Personally, I think that anyone who has gotten points for Venetian/Palazzo should probably be considered lucky. Technically it is NOT an Intercontinental or IHG property. It is an ALLIANCE property, a wholly independent partner. Basically it's as if you got 5x points for all spend in the US, you go to the England and get only 1x. You ask for 5x points and send them a link to the State department's website indicating that England is a US ally. It was a marketing deal with a number of mutual benefits, but Alliance properties are a wholly different and unique animal. Venetian/Palazzo were the very first Alliance properties, and I believe so far they're still the only ones. The original partnership should be ending soon, as it was supposed to be for 10 years, I haven't heard if they're planning to renew.