Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Princeton, NJ; Lviv Ukraine
Programs: UA 3.6MM, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Spire RA, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,732
I think the 15K level is great -- if you get good hotels. The problem with the 5K pointsbreaks is that these were largely low-end junk hotels; Candlewood Suites or HXes in second-tier locations. So for example, on the most recent list -- no CP, no Indigo, no Even, no Staybridge -- much less an IC.
On the preview, we can already see some good options at 15K ... you have the IC Kiev (best flexible rate is 330 Euro, or about $400). Or the IC Sao Paolo (about $275).
You have a few Indigos (such as Newark, $180, adjacent to the Prudential Center), CPs (CP Suites at Arlington Ballpark Stadium), etc.
There's a lot more "meat" on this bone already, just on the preview.
Here's hoping that the list that comes out later today has many more ICs, CPs and Indigos.
Oh, and why not some Kimptons? It would be a great way for IHG to introduce this chain -- which has historically had a very specific customer base -- to its IHG Rewards membership.