Originally Posted by
pmaddock
ALL - I don't really think so. The lower end is actually improving a bit. IHG has been giving away points like candy (if you follow the famous thread in thier forum) for some time now. They have actually been improving their program a bit by offering points and cash style reward nights and a somewhat miserly points for flights option. My upgrade success rate at HIEX and Staybridge as a Plat is better than what I've been getting as a diamond this year. (Just be careful about staying in a regular HI.)
It is
amazing how many points can be earned through IHG/PC and I think they generally spend better. In my experience, Hilton properties have always been a more consistent stay but I have to admit, it appears to me that IHG has made real progress with renovations/new Holiday Inns and HIX's.
I already started throwing more stays at IHG because of the promotions and will fall short of Diamond next year. I will be gold so no big difference. I have a 7 night stay for Nov in HNL at the Embassy Suites and converted 310,000 points (that hurt) to SW RR so I could get a companion pass. That leaves me with 3,000 HH pts left. I don't plan to stop staying at HH in protest. I like the fact that Hamptons and HGI's are everywhere and dependable. That being said, if IHG continues to revamp their product and keeps the point’s candy coming when HH promos are a joke, how can I not stay with them?