Me thinks as well, that we will most probably not see any big changes in the next 12 to 24 months. On the one hand not everybody will chose the lounge amenity, as they might not stay in hotels with the lounge and see not benefit in it. I recently talked to a relative who is a frequent guest in a CP for business trips. And well above the 40 nights. He did not chose the lounge benefit, as none of the hotels he visited has a lounge. And if she travels with her husband and children, the last thing they do is spending more time in the hotel that necessary.

Also InterContinental hotels and those Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Hotels with lounges are not always the cheapest. And to get access to letˋs say the club lounge of the IC London or IC Paris paying room rates in the 300 USD + region might for many persons to expensive when you get the Holiday Inn Express for 120 USD. And those who pay room rates of 300 USD + with family will most likely not spent the whole time in the lounge.

Yes, there might be some flyertalkers, who will pay those rates and save by making use of the lounge. If IHG decides to adjust it, than we might see that the lounge benefit would not be valid on award bookings. But in regard to lounge benefit, IHG One Rewards is not Marriott and Hilton as not many of the hotel offer a lounge at all.

Just my two cents ...