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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Could the hotel be confusing a reservation using points with a reservation at a special rate for current IHG employees? Their rates are supposed to reflect the incremental cost to the hotel of an empty room being occupied (laundry for towels and sheets, housekeeping, toiletries, electricity, heat/AC, hot and cold water, etc.) and are rumored to be about $40 per night for full service hotels. Alternatively, $30 might be what IHG pays the hotel for award night redemptions.
Clearly the hotel just can't follow a policy of adding its own charge for award nights.