I'm almost a Spire!
Jul 27, 2016, 5:14 pm
#16
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
Well since making Spire I've had 2 suite upgrades at HI Washington DC and at HI Oakville Bronte and been upgraded twice to club rooms with access at CP Nottingham and CP Newcastle. As almost all my stays are UK HIX where there's no suites, since Spire came in I'm batting 100% on CP lounge access and about 20% on HI suites. By comparison I managed 1 HI suite upgrade in 6 years as Plat and about 10% lounge access.
So, though these are not mandated benefits I've found Spire is a significant improvement to Plat.
So, though these are not mandated benefits I've found Spire is a significant improvement to Plat.
Jul 27, 2016, 6:43 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,286
Be careful that spire benefits are even more hit-or-miss when you're staying on points. (You stated in your first post that you plan to use points.) Many IHG hotels that extend a particular set of benefits to elite guests on revenue stays offer fewer benefits or even no benefits to elites staying on points.
Since it seems you're looking a small number of particular hotels, why not call the hotels to ask about their policies?
Since it seems you're looking a small number of particular hotels, why not call the hotels to ask about their policies?
Jul 27, 2016, 10:42 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 413
Spire status is quite bad, to be honest. That's why I'm hopping over to Hilton Diamond.
Crowne plazas and holiday inns tend to be quite generous with upgrades (in my experience) with triple upgrades at Holiday Inn Jakarta Kemayoran & Crowne Plaza Bandung with lounge access and breakfast even when booked with pointbreaks nights (award nights at 5,000points each)
I would just maintain ambassador and stay with the ICs after my spire expires, as IHG has failed to provide a level of benefit comparable with other programs.
Crowne plazas and holiday inns tend to be quite generous with upgrades (in my experience) with triple upgrades at Holiday Inn Jakarta Kemayoran & Crowne Plaza Bandung with lounge access and breakfast even when booked with pointbreaks nights (award nights at 5,000points each)
I would just maintain ambassador and stay with the ICs after my spire expires, as IHG has failed to provide a level of benefit comparable with other programs.
Jul 28, 2016, 11:16 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,960
The difference between a property's overall attitude to elites is a greater factor than whether you are Platinum or Spire in my experience.
Jul 28, 2016, 3:17 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,112
This year I made Spire - I don't feel the difference between Plat and Spire in most hotels I stayed at. I got decent upgrades at HI and HIX. Stayed at CP Hamburg and got a club room without club access and the room was unacceptable. At candlewood suites as Plat I got $5 to spend in the cupboard (I don't think I'll get double as Spire).
I get more upgrades in IHG than Marriott. I'm MR Platinum and IHG Spire.
I get more upgrades in IHG than Marriott. I'm MR Platinum and IHG Spire.
Jul 28, 2016, 8:14 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: 6E Westbound, 4E Eastbound
Programs: AA EXP & 3MM, Priority Club Plat since 1984
Posts: 6,293
Another "stuffy traveler" here. Spire was poorly conceived and horribly executed. Benefits are spotty and erratic, as are most benefits within the IHC world. Even chaos has some patterns to it.
The only tangible benefit so far is the double points per stay seem to make the points add up faster. Start of year will have an offer for points or "share a status". As mentioned earlier, not much else beyond the "you're numbers in there"..... I have had great reactions at CPs, at an IC they scoff.
The only tangible benefit so far is the double points per stay seem to make the points add up faster. Start of year will have an offer for points or "share a status". As mentioned earlier, not much else beyond the "you're numbers in there"..... I have had great reactions at CPs, at an IC they scoff.
Jul 29, 2016, 8:24 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,112
Jul 29, 2016, 9:07 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
Jul 29, 2016, 9:18 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Jul 29, 2016, 9:32 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Programs: IC/AMB - Diamond Elite, AC E50K, AA, AM-Onyx, HH-Diamond, BW, Choice - Gold
Posts: 1,736
https://hiltonhhonors.hiltonapps.com/
Jul 29, 2016, 12:24 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,112
Jul 29, 2016, 2:22 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NJ (EWR) - USA
Programs: UA Silver - IHG Spire AMB - Hilton Gold - Choice Hotels Platinum - Hertz Gold FiveStar
Posts: 396
Jul 31, 2016, 2:49 am
#29
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,744
As others have said - welcome to Spire which is also known as pretty much nothing really tangible and not even remotely worth 75 nights (if you qualify that way). Aside from 25k points everything you may get is luck of the draw pretty much in my experience and entirely inconsistent. Enjoy though, but I think you'll find it hard to detect a difference to Platinum.
Aug 1, 2016, 10:40 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KATL
Programs: DL, WN, AA, Marriott, Hertz, National, Chic-fil-A
Posts: 234
I use Marriott as my primary program and IHG Rewards as secondary. I was wondering if Spire was worth 75 nights. Seems that it isn't. With that said, the 10 or so nights I spend in HIE properties are usually nice, but I won't go out of my way or sacrifice an elite qualifying night at a neighboring Marriott property for IHG right now.