Just booking an award night for a friend this evening for next weeken stay, which I will not be present for.

Despite selecting 2ppn, the newly refreshed IHG website no longer presents the previous option of Additional Guest Field which I always fill in if gifting an Award Night (or if i share my room). The "Special Request 50char" field still exists
(I did use SR field to say 2nd guest name is xxxxx yyyyyyyy )

I also did a dummy 2ppn paid booking after this and noted the same issue for paid stays, so is nothing to do with IHG trying to implememt/force award nights to be booked through IHG Helpdesks. I remember if one is based in China area, those IHGers need book over 7days ahead and ring IHG to give the additional guests name.

I always use Additional Guest field for the 3x reasons, weighted in my order of use
i)Gift award night where I am not present
ii)add 2nd guest so they can obtain access to room if forget key to room. If not on booking hotel should refuse and then my partner has to wait until i get back from work/shopping etc
iii)My additional guest can checkin first if we travel independently and I arrive second

nb Also Annoying
The confirmation of reservations does not include specia; request info (unlike additional guest field from before), amd printing or emailing also removes the SR Field Info. I even tried CntlP print outside of IHGs control (used CutePDF) and again no joy. So can't provide my friend with any prroof to take with her for her checkin
(If one clicks 'view/modify' on emailed confirmation, then when viewing the reservation one does see the SR Field and Info)