Nov 2, 2015, 8:31 am
Last edit by: Suite Disposition
ALL THE URLS AND LINKS IN YOUR EMAILS ARE THE SAME. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO "REPLAY" A GIVEN EMAIL.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Plays are linked to your IHG account number and your IHG link you receive in the email. The links contained are unique to each IHG account number and cannot be "shared".
If you didn't receive all your plays and think that HW might have gotten your email address incorrect, then simply click the link again in your email.
Their email is [email protected].
Quantity of emails received does not always equal quantity of plays available. Emails received does imply that you have plays available.
If you click on your email links and receive a screen with the below message then you do not have plays available.
We love your enthusiasm!
However, you do not have any instant win chances to use.
Complete a qualified stay before February 15 to earn another chance to win.
Prizes:
Chances of winning:
500 pts 1:1.18 or 84.75% (This does not mean you will be guaranteed 500 pts per play)
1000 Pts 1:14.29 or 6.7%
2000 Pts 1:28.57 or 3.5%
5000 Pts 1:42.86 or 2.33%
Other prizes or no prizes: depends on number of entries
5B Prizes= 1,000, 2000, 5,000, $50 GC & Free night
BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE SENDING IN ENTRIES!
Leave Surprises here:
500 points (x1098)
1000 points (x42)
2000 points (x26)
5000 points (x17)
$50 Prepaid MasterCard (x13)
1 free night at any IHG hotel (x6)
$2500 Gilt.com GC (x1)
Sony Package (x1)
No Win (x7)
Official Rules
Logistics of the Mail-In Option:
Index Cards Okay? YES (I used 3x5 blank index cards and they were accepted)
Lined Index Cards Okay? Yes, of course, enough with the index cards!
OK to mail cards not inside an envelope? Not according to the rules, which state they must be inside envelopes, one card per envelope
Need to write title before each line? NO
Need second phone number? NO
Middle name required? NO (Left mine out, still got emails. If it's part of your account info, maybe leave it.)
Printed Destination Address Okay? YES (I used printed a bunch of sticker labels and put them on envelopes, accepted)
Printed Return Address Okay? YES (I used an ink stamp)
No Return Address Okay? Yes
Envelope size? Doesn't seem to matter
Non-IHG MasterCard Okay? YES
Debit MasterCard Okay? YES (I used an Ally Bank issued Debit MasterCard)
Use somebody else's MasterCard first 6 digits? YES
There have been reports of mail-in entry emails being sent out on 12/4 and 12/11, and the emails came in rapid succession. This is indicative of HelloWorld batching these out.
Initially batches of emails sent out was on Fridays but as of of 1/6/16 appears to be Wednesdays
#1 Batch=12/4
#2 Batch= 12/11
#3 Batch= 12/18
#4 Batch(xmas)= 12/23
#5 Batch(New Years Day)=12/30
#6 Batch= 1/6
#7 Batch= 1/13
#8 Batch= 1/18-1/24 (emails appear to be arriving daily)
#9 Batch= 2/3-2/5
As of 1/5, points have been posting within a week(ish) of playing and getting confirmation that you've won points.
Points will be paid out without additional email
Some points have been distributed (probably in batches on either Monday or Tuesday)
Points Payout Batches:
#1 12/28 & 12/29--500 pts, 1000pts, 2,000 & 5,000pts (plays before 12/25)
#2 1/4 & 1/5 (plays 12/25-12/30?)
#3 1/11(free nights & pts) & 1/12 (plays from 12/31-1/8)
#4 1/15 (limited due to MLK holiday on 1/18) (for plays from until 1/14)
#5 1/19 (plays from 1/15 til?)
#6 1/29 (plays until 1/24)
#7 2/3 (plays until 1/29)
#8 2/5 (plays until 1/31?)
Has anyone received email with instructions on how to redeem prize? YES ($50 MC redemption instructions received 12/28)
STATUS:
--As of 1/19/16 10:00 am et(estimated) all plays were showing up as no wins. . The play site seems to be undergoing maintenance. Best not to use up the majority of your plays until things smooth out.
--As of 2:45 pm ET on 1/19 play site appears to be back up.
--as of 4:17pm ET on 1/19 500 point plays seems to be working again. No 5B prizes seem to be won at this time
--As of 6pm ET on 1/19 emails being received for wins during the morning hours of 1/19 where it stated no win after select elevator.
--As of 2:30pm EST on 1/20 still reports of nearly 100% 500 pt wins only. Best not to play alot of plays unless you only want 500 pt wins
--As of 8:00 pm EST on 1/20 multiple reports of 5B prizes being won again. Seems to be back to normal.
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/21 reports of $50, 2k, 5k, 1k pt wins (unsure of free night wins)
--As of 6:00 pm est on 1/22 everything seems to be working as usual(although very few mentions of free night)
--As of 2:00 pm EST on 1/25 seems like daily emails have been sent out since 1/18 until now.
--As of 6pm EST on 1/29 reports of emails being received from mailed in entries from around mid January. So turnaround for new mailings appear to be about 1 week.
--As of 5pm EST on 2/2 appears that emails have stopped arriving daily with many reporting last email received on 1/29.
Priceless Surprises Promotion
Feb 7, 2016, 4:42 pm
#2491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
My speculation is, this would be the last time IHG uses Sweepstakes for promotion, at least not in US. The work burden involved in this promo probably is 100 times than the scope they originally anticipate.
Feb 7, 2016, 4:42 pm
#2492
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,072
For all practical purposes, it is the action HW taken that really counts. Since HW does not qualify people with a few extra entries, what is the point to bring up the official rules that said it would disqualify? It is not how extra few entries are handled. By bringing up the official rules incessantly would only confuse people instead of help people. Just my opinion.
Feb 7, 2016, 6:12 pm
#2493
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Well, sent HelloWorld an email about my missing plays from late December on Feb 2nd. Feb 3rd I got the generic reply saying they're looking into it.
Received my remaining plays this evening. So this is how my promotion ended. 1 play is from a stay (I only sent 92 entries since I ran out of envelopes).
5000 x 1
2000 x 2
1000 x 1
500 x 89
54,500 points with 93 entries
Combine that with the ~88K I'll earn from Accelerate and I'm a pretty happy camper!
Received my remaining plays this evening. So this is how my promotion ended. 1 play is from a stay (I only sent 92 entries since I ran out of envelopes).
5000 x 1
2000 x 2
1000 x 1
500 x 89
54,500 points with 93 entries
Combine that with the ~88K I'll earn from Accelerate and I'm a pretty happy camper!
Feb 7, 2016, 7:22 pm
#2494
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Well, sent HelloWorld an email about my missing plays from late December on Feb 2nd. Feb 3rd I got the generic reply saying they're looking into it.
Received my remaining plays this evening. So this is how my promotion ended. 1 play is from a stay (I only sent 92 entries since I ran out of envelopes).
5000 x 1
2000 x 2
1000 x 1
500 x 89
54,500 points with 93 entries
Combine that with the ~88K I'll earn from Accelerate and I'm a pretty happy camper!
Received my remaining plays this evening. So this is how my promotion ended. 1 play is from a stay (I only sent 92 entries since I ran out of envelopes).
5000 x 1
2000 x 2
1000 x 1
500 x 89
54,500 points with 93 entries
Combine that with the ~88K I'll earn from Accelerate and I'm a pretty happy camper!
Feb 7, 2016, 7:31 pm
#2495
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,072
Sending in 97 entries when you know that 94 is the limit is, definitionally, "purposely violating rules." Not sure why this is even being debated.
Feb 7, 2016, 8:24 pm
#2496
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 214
Finally got the bulk of my entries back from November. 67 emails doesn't add up with my other ones to 94, but it's close enough, and I'm very happy I don't have to worry if I'm even getting plays anymore. Also, I find it a bit surprising to me they're working on these during the Superbowl. I hope they have a TV in the incoming mail room!
1x 2000
3x 1000
62x 500
1x no win
1x 2000
3x 1000
62x 500
1x no win
Feb 7, 2016, 8:29 pm
#2497
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 25
Priceless surprises page on ihg
My husband's Priceless Surprises Promotion Page on IHG looks like the picture. The words appear to be links, but don't go anywhere. Has anyone else experienced this?
Feb 7, 2016, 9:17 pm
#2498
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 7
Well, according to the letter of the rules, attempting to get more than 94 entries is against the rules. If I know they ignore entries over 94, then sending 97 isn't attempting to get extra entries but accounting for transmission issues. It seems the rules are looking for people opening multiple email addresses and ihg accounts and other such dubious methods. Thank you for those who shared the experience of extra entries being ignored in practice.
Feb 7, 2016, 9:27 pm
#2499
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,072
Unless the T&Cs say a person can send in 100 entries and any past 94 will simply be ignored, then sending in more than 94 seems like an attempt to get more than 94.
Feb 8, 2016, 2:19 am
#2500
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 308
No. More like sending more mails so that you will get close to 94 plays, because it seems like very few people got 94 plays from sending 94 entries.
Feb 8, 2016, 4:15 am
#2501
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 393
I got 94 entries from 94 mailings, my wife got 94 from 92. For everyone that is out there missing some, have you tried click on a previous email (I'd keep track of how many that go through). Further, there was a report above that you can click through your account/track your progress in the website. You don't actually need the email. This way, if the email was incorrect, but they have it on you #, you should still be able to play.
Feb 8, 2016, 6:26 am
#2502
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
Two quick questions.
1) It's not the 15th so I'm still good to send in my 94 entries correct?
2) says it has to be in a envelope but has anyone thought of or put all 94 in a envelope and then put in a box and mailed it.
Thank you in advance. Newbie here so be gentle.
1) It's not the 15th so I'm still good to send in my 94 entries correct?
2) says it has to be in a envelope but has anyone thought of or put all 94 in a envelope and then put in a box and mailed it.
Thank you in advance. Newbie here so be gentle.
Feb 8, 2016, 6:51 am
#2503
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
I've read a couple people here that say they have something showing on their page but when I log into my and b/f's , nothing like this appears. It is still the same promo page form the beginning.
Feb 8, 2016, 7:17 am
#2504
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RSW/FMY
Programs: All, but no status!
Posts: 754
Two quick questions.
1) It's not the 15th so I'm still good to send in my 94 entries correct?
2) says it has to be in a envelope but has anyone thought of or put all 94 in a envelope and then put in a box and mailed it.
Thank you in advance. Newbie here so be gentle.
1) It's not the 15th so I'm still good to send in my 94 entries correct?
2) says it has to be in a envelope but has anyone thought of or put all 94 in a envelope and then put in a box and mailed it.
Thank you in advance. Newbie here so be gentle.
1). Don't forget that the 15th is a national holiday and most post offices will be closed.
2). The rules state that each entry must be in its own envelope "with proper postage".
Feb 8, 2016, 7:28 am
#2505
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 13
Sent 94 entries on 12/22, still not a single email 