It's easy to resort to "heavy" terms like ethics, but you haven't explained your reasoning. It's not about agreeing to disagree. There aren't two sides to this. IHG is not behaving unethically.

Whether or not IHG is acting wrongly, shouldn't those who post these codes post a warning, as well, that if you did not receive these codes via e-mail, you run the risk of having your account terminated if you use them?

Of course they should. But, that doesn't absolve individuals of their own duty to check out the codes. Needless to say, OP didn't pick up the phone and ask IHG. Likely because he knew the answer.

I'm pretty sure that this activity by IHG is targeted at unprofitable members. I've been a PC member for a long time and have always registered for every promotion under the sun. However, I stay at IHG properties about 150 nights a year so I would be very surprised if I get "audited". This seems to be a trend amongst people who admittedly don't stay at IHG's often. At the end of the day I feel like I bring IHG tons of $$$ for less than stellar HI's, HIE's, and CP's. If they were to pull this crap with me I would be more than happy to move next door to the equally shoddy Fairfield's and Hampton's.

But individuals have no possibility to "check out the codes" other than trying to sign up form them to see if they are accepted. And don't tell me that anything else would happen if you'd call the callcenter: they'd input the code and tell you if it was accepted.

HTB.

Having to call in on every promo is a pretty ridiculous view. Do you do that yourself?

Just so everyone feels warm and fuzzy, I called IHG today and asked them if the promo codes I found online were acceptable. And of course the rep told me if the page accepts it, then I am allowed to use it.

So abandon this silly view of 'targeted promotions' and 'fraud' already. It seems like IHG thinks promo codes found online just fine.

'head buried in the sand' comment from you on this subject. Why do so many people have a totally unjustified feeling of entitlement to freebies. Yes you are welcome to try codes, but don't scream at IHG for something that is a calculated risk decision to use a code not directly provided.

1. if code was not provided directly first hand to you by IHG or an IHG branded hotel, then one can have absolutely no expectation whatsoever that you are entitled to use that code.

2. and yes you can check out if you are allowed to use code, you simply ring/email IHG helpdesk .... OH WAIT , you know the answer already to that question so you won't do that check !

3. you can opt to
a)use blogged codes you were not directly given, and take ownership of
said risk to your IHG account
b)decide to play safe and first ask IHG for permission to use each code
c)be happy with the normal IHG points earning opportunities and the low ratio of stays/nights to free award nights needed.


That said I agree historically IHG were happy for IHGers to sign for all known codes, I just think too many people are opening multiple accounts to stay one night, grab 25-30K bonus points, and redeem against PB's.

I would think IHG IT software is now checking for duplicate accounts, comparing names/addresses/CC's of all accounts against other accounts, possibly checking just non/low profit accounts initially. IHG may further decide to increase checks of registered addresses in countries where such abuse is more frequent, eg apparrently China at start of April PB's.

Should be easy to see if an IHG account books PB's at different hotels for the same night(s) and occupies both rooms. A few such instances may be valid bookings, but the majority not.

Just curious about the speculation on whether IHG takes under radar those accounts which are not profitable to them. What is actually a profitable account?

I can see some people (who stay A LOT, whether Royal Ambassadors or other) posting here many many BRGs and sweet upgrades + club access and this and that, which makes me think. How profitable are these heavy-users for IHG in the end then? Savvy people know how to get the most out of the least money spent.

I assume a rookie who "don't know/care how to play the game" pays rack rate 150€ stays, say, 15 times a year with no upgrades no nothing - compare to a travel hacker who stays, say 50, but with numerous BRGs and double-upgrades, free minibars, club etc. + other requests and tricks. Those stays must be costly to IHG?

I think many regular heavy hitters are very profitable for the Hotel Chain.

For instance on our last stay in MEL our welcome gift was 2 glasses of very good red wine in the wine bar, we went and had them, they were yummy, we ordered some snacks as well, and seconds on the wine. We would have most likely had the food and drinks from somewhere else - so that was $60 spend the hotel got that it would not have got otherwise.
Lots of business travellers, come in late at night, sleep, maybe eat breakfast, check out - and never use all the Club facilities and extras they get given.
Trust me - no business would be offering the extras if it was not profitable.

What part about I called to ask IHG about codes posted online already doesn't anyone get? They said if the page accepts it, then I am allowed to use it. Have you called? Ever? Like htb says, what do you think the response is going to be, really?

I don't think IHG even knows who is 'entitled' to use codes. My conclusion is that IF IHG is actually cancelling due to multiple promos then they are doing that ex post facto, after they discover accounts are unprofitable. But based on information from this thread, it seems that the criteria is really just unprofitability and multiple promos is a red herring.

And the REAL reason that your account was closed was?
Perhaps that you had opened multiple accounts and sold pointbreaks nights.

I think only IHG, and insiders (institutional investors, hotel consultants and the like) really have an idea of what is profitable or not. Keep in mind IHG has a lot of franchisees, so they aren't actually paying for the rooms and such. And hotels regularly sell rooms to IHG at very low rates (like reward nights at low occupancy).

I think points only cost IHG a lot when they are redeemed not owned by them where the BAR is high and the occupancy is >90%. When the occupancy is <90% I think the rooms are almost free or very,very cheap for IHG.

In regards to per night profits, LoyaltyLobby has a post about how fat hotel margins are (http://loyaltylobby.com/2013/05/02/h...hotel-margins/) and Expedia's margins were 25%. My guess IHG's margins are a little better than that.

And we have no idea how much chase pays IHG for hotel signups. That $49 free night might not actually cost IHG much, if most people redeem at low occupancy hotels.

But anyway, the point is that it's pretty hard for us to know whether we are actually profitable or not. Sure, there are some example of those who seem to be clearly unprofitable, but I think many who think they are unprofitable might actually be profitable for IHG. And then again, there are some industries where the top 10% of customers make 90% of the revenue stream. But you can't attract those top 10% of customers unless you have break-even or slightly unprofitable customers that make all your properties sustainable. A complex system to be sure. Which I think makes it all the more important to protest against draconian policies like this...

Are you trolling on purpose or something? Or did you exemplifying why I'm disappointed in FT...

He even answers your questions in his FIRST POST, where he explicitly says he doesn't have multiple accounts nor has he acted as a broker. Do you not believe him????

Come on, again we come down to accusing the guy. He seemed to be quite honest and forthcoming, and there were at least two other similar accounts in this thread. What purpose does your post serve, anyway? Do you feel that you really are adding to the discussion?

Sigh, I should stop feeding the trolls.

Seems you're taking that at face value. Good luck with that.

I just have to say one thing: We know we have IHG representatives here in this forum. I find it interesting that they NEVER talk in any of these threads, This is not exactly the first thread about this subject...