Originally Posted by
tom_MN
Is there any value in making a cash reservation for peak season travel to hold a room, then cancel it to free up a room with the intention of immediately replacing it with a rewards stay (IHG credit card free night stay not yet credited to account)? Or are the free nights stays limited to a certain pot and when they are gone, they are gone?
Free night inventory is the same as award inventory, so your strategy theoretically would not work.
Originally Posted by
tom_MN
Also, will IHG change a points reservation to a free night cert reservation, refunding the points? Assuming in this case the hotel is full or shows no reward stays remaining so direct booking not possible.
No, this is a common complaint. You can cancel the points reservation but it isn't guaranteed that it will go back into award inventory for you to use the free night cert.