Originally Posted by IAN-UK

If you needed to do that, it might be cheaper simply to be selective and pay for lounge access if you're staying at a hotel with that facility, and you want access. It's the strategy I adopted for my much reduced number of IC stays after losing RA status.

As for "free" breakfasts, I'll say thanks if they offer it, but i certainly wouldn't jump through any hoops or plan unnecessary $100 stays to get it.


Meanwhile, over at Hilton I've always receive breakfast everywhere I stay, and if the there's a lounge i'm invited in. No hoops, no complications, no mile-stone choice: just make 30 Hilton-family stays a year (including reward nights).

Originally Posted by swag

Here's my view as a credit card platinum.

I'd certainly hoped for improvements, but you never really expect too much for a status that you're buying for under $100. Sure enough, IHG found a way to offer benefits to embers with Platinum-level number of nights, while excluding credit card platinums - milestone rewards. IHG isn't the first to create separate benefits, some you get just by status level, some you need the earned nights/stays/points/miles, and Marriott, who they seem to be gunning for, certainly does this. It lets them offer "status" without having to give the best status perks to those who qualify by credit card, by lifetime status, or by comped or matched status.

So I'm disappointed but certainly not surprised that I'm not getting suite upgrades or lounge access just for my $99.

But here's the interesting thing. IHG's milestone reward qualification is much lower than Marriott's. Marriot requires 50 nights to earn the 5 suite upgrade nights, or 35 if you have the credit card. With IHG, it's just 20.

Now that I'm not traveling for work, I'm unlikely to ever stay the 70 nights reach Spire/Diamond, so I never had any incentive to earn qualifying nights. But 20 is certainly possible, and if the confirmable suite upgrade turns out to be relatively easy to use (unlike, say, Marriott), then it's a level I might strive for. If I do move some nights to IHG to reach a milestone, well, that's exactly what IHG wants, so maybe job-well-done to the program designers.

Originally Posted by Smiley90

You must've not stayed in any US Hiltons recently... the whole breakfast benefit is one big mess right now. i WISH it was as simple as "just get breakfast"!

Originally Posted by JapanFlyerT

The multi-step system is pretty smart and an improvement, though at the end of the day I am not sure if it beats Bonvoy.

Originally Posted by greggrant

It shouldn't be right. The app and website showed a target of 55 nights or 55k points to re-qualify up until 11 April 2022. It looks like IHG are changing this now and not re-qualifying those of us who achieved this goal. I've emailed them and await their reply.

Originally Posted by escape4

I think it will depend on the execution by IHG hotels and how likely upgrades are at time of check-in when not using upgrade certificates (which means, the vast majority of stays). Also it depends if we are comparing Marriott Ambassador vs IHG Diamond, or if we are comparing mid ter Marriott Platinum vs IHG Platinum.

Regarding upgrade certificates, the IHG ones have potential to be better than Marriott because it's 14 days before check-in compared to Bonvoy only 5 days. In addition, some Bonvoy properties don't even include suites in the room inventory eligible for SNAs which makes a mockery of the concept. If IHG upgrades to real suites, it will definitely be a better upgrade system than Marriott's SNAs.

Originally Posted by patmcpsu

Has anyone seen the discounted award stays become effective yet? I'm a spire and the reward nights still appear to be the same as they are when I'm not signed in. I thought benefits such as this were supposed to go live today.

Originally Posted by greggrant

The IHG T&Cs state clearly that if you have 55 nights or 55k points by 12 April 2022 you will re-qualify for the following calendar year, i.e. 2023. From the 13 April 2022 the new qualification nights/points apply (120k points or 70 nights). So, having achieved this on 2 April I should have had Spire re-qualification until 31/12/23. This would have then converted to Diamond on 13 April 2022, the start of the new programme. IHGs response to my enquiry didn't address the issue (not even close) so yet another email sent off today.

Originally Posted by stimpy

The T's and C's say Eligible Platinum Elite, Diamond Elite and IHG One Rewards credit cardholders may receive exclusive access to select discounts on Reward Nights at participating hotels

So maybe we have to just wait for a hotel to participate in this.

Originally Posted by nawlins

I have same issue. Hit 55 nights April 8 and still platinum. I booked the nights on a trip to Mexico thinking I needed 55 by the week of April 11. Will email IHG when I return. I would be interested in the response you receive from IHG.

Originally Posted by greggrant

It shouldn't be right. The app and website showed a target of 55 nights or 55k points to re-qualify up until 11 April 2022. It looks like IHG are changing this now and not re-qualifying those of us who achieved this goal. I've emailed them and await their reply.

Originally Posted by nawlins

I have same issue. Hit 55 nights April 8 and still platinum. I booked the nights on a trip to Mexico thinking I needed 55 by the week of April 11. Will email IHG when I return. I would be interested in the response you receive from IHG.