Point breaks now 5k and 10 or 15k
 

I just read an article on loyaltylobby explaining this, along with a short sneak peak list which including a few ICs.

I think this is good news - sure I would love IC park lane at 5k then the Barclay. But, in the real world I geuss the good news is that eventhough may cost 10 or 15k instead of old 5,000 at least will expect to see better list of properties! Will be interesting to see what full preview list looks like when IHG posts tommorow...

BTW sorry forgot link

https://loyaltylobby.com/2018/01/25/sneak-peek-ihg-rewards-club-pointbreaks-january-29-april-30-2018/

https://loyaltylobby.com/2018/01/25/...april-30-2018/

I will be watching this closely. Hopefully there are some good properties in there at all 3 levels. The recent lists have been pretty underwhelming.

Don't think we will see the major city 50/60/70k IC's on PBs even at 15k such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, HK, NYC

It may however mean that like in say 2012 the odd 25k-40k IC appears again, rather than a new low on points IC that is just opening in shoulder season (eg Dom Rep, Da Nang when new and 25k!). Even the cheapest ICs only appeared if in shoulder season like Pnom Penh or in 2012 (i think) IC Citystars Cairo

Remember 15k value is circa is usd105, and the cheap(est) IC's can already be booked for near this nightly rate , even IC Berlin can be had for about us$130(100euro)/night as can some Asian, China IC, Eastern Europe IC hotels, when 15k is not a great deal v cash , especially as Amb/RA benefits only on paid nights.

I think they should have gone with 5000 and 10,000 points redemptions. As Loyalty Lobby points out, 15,000 points is valued at over $100, and I'm sure some people will be bamboozled redeeming for this level thinking they're getting a deal when cash equivalent rates at some of the properties are about the same or even lower.

THIS.

I see in the sneak preview that for example Helsinki city centre HI is now 15k. Seriously? This is so dull place to stay that for 100$ you most often get so much better properties by cash in Helsinki. I would book 5k for this just as backup, but never 15k, ever unless there is a mass-event in Helsinki and all hotels sold out!
Another on peek list is CP Berlin Potsdamer, all hotels in Berlin are so cheap that there is nothing specific at this CP which would make me book this for 15k, never!

Even if the old 5k model was getting lousier every time, I liked it anyhow for booking just cheap "overnights" just to get a bed, but I am not that convinced about this 5-10-15 model before I see which properties they pull up. Live and let's see.

Yes, I think there should have been two levels only, 5,000 and 10,000 points. But my big hope is that these reservations remain flexible and refundable. If they can't be cancelled, that would really be the ultimate kick in the groin with this.

I’m keeping an open mind until I see what the list has on it.

For at least the last three years I’ve found something on it that I have been able to make work so I have very few complaints about PBs in general. I never expected great luxuries on it so I was never disappointed in that respect.

The proof will be in the pudding though. I’m used to picking up 20k-25k nights for 5k so if I can get something that works for me and is normally 35k-40k for 10k I don’t think I’ll consider that to be a disaster.

By making these changes though IHG resets the expectations of everyone. If the first list is decent they really need to make sure the following ones are as well.

It could be worse - they could have stopped them completely.

Personally, I'd have no issues with 15K if there were enough decent ICs added to the list.

Surprising amount of wishful thinking going on.

The franchised hotels receive a relatively small reimbursement for award nights, and this won't vary much, if at all, whether PB is 5K per night or 15K per night. (IHG pays for award nights based on annual average daily room rate) The major difference will be IHG corporate getting more points = reduction in their points liability in exchange for the marketing / loyalty generating benefit of PB.

Maybe, just maybe, this will tempt IHG corporate into allowing a few more hotels onto PB than before. But you can be quite sure that any IC, CP, Indigos, etc. will actually be hotels with relatively low room rates.

Death of Pointsbreaks, very sad. The one exciting feature in an otherwise weak loyalty program.

Perhaps caused by
a) A whole industry of loyalty-watchers and resellers grabbing the rooms ahead of IHG's loyal members who are supposed to be being rewrded
b) Booming economy and high occupancy-rates allowing hotels to ignore and lose their loyal members without penalty

Let's hope there are some genuine bargains come Monday and that availability isn't blacked out for them

I don’t think it’s the death of Pointbreaks, it’s just taken a new turn. Let’s see how it plays out this time.

Call me cynical, but I also read it as the death of PointBreaks.

Meh, there hadn't been anything usable for me in a few years anyway.

yeah second that and throw in a few kimptons while we're at it for nice vacation. My wife likes to travel with her poodle and I've discovered all of the kimptons are not only pet friendly but also don't have any pet fees like many hotels do so that's a nice option.

Personally, I've come to believe this whole situation is good... sure in past it was really nice to catch a 5k pb and maybe even somehow string together a road trip vacation with those. But, those were always some hix or whatnot on side freeway with usual room rates of $80-90ish. Hopefully now will be able to get some decent hotels for 10 or 15k.
Monday will tell...