Undeniably that's what it says. My own account shows Spire expiry 31 December 2021 (I haven't re-qualified yet this year).

I spoke with IHG member services and they confirmed that if you reach qualification in 2020 you'll get two choice benefits in January of 2021.

well, we all know CSRs are often wrong. in this case, such a benefit wouldnt even make sense. i dont know how their back-end systems are set-up, however, Im going to assume its ancient legacy with band-aid modern modules. if thats the case, there will only be one set of choice benefits issued. this is because you can only obtain spire once in the prior year regardless of how its achieved. either by IHG leadership or through stays. for example, if you stayed double the requirement for spire, you wouldnt get the choice benefit twice.

This is probably a promotion related to Coronavirus, but I'm not sure where else to post it. I'm not a huge user of Intercontinental, maybe a couple of times a year. Not sure if this is a great offer, which would incentivize me to stay more often at IC.

We invite you to enhance your travels by joining InterContinental® Ambassador with this exceptional offer. Simply enrol in the programme by 15 November 2020, then stay once at InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton®, or Regent® hotels by 31 January 2021 to receive a Reward Night, in addition to your full suite of Ambassador benefits.

In addition to the exceptional offer above, enjoy these guaranteed Ambassador benefits:

• Guaranteed room upgrades
• Extended 4pm checkout
• IHG® Rewards Club Platinum Elite status
• A complimentary weekend night at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and participating Kimpton and Regent hotels2

Enrol today for USD200 or 40,000 points.

Yes I saw the offer and was unsure whether to post it or not.

It very much depends how much you use ICs over a year though the cost of not paying for one night of a 2 night weekend stay could very well cover the $200 price tag (plus being able to use it all week at Kimptons is a good use as well)

I received that offer yesterday and went ahead and signed up. Always held back in the past because I prefer the Kimpton over the IC but the 40k point sign up fee and the free night is pretty much a wash so I pulled the trigger. Not to mention you get another weekend certificate so it’s essentially 2 nights for 40k points with the requirement that you have a paid weekend night to go along with it.

Got a couple IC nights coming up so we’ll see how the ambassador program is.

That won't happen.

The reason is that as soon as you hit the magic number the choice award is immediately available - you don't have to wait until the following year to redeem it.

I have already requalified via points this year and have not received the choice award yet. So suspect it will show up in the new year

I hit night 55 nights last Thursday. Yesterday I had a message on the app to select my benefit and the 25K Points were deposited instantly.

I neglected to update this. I wrote to the corporate offices to clarify, and received this message back from the executive offices:

"I am truly sorry for any confusion or frustration caused with the adjustments to our IHG Rewards Club program. This is an unprecedented time for everyone and we want you and all our guests to stay safe. This is why we have ensured all members' status will be extended through January 2022, and as you already know, this includes your Spire Elite Choice Benefit. This benefit can only be received one time between now and 2022. As such members are still able to achieve this benefit normally with qualifying stays or if this is not possible we understand and a grace will be given and you will still maintain the status and receive the benefits. I realize this may feel a bit counter intuitive but IHG would rather have the incentive for you and all our guests focus on staying safe and enjoy the Elite benefits you have already earned, once life begins to return to normal. "

So my original post was incorrect — there is really no benefit, or incentive, of requalifying for Spire this year. You get a single Choice Benefit either way.

Thanks for the follow-up. I had to read the statement three times, but end up reaching the same interpretation you do.

I was seriously considering doing this, but with the huge upswing in COVID, and the only available hotels within reach are in Boston or NYC-I decided this was an incredibly stupid risky move on my part-especially since the free night expires in March 2021. If it was December 31, 2021, I could be more tempted. (But my rational head would say death or disease is not worth a better and/or free hotel night!)

You consider staying at a hotel a "risk" for death or disease?

Any word on them extending like hilton did? So nights stayed in 2020 roll over to 2021 to count towards status?

For the Ambassador certificates, do the stays have to be complete by the expiration date or just booked? On my account it says "Book by April 1st 2021" for instance, but the system will allow me to book stays beyond April 2021 with the Amb free night rate, unlike for the Chase Free nights. Or will I be charged for both nights if I book the Amb free night rate beyond the expiration date for my certificate?