ChiefNWA

I just booked a night at a HI in Chicago in a couple weeks, so plenty of time to change. I used my normal Bank of America corporate rate, which has always earned me points. The discount this time was pretty steep (BOA - 99, advance saver 127 and best flexible 149).

When I booked it, it said I'd be earning 990 points. I did some digging and IHG's terms specifically say

"A Qualifying Room Rate is a rate that is not discounted more than 30% off the hotel's rack or Best Flexible Rate. Some qualifying rates include Best Flexible, Advance Saver, Advance Purchase, Senior Discount, AAA, Military rates, State Government and Federal Government."

I'm using it to help progress my Accelerate promotion. If it's not qualifying I'll simply book at a different/cheaper property.

scubaccr

The 30% cutoff is based on corporate from the best flex rate , in your case $149 is approx 33% down to $99, more than 30% but less than 35%, but as you already spotted critically > 30% discount

So I'd initially check some other date rates for same hotel to see if your company BOA rate is variable percentage off OR a FIXED ROOM RATE independent of daily flex/bar rates as hotel moves from low occupancy low nightly rates to high occupancy higher nightly rates

The 30%. discount text is not the only part, it is not simple as made out as fixed company rates work slightly outside of the discount applied at date of reservation 30% rule, AND still qualify based on fixed rate discount off initial low occupancy low flex nightly rates

This is not the same as in Asia where heavily discounted company rates are the norm and are qualifying with IHG Specifically saying Asia rates qualify even with bigger discounts

In my situation although discount is sometimes much greater than 35% off, it is still a qualifying rate as the fixed company rate price is less than 35% off the flex rates that hotel starts selling rooms for initially at low occupancy prices

Occasionally hotel backroom staff, post departure, process my sometimes fixed stay rate as non-qual as they just look at price paid and see a low rate. Contacting IHG Helpdesk by Skype then always works for me every time, though ontacting hotel post stay and incorrect nonqual posting to IHG account works too, but often takes longer has reservations often say they need to check with their manager if rate is qualifying and contact you after checking

ChiefNWA

Well here's what I came across looking at 4 separate dates.

Original date, Feb 12 - $99 BOA, $149 BF

Feb 5 - $99 BOA, $119 BF (best flex)
Feb 25 - $99 BOA, $139 BF
Mar 10 - $130 BOA, $204 BF
Jul 6 - $173 BOA, $269 BF

All varying in % off it seems.

Edit - That's for the same room, King Premium Skyline View. There were cheaper rooms on some of those dates but to keep it consistent I went with that.

I could switch to the standard room and hope for an upgrade as a Plat. Standard is still $99, but BF is $129 so it doesn't fall into that 30% category.
But that leads me to wonder, how do they determine that. Is it based off of your rate compared to BF at booking? Or is it at check in?

scubaccr

I wouldn't expect company negotiators to pay that more dollars just so staff earn hotel points!
Individual hotel rate discounts do vary depending how keen hotel is to win the corporations nights. Looks like BOA negotiated a nominal 35% off the Flex rate at this HI hotel, with some fixed rate component too, which is unlucky for you points earning wise.

Room Rates are usually reviewed yearly and adjusted based on previous years BOA room usage statistics. HI hotel will set a window number of expected promised bums in beds across 12months, not too few and not too many.
Use too few rooms compared to estimated promise discount is reduced, meet usage target and discount can increase.

Also from your checking, it looks like a BOA fixed night rate of $99 initially until BOA fixed rate room allocation is booked out, or if not taken up lhotel room rate exceeds $xxx's

BOA may have both a "preferred BOA room rate" a fixed rate for entry level rooms and a standard/different discount off higher category rooms, and entry level rooms once n rooms booked by BOA on individual nights

later nights it looks like nominal 35% off
MAR 10 - 130/204 = 63.7 %
JUL 6 - 173/269 = 64.3 %

ChiefNWA

Hmm, so maybe it's advisable to stay away from the corporate rate during the Accelerate promotion?
Unless booking the standard room $99 BOA/129 BF is the safest bet?

Land-of-Miles

In my experience Corp rates (even heavily discounted ones) tend to qualify but it is entirely random. I had to argue that an Amex FHR rate was qualifying despite it being more expensive than local BAR flex.