Hi Tim.
Relatively early renewal compared to last year though expirty was 31Jan then, alas no extra free RA night that some RA's supposedly recerived (grr) , And my only paid IHG stays were IC this year (4x points HIE's though too), i changed my secondary from HH to renew MR this year , and can no longer claim HHD (or HHG) going forwards

RA is that tantalising carrot that if come end October you think you are very close to RA based on our thread infohere, you then kinda chase retaining and target/manufacture missing IC spend , which i did this Nov2019 once i realised i was unexpectedly at 11500++. I kinda assumed i needed to at least equal the increased 2018 empirical threshold of 12k++ that seemed needed for 2019 requal. and maybe more My December IC spend is often zero hence November spend prioritised at ICs in Asia

I have not worked out if threshold for RA renewals is set lower than for firsttime qual, or if multiyear RA status maybe allows lower renewal spends. However my current mindset is no IHG spend outside of IC brand by me

Again for 2020 I will not be chasing RA renewal , as such it may or may nor happen, though as for 2019 if come October 2020 I am close on what we empirically believe target spend is I will no doubt invest to to retain RA.

Kimptons outside USA are not prevalent, ok one exists in Amsterdam which I found not that good (prefer nearby Renaissance, IC Amstel or CP Zuid and Hilton), and now also Kimptons in UK too.

I expect my first Regent stay will be IC HKG once refurbed and rebranded but not really sure when that will happen date wise

I await with interest whatever RA changes IHG introduce for 2020, RA is definitely less attractive to me than previous years , though my usual repeat ICs still take good care of me and do not religiously follow the new less generous 2019 t+c's (BKK, KL, Pattaya, PLG, NL, Hanoi, Bucharest, )

Though for Bangkok I now also use MR Royal Orchid Sheraton as unlike Hilton Millenium it is on the "right side of the river" and I need MR night credits