Apr 12, 2018, 8:50 pm
Last edit by: beachmouse
Another quarter, another Accelerate. 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.
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/us/en/offers/q2accelerate2018
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.
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/us/en/offers/q2accelerate2018
Accelerate 1 May 2018 - 31 July 2018
Jul 17, 2018, 5:21 pm
#301
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,038
Buying an Ambassador membership is between me and getting a full dashboard, although I also have a task for 1,000 points for redeeming points (cheap download?). I just don't feel like shelling the money out for Ambassador because I don't stay at IC enough. Also, if I complete this dashboard, then I'll probably get crappy Accelerate offers for the next three or four quarters.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:54 am
#302
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Tit, Accor Plat
Posts: 246
I didn't know one could do that either! I submitted a claim for "book with the app 3 times" and also "use IHG credit card once" and got a reply and the points credited within 24 hours. The dashboard is updated too. Strangely, however, on my "account activity" statement they are both showing as "offer win 0 pts".
Jul 18, 2018, 4:57 am
#303
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Tit, Accor Plat
Posts: 246
I have a vague fear that Q3 won't bring much for us here in Europe. But you never know.
Buying an Ambassador membership is between me and getting a full dashboard, although I also have a task for 1,000 points for redeeming points (cheap download?). I just don't feel like shelling the money out for Ambassador because I don't stay at IC enough. Also, if I complete this dashboard, then I'll probably get crappy Accelerate offers for the next three or four quarters.
Buying an Ambassador membership is between me and getting a full dashboard, although I also have a task for 1,000 points for redeeming points (cheap download?). I just don't feel like shelling the money out for Ambassador because I don't stay at IC enough. Also, if I complete this dashboard, then I'll probably get crappy Accelerate offers for the next three or four quarters.
Jul 18, 2018, 6:23 am
#304
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
$200 for 16,100+15,000=31,1k points doesn’t seem to be a bad deal at 6.5c per point given the other benefits
Jul 18, 2018, 7:45 am
#305
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN**, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 667
I didn't know one could do that either! I submitted a claim for "book with the app 3 times" and also "use IHG credit card once" and got a reply and the points credited within 24 hours. The dashboard is updated too. Strangely, however, on my "account activity" statement they are both showing as "offer win 0 pts".
Jul 18, 2018, 10:33 am
#306
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Tit, Accor Plat
Posts: 246
Jul 18, 2018, 3:40 pm
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
This isn't Points Break, I don't think it's even possible to give crappy Accelerate for Europe as a whole
That's what I'm worried about. If I get unrealistic goals for Q3, then I'll just give it a rest for a bit and not book IHG unless it makes sense otherwise. I've done that before.
That's what I'm worried about. If I get unrealistic goals for Q3, then I'll just give it a rest for a bit and not book IHG unless it makes sense otherwise. I've done that before.
Giving it a rest definitely works, but it's a shame, because the collecting tasks can sometimes be quite fun.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:28 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
"Howe are you? Thank you for taking time to send us an email regarding your missing points from Accelerate Q2. I checked your account and it shows that your stay last 04 May 2018 was booked last 26 April 2018 and the promotion runs from 01 May 2018.
I wish to inform you that to qualify to this offer the booking date must the 01 May to 31 July 2018. I'm sorry for the confusion."
Totally understand and support anyone who has walked away from this mess of a hotel group. But I don't think they care one jot. And not do I. FWIW, I just let them know that. But the folk who are frankly more intelligent here will ask me why I waste my time with this. Well, the beauty of it is, I don't care either. If IHG happens to suit my plans, and if the promotion happens to (miraculously) credit, then fine. If not, then there are loads of other options. Really.
Last edited by Concerto; Jul 18, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Jul 18, 2018, 4:35 pm
#309
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Well, here is the reply from CS concerning my app bookings. Pure genius, isn't it?
"Howe are you? Thank you for taking time to send us an email regarding your missing points from Accelerate Q2. I checked your account and it shows that your stay last 04 May 2018 was booked last 26 April 2018 and the promotion runs from 01 May 2018.
I wish to inform you that to qualify to this offer the booking date must the 01 May to 31 July 2018. I'm sorry for the confusion."
Totally understand and support anyone who has walked away from this mess of a hotel group. But I don't think they care one jot.
"Howe are you? Thank you for taking time to send us an email regarding your missing points from Accelerate Q2. I checked your account and it shows that your stay last 04 May 2018 was booked last 26 April 2018 and the promotion runs from 01 May 2018.
I wish to inform you that to qualify to this offer the booking date must the 01 May to 31 July 2018. I'm sorry for the confusion."
Totally understand and support anyone who has walked away from this mess of a hotel group. But I don't think they care one jot.
From the Terms section of the mobile app task:
Number of bonus points listed above will be awarded after required number of Qualifying Stays are booked via the official IHG® App and consumed between 1 May 2018 and 31 July 2018 (both dates inclusive) at participating InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, Kimpton®, EVEN® or HUALUXE® hotels worldwide.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:39 pm
#310
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
Well I missed that one and thanks for pointing it out. What the hell, my other app bookings WERE made after the 1st May. Unless those idiots can't read a calendar (which really wouldn't surprise me). Isn't it all just slightly annoying, though?
Jul 18, 2018, 5:05 pm
#311
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Yep, totally agree it's a really frustrating system! I've not bothered the last couple of times as my offers were totally unobtainable - this time it's actually decent and (assuming all stays and app bookings post correctly!!!) I'm on track to get the full amount.
Jul 19, 2018, 4:45 am
#312
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,957
I have a vague fear that Q3 won't bring much for us here in Europe. But you never know.
Buying an Ambassador membership is between me and getting a full dashboard, although I also have a task for 1,000 points for redeeming points (cheap download?). I just don't feel like shelling the money out for Ambassador because I don't stay at IC enough. Also, if I complete this dashboard, then I'll probably get crappy Accelerate offers for the next three or four quarters.
Buying an Ambassador membership is between me and getting a full dashboard, although I also have a task for 1,000 points for redeeming points (cheap download?). I just don't feel like shelling the money out for Ambassador because I don't stay at IC enough. Also, if I complete this dashboard, then I'll probably get crappy Accelerate offers for the next three or four quarters.
I thought the new one has been pretty much publized by this time in advance before
Jul 20, 2018, 2:16 am
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
I thought it came out about a week before the end of the month and the potential beginning of a new promotion, a bit like Pointbreaks. So I will be looking and expecting something from next Monday. On the other hand, a break this time won’t be such a bad thing.
Jul 20, 2018, 5:14 am
#315
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
My bet is on them having omitted the main holiday month from the main promotions and this taking a lot of potentially long stays out the mix.
They done something similar two years ago where they stopped the promotion the week before Christmas so stays over the holidays didn’t count so they have form for this type of thing.