Apr 30, 2019, 12:23 pm
Last edit by: craigthemif
A new season and a new IHG Accelerate promotion. Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions below:
For newcomers to IHG promotions, note that Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn (including Holiday Inn Resorts) are two different brand categories for these things. If your dashboard says 'stay at a Holiday Inn Express' as one of the tasks and you stay at a Holiday Inn, it will NOT credit for the Holiday Inn Express task. (and vice versa)
For a task that says 'Stay X number of times at a Holiday Inn Express' (or Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, etc.) each stay must be at a different property for it to fully credit rather than staying at the same property multiple times.
An award stay only counts toward a task that specifically requires an award stay and will not count toward other tasks and night requirements for the purposes of the promotion. (Award stays do count toward general elite qualification, but that's outside this promotion)
'Redeem points' award nights only count for the 'redeem points' task and no other tasks. (example- an award night does not count toward 'Stay X number of nights')
At IHG, points + cash stays are simply points stays where you bought some of the points at the time of the reservation. Once you finish the reservation, a points + cash stay shows as a points stay. Thus points + cash stays only count for tasks where they are specified, and not other tasks.
Other than the tasks for redeeming points and point + cash reservations, tasks are generally very stackable. Enjoy the game of figuring out how to get the most out of the least amount of nights and money.
Doing a points + cash booking and then cancelling it does NOT trigger a 'buy points' task completion. A 'buy points' task is a points transaction that is processed through points.com
The 'pay with your IHG credit card' task has typically been very slow to post. If it does within about two weeks of completing a stay, that's relatively quick, and it will often be several weeks beyond that, depending on when your statement closing date is and how IHG's system sweep is timed.
Some offers require booking within the promotion period in addition to staying during the promotion period.
Registration & dashboard link:
https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/offers/accelerate2019
For newcomers to IHG promotions, note that Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn (including Holiday Inn Resorts) are two different brand categories for these things. If your dashboard says 'stay at a Holiday Inn Express' as one of the tasks and you stay at a Holiday Inn, it will NOT credit for the Holiday Inn Express task. (and vice versa)
For a task that says 'Stay X number of times at a Holiday Inn Express' (or Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, etc.) each stay must be at a different property for it to fully credit rather than staying at the same property multiple times.
An award stay only counts toward a task that specifically requires an award stay and will not count toward other tasks and night requirements for the purposes of the promotion. (Award stays do count toward general elite qualification, but that's outside this promotion)
'Redeem points' award nights only count for the 'redeem points' task and no other tasks. (example- an award night does not count toward 'Stay X number of nights')
At IHG, points + cash stays are simply points stays where you bought some of the points at the time of the reservation. Once you finish the reservation, a points + cash stay shows as a points stay. Thus points + cash stays only count for tasks where they are specified, and not other tasks.
Other than the tasks for redeeming points and point + cash reservations, tasks are generally very stackable. Enjoy the game of figuring out how to get the most out of the least amount of nights and money.
Doing a points + cash booking and then cancelling it does NOT trigger a 'buy points' task completion. A 'buy points' task is a points transaction that is processed through points.com
The 'pay with your IHG credit card' task has typically been very slow to post. If it does within about two weeks of completing a stay, that's relatively quick, and it will often be several weeks beyond that, depending on when your statement closing date is and how IHG's system sweep is timed.
Some offers require booking within the promotion period in addition to staying during the promotion period.
Registration & dashboard link:
https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/offers/accelerate2019
New Accelerate Promotion (May 01, 2019 - August 31, 2019
Jun 14, 2019, 10:45 am
#226
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: IHG - spire amb, Marriot - tit, Radisson - plat, Hilton - gold, Accor -gold, GHA - plat
Posts: 282
Yep same here and same response.
Jun 14, 2019, 12:37 pm
#227
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
I booked a points-and-cash stay today. Credit as a completed task was marked in my "Offers" account almost immediately. The points to pay the points end of the P&C were also deducted almost immediately. I have not yet received credit for the points for the task--not surprisingly--but once they post, will see if the points remain credited when I cancel this reservation.
Jun 15, 2019, 3:26 pm
#228
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,519
Don't have much experience with IHG promos...Does check-out have to be completed by 8/31 for the purposes of completing a task, or would check-in by 8/31 count?
Jun 15, 2019, 5:35 pm
#229
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, IHG Spire, AMEX Plat
Posts: 608
I booked a points-and-cash stay today. Credit as a completed task was marked in my "Offers" account almost immediately. The points to pay the points end of the P&C were also deducted almost immediately. I have not yet received credit for the points for the task--not surprisingly--but once they post, will see if the points remain credited when I cancel this reservation.
Ie. 20k Hotel you paid 15k+cash there will be a transaction of 5k points+whatever your bonus for the task is and another of -20k for the redemption
Jun 15, 2019, 6:31 pm
#230
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
In other words, if x was my balance before the reservation, I'm now at x - 5K. If I don't cancel the reservation, I will not see any points deducted for the cash portion, but will I earn a bonus? Generally, you get no credit for a stay or for a bonus by failing to check in for a reservation. I suspect this may be the one situation where canceling the reservation is actually better than showing for the stay.
What I'm gambling on is that the task remains completed if I cancel before the deadline. Under that scenario, the math looks like this: x - 5K + 5K (the refunded points) + 4.5K (my Accelerate bonus) + 5K (the cash portion of the canceled reservation refunded in points). Or x + 9.5K at a cost of $40.
A risk? Yes. But worth the $40.
Jun 16, 2019, 9:07 am
#232
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, IHG Spire, AMEX Plat
Posts: 608
Would check your account because it’s exactly what has happened on my account. Surprised it would be different.
In in my case it was 15k and I paid 10k+£24.
Straight after have +9.5k(5k+4.5k for the bonus which is now completed) in my account and -15k for the redemption.
Will you get night credits if you don’t show up? No not unless someone at front desk messes up. Will the 4.5k stock if you cancel who knows I would have tried if it wasn’t a discounted pointsbreak property I actually wanted to stay at.
In in my case it was 15k and I paid 10k+£24.
Straight after have +9.5k(5k+4.5k for the bonus which is now completed) in my account and -15k for the redemption.
Will you get night credits if you don’t show up? No not unless someone at front desk messes up. Will the 4.5k stock if you cancel who knows I would have tried if it wasn’t a discounted pointsbreak property I actually wanted to stay at.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:45 am
#233
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,341
I'm still unable to register. 
IHG customer service said Accelerate does not appear under my offers. Really weird that make this promotion targeted all of the sudden and then make even Gold members ineligible.
IHG customer service said Accelerate does not appear under my offers. Really weird that make this promotion targeted all of the sudden and then make even Gold members ineligible.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:03 am
#234
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,849
Jun 18, 2019, 9:34 am
#236
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Would check your account because it’s exactly what has happened on my account. Surprised it would be different.
In in my case it was 15k and I paid 10k+£24.
Straight after have +9.5k(5k+4.5k for the bonus which is now completed) in my account and -15k for the redemption.
Will you get night credits if you don’t show up? No not unless someone at front desk messes up. Will the 4.5k stock if you cancel who knows I would have tried if it wasn’t a discounted pointsbreak property I actually wanted to stay at.
Jun 19, 2019, 11:53 am
#238
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,843
Let me know now if you contact them and what the result is.
Jun 19, 2019, 12:30 pm
#239
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 90
I'm an infrequent IHG customer, but my Accelerate offer actually has tempted me to shuffle summer travel stays toward IHG properties. I think it's a good offer, certainly for my travel patterns and needs.
12,000 - Discover Our Brands
Stay at 2 brands and get 12,000 bonus points
8,000 - Saturday Stays Bonus
Stay 2 weekend(s), including a Saturday night and another night, and earn 8,000 bonus points.
4,500 - Stay for Less and Earn
Book 1 stay(s) using Points & Cash and earn 4,500 bonus points. Points & Cash allows you to book Reward Nights with fewer points.
5,600 - Stay at 2 IHG® Hotels
Stay at 2 IHG® hotel(s) and earn 5,600 bonus points.
30,100 - Your Achievement Bonus
Complete 4 of the 4 offers and earn (an additional) 30,100 bonus points
So, basically, two two-night weekend stays at different brands, plus one Points and Cash booking, for 60,200 bonus points.
12,000 - Discover Our Brands
Stay at 2 brands and get 12,000 bonus points
8,000 - Saturday Stays Bonus
Stay 2 weekend(s), including a Saturday night and another night, and earn 8,000 bonus points.
4,500 - Stay for Less and Earn
Book 1 stay(s) using Points & Cash and earn 4,500 bonus points. Points & Cash allows you to book Reward Nights with fewer points.
5,600 - Stay at 2 IHG® Hotels
Stay at 2 IHG® hotel(s) and earn 5,600 bonus points.
30,100 - Your Achievement Bonus
Complete 4 of the 4 offers and earn (an additional) 30,100 bonus points
So, basically, two two-night weekend stays at different brands, plus one Points and Cash booking, for 60,200 bonus points.
Jun 19, 2019, 2:38 pm
#240
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS, Aeroplan, SkyMiles, WestJet, IHG Platinum, IC Ambassador
Posts: 93
I should note that this is my first time actually taking part in the Accelerate promo so I have no prior experience to gauge this against.