IHG Acquires Kimpton
Dec 16, 2014, 6:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2002
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I think Kimpton would immediately become my second-favorite IHG brand (after IC), and probably the only one other than IC I would sometimes stay at.
Dec 16, 2014, 9:18 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: BD, USAir, BA, Iberia, Hilton, IHG
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Kimpton continues to run as a standalone business. This means normal booking channels for both IHG and Kimpton hotels will remain as they were before the announcement.
The way I see it is they will keep the loyalty programmes separate for the time being...
Dec 17, 2014, 8:59 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
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Posts: 3,531
IC Ambassador and Royal Ambassador need to go away. There needs to be only one loyalty program with multiple levels for IHG. Hopefully this purchase, with a chain with another loyalty program, will push them closer to that goal.
Dec 17, 2014, 10:06 am
#20
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So how are the mini-bars at Kimpton hotels anyway?
Dec 17, 2014, 10:29 am
#21
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Dec 17, 2014, 10:46 am
#22
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There is absolutely no reason to believe that the integration of the Kimpton program will change anything in the policy of IHG regardings its IHG Rewards and Ambassador loyalty programs.
Dec 17, 2014, 8:22 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
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If one program means XYZ being the top their, and XYZ can be had by getting a $49/year credit card, then no thanks. IC Royal Ambassador, now, can only be had by people showing true loyalty and spending lots of money at IHG and IC hotels. And, the recognition of this status is commensurate with that.
Dec 18, 2014, 1:37 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2010
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But I think you are on the right path. The Intercontinental brand and how IHG has maintained it separate from the lower service level HI and HIX's is exactly how I think Kimpton's hotels should be fit into IHG. It would allow for IHG to maintain many of the features and aspects of Kimpton hotels and the recognition and benefits of being a loyal Kimpton guest. But there will be some branding issues. Do they put "Intercontinental" into the names of each hotel, or do they let the Kimpton group of hotels be its own subclass in the luxury end of IHG's services?
Dec 18, 2014, 5:07 pm
#25
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Posts: 8,720
Well there is not a "Kimpton" hotel. The names of the hotels vary with some repeated names (Like Monaco) that adhere (loosely) to a certain style. But really Kimpton is an eclectic collection of hotels and small hotel chains.
But I think you are on the right path. The Intercontinental brand and how IHG has maintained it separate from the lower service level HI and HIX's is exactly how I think Kimpton's hotels should be fit into IHG. It would allow for IHG to maintain many of the features and aspects of Kimpton hotels and the recognition and benefits of being a loyal Kimpton guest. But there will be some branding issues. Do they put "Intercontinental" into the names of each hotel, or do they let the Kimpton group of hotels be its own subclass in the luxury end of IHG's services?
But I think you are on the right path. The Intercontinental brand and how IHG has maintained it separate from the lower service level HI and HIX's is exactly how I think Kimpton's hotels should be fit into IHG. It would allow for IHG to maintain many of the features and aspects of Kimpton hotels and the recognition and benefits of being a loyal Kimpton guest. But there will be some branding issues. Do they put "Intercontinental" into the names of each hotel, or do they let the Kimpton group of hotels be its own subclass in the luxury end of IHG's services?
Dec 18, 2014, 5:23 pm
#27
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60% of hotels worldwide (except for the US where it is only 40%) do not belong to a chain.
That is why hotel groups try to attract independent hotels (same story for Autograph Collection with Marriott or MGallery with Accor) to :
- increase their market shares in a poorly consolidated market
- face competition against internet site like Booking.com (which to some extent are doing the same business as franchise hotel groups: not owning hotels but having powerful booking systems)
- meet GenY customers who are looking for more creative/less standard hotels.
That is why hotel groups try to attract independent hotels (same story for Autograph Collection with Marriott or MGallery with Accor) to :
- increase their market shares in a poorly consolidated market
- face competition against internet site like Booking.com (which to some extent are doing the same business as franchise hotel groups: not owning hotels but having powerful booking systems)
- meet GenY customers who are looking for more creative/less standard hotels.
Dec 18, 2014, 7:29 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,531
If one program means XYZ being the top their, and XYZ can be had by getting a $49/year credit card, then no thanks. IC Royal Ambassador, now, can only be had by people showing true loyalty and spending lots of money at IHG and IC hotels. And, the recognition of this status is commensurate with that.
Dec 18, 2014, 11:06 pm
#29
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Agreed: having (essentially) no status at IC's is bad enough, but to have that at two chains would be even worse. I recognize that folks who are very loyal guests at those brands deserve something, but there has to be some way to standardize it a bit chain-wide.
Dec 19, 2014, 12:59 am
#30
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If they take away the exclusivity of RA, then there will be no value to RA. Same at a lesser degree for AMB. IHG please do not dumb down your excellent program to the masses.