. That said, if I do it in 8 nights it works out to 8,500 bonus points per night, which is still a pretty nice deal.
The thing is, I'm not sure I want to pay for another 8 nights with IHG. During the current Big Win offer I tried out a few CPs and HIs in places where I normally stay with Marriott brands, and I learned the IHG properties suck.