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
Jul 18, 2019, 12:00 pm
#286
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
The Bonus language said "3 of the 4 offers". There are 3 offers above that, and 1 below. OP says he met 3 of the 4, and as far as I can tell IHG is not denying that. The IHG agent is instead claiming that only the 3 above and not the 1 below count. But that's moving the goalposts, and IHG should be called on it.
Jul 19, 2019, 3:17 am
#287
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
I was surprised that it counted, and was hoping it would happen again this time, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Jul 19, 2019, 3:18 am
#288
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,623
Any resolution or developments yet with the points not posting and the dashboard not updating? I will have to call them because the online route just yields cut and paste responses and no help whatsoever. But when I sign into my account, I am having difficulty finding a contact number anywhere. Similarly, if you click on "Email Management" right at the very bottom, the page just defaults to the "Preferences" page. I've never had any issue with IHG and their points yet (amazingly) so I'm quite surprised by this. Normally, I would just leave it and let them sort themselves out, but my booking pattern has led me to complete all tasks for the current Accelerate.
Jul 19, 2019, 7:19 am
#289
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,623
It's just unreal how bad this customer service is, actually haven't needed to phone IHG for ages...for years even. Getting through was a major challenge in itself. That apart, I landed on a Filipina who had no idea. No idea. And her English skills were borderline gibberish. Talk about talking to the vacuum cleaner.
I actually quite like this sort of thing. It clearly polarizes where and with whom I am going to book in the near future. Certainly not IHG. Just think about the time I will save not dithering about whether to book IHG nights, as opposed to Hilton, hotels.com, all the rest. Like Ryanair, IHG is fine until the moment you have an issue, Then you might just as well walk away from them.
EDIT: I phoned using the German line and did everything in German. What a difference! Got a really nice guy who said he was just about overwhelmed with all the problems and he managed to sort it all out. While I was on hold he came back periodically to update me and let me know that he hadn't just simply disappeared.
He was a long time though, a really long time. Took a while to get through to his supervisor apparently. Said it was a general systemwide problem and in those cases where the IT really wasn't working as it should have been, they were issuing all the missing points as a series of Rewards Club Goodwill gestures. That actually means that my dashboard will never update automatically during this promotion. Each batch of points has posted next to a Rewards Club Goodwill caption. But as I see it, that's a potentially good thing as my stay history won't have registered in the Accelerate universe and I stand the chance of getting a potentially good series of tasks next time round.
I actually quite like this sort of thing. It clearly polarizes where and with whom I am going to book in the near future. Certainly not IHG. Just think about the time I will save not dithering about whether to book IHG nights, as opposed to Hilton, hotels.com, all the rest. Like Ryanair, IHG is fine until the moment you have an issue, Then you might just as well walk away from them.
EDIT: I phoned using the German line and did everything in German. What a difference! Got a really nice guy who said he was just about overwhelmed with all the problems and he managed to sort it all out. While I was on hold he came back periodically to update me and let me know that he hadn't just simply disappeared.
He was a long time though, a really long time. Took a while to get through to his supervisor apparently. Said it was a general systemwide problem and in those cases where the IT really wasn't working as it should have been, they were issuing all the missing points as a series of Rewards Club Goodwill gestures. That actually means that my dashboard will never update automatically during this promotion. Each batch of points has posted next to a Rewards Club Goodwill caption. But as I see it, that's a potentially good thing as my stay history won't have registered in the Accelerate universe and I stand the chance of getting a potentially good series of tasks next time round.
Last edited by Concerto; Jul 19, 2019 at 8:09 am Reason: more info
Jul 19, 2019, 9:01 am
#290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Or, since the word seems to be officially that accelerate is now a "targeted" promotion, you might not receive one at all next time?
I'm resigned to the idea that if our dashboards have not updated by now, they never will. I believe I'm going to have to send a screenshot of my accelerate offers in an email to customer service after the promotion has closed so that they can just add the Goodwill points manually and be done with it.
I'm resigned to the idea that if our dashboards have not updated by now, they never will. I believe I'm going to have to send a screenshot of my accelerate offers in an email to customer service after the promotion has closed so that they can just add the Goodwill points manually and be done with it.
Jul 19, 2019, 10:08 am
#291
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,623
That's a really interesting possibility and it could have been that those of us such as myself weren't at all eligible for this promotion in theory...but somehow we managed to register anyway after getting an initial ineligibility message. I am still of the feeling that this is why my dashboard is refusing to acknowledge my progress and completion of tasks. But their IT is a mess and it is up to them to get it sorted out one way or another.
If I don't get offered a promotion for the final quarter of the year that will be fine, because then I really will be able to concentrate on other programs, such as Hilton. But I reckon they will offer something whatever happens. The problem is, I am anyway going to hit my 7 nights required by this promotion, so I will just pursue it down the manual goodwill gesture route.
If I don't get offered a promotion for the final quarter of the year that will be fine, because then I really will be able to concentrate on other programs, such as Hilton. But I reckon they will offer something whatever happens. The problem is, I am anyway going to hit my 7 nights required by this promotion, so I will just pursue it down the manual goodwill gesture route.
Jul 19, 2019, 10:56 am
#292
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Delta
Posts: 6
What a pain this has been. I've sent emails through the missing points link and the reply I've gotten is they are working on it. After several weeks of waiting on that I called (1.888.211.9874). Went through the whole explanation again, and again told they are working on it. After several more weeks still nothing. Called again this morning and was told, here it comes.... they are working on it. Asked to speak with a supervisor. After waiting and waiting, finally got a supervisor on the line. She finally (after waiting some more), deposited the points in my account as a goodwill gesture.
I've never had accelerate trouble before. My theory is I signed up this time via a link someone provided on this forum rather than waiting on the link from IHG. I did get an email confirmation from IHG that I was eligible. I don't know if that is what the problem is but regardless, IHG has been unable to fix their system. I'm going to complete one more offer in Aug and I imagine I'm going to have to call in and get a supervisor to give me the points.
I've never had accelerate trouble before. My theory is I signed up this time via a link someone provided on this forum rather than waiting on the link from IHG. I did get an email confirmation from IHG that I was eligible. I don't know if that is what the problem is but regardless, IHG has been unable to fix their system. I'm going to complete one more offer in Aug and I imagine I'm going to have to call in and get a supervisor to give me the points.
Jul 19, 2019, 11:56 am
#293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I've never had this trouble either. But, this is why I think right through the promo. They're going to stall and stonewall say that they're working on it.
I don't think that if one is not targeted, one can sneakily access a dashboard with tasks. If you have a dashboard, you are considered registered.
I don't think that if one is not targeted, one can sneakily access a dashboard with tasks. If you have a dashboard, you are considered registered.
Jul 19, 2019, 3:28 pm
#294
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,623
Well yes, but their IT is pretty whacky (and let's not get started on 4 digit numeric PIN codes). Belongs to the 90s I reckon, has a sort of Windows 98 feel to it. Clicking on certain links (such as Email Management) leads you to totally different places (such as Preferences). But that's ok, if we can squeeze through on Rewards Club Goodwill gestures I'm ok with that. And, really, no hard feelings if I don't get an offer in September for the next promotion: it will mean I have a bit of peace and quiet for once!
Jul 21, 2019, 5:18 pm
#295
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
I think the jury's still out on whether the current Accelerate promos were really intended to be targetted, or if they just screwed up with the IT for the May promo, and then created the July promo to target the people who failed to sign up for the May one.
If the latter is true, as I rather suspect, then I imagine we won't get another Accelerate promo until November.
If the latter is true, as I rather suspect, then I imagine we won't get another Accelerate promo until November.
Jul 22, 2019, 3:34 am
#296
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,200
Late this his party but my targets are as follows
9000 - stay 6 nights
21600 - stay at 3 brands
8400 - stay 2 weekends including a Saturday night
2800 - stay at 2 IHG hotels
4000 - 1 stay of at least 4 consecutive nights (already awarded and included in the posting of the actual stay)
45800 - for doing all the above
This was much better than the previous quarter - almost double in fact for achieving all the challenges
9000 - stay 6 nights
21600 - stay at 3 brands
8400 - stay 2 weekends including a Saturday night
2800 - stay at 2 IHG hotels
4000 - 1 stay of at least 4 consecutive nights (already awarded and included in the posting of the actual stay)
45800 - for doing all the above
This was much better than the previous quarter - almost double in fact for achieving all the challenges
Jul 25, 2019, 7:04 pm
#298
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Jul 26, 2019, 12:02 am
#299
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: MAN
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 351
He was a long time though, a really long time. Took a while to get through to his supervisor apparently. Said it was a general systemwide problem and in those cases where the IT really wasn't working as it should have been, they were issuing all the missing points as a series of Rewards Club Goodwill gestures. That actually means that my dashboard will never update automatically during this promotion. Each batch of points has posted next to a Rewards Club Goodwill caption.
Jul 26, 2019, 2:06 am
#300
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,623
Amazingly, it has been for me so far, despite the endless issues reported here. But I was expecting to have something happen at some point. We'll see how it plays out. This promotion is not the most interesting one there's been, so it's not generating a huge amount of hot air.