IHG consistently jacks rates at places I am willing to burn points at places I stay at (HIXes and Candlewood Suites in locations or times when they give good value). This might not seem too bad to someone who only burns for Intercontinentals but seeing point requirements jump 25-50% in a year is why I don’t trust them as a brand and loyalty scheme any more than I would trust anyone paying me with a wheelbarrow of Zimbabwe dollars. IHG is earn and burn ASAP for me.