Originally Posted by
soitgoes
If a hotel tried to have me pay this tax, I would tell them to bill the tax to IHG, as IHG--not the member--pays taxes on reward stays.
No chance, soitgoes

You as the guest are liable to pay the tax, it's just a shortened method of payment that the hotels collects the tax from the guests for the financial administration.
You might say it's a service for you.