Enigma368

I find IHG award availability to be generally excellent but I do tend to stay out more mid level properties.

Agree Spire status is not much in terms of guaranteed benefits but I do find IHG to be one of the most most reliable chains to give semi-decent upgrades - especially in the US.

ralfkrippner

For sure the hotel programs are generally going downhill compared to earlier years, following suit the airline programs that were excellent 5-10 years ago and now are essentially worthless. IMO IHG is one of the weaker programs around (has been for a long time though). I've been booking hotels of "my programs" whenever possible in the past (even at much higher price) - nowadays I book with price/value and location in mind most of the time and when it's important book the desired room instead of hoping for an upgrade.

My pro's and con's with IHG:

pro:
- generally good availability of awards, at least with non-Interconti's
- points&cash
- best footprint of hotels in the regions I travel to mostly (Europe/UK, North America)
- Ambassador program (Interconti) that gives a consistent one category upgrade without too much hassle
con:
- awards very expensive in comparison to other chains
- generally mediocre hotels and no change in sight (indigo was a good idea but is going forward to slow)
- too many rates and booking chanels that result in no points/night count (I just had a 3 night Interconti stay at 1750 US$ that was deemed "non qualifying" - bummer!)
- Ambassador free night cert not very useful with the special rates needed for it (borderlining to deceit sometimes)
- recent rise in Amb price / renewal
- Royal Amb. status would be attractive but is too intransparent to make shifting stays to achieve it a reliable thing
- no breakfast and no lounge access (absolutely non-competitive in comparison to many other programs here)

craigthemif

The question is why it's taken the OP until 2018 to realise that elite status is far more valuable at Hyatt, Stariott and to a lesser extent Hilton. I figured it out back in 2014 or so, and I'm a relative latecomer to the elite status game...

There are many valid reasons to stay at IHG hotels, but elite status treatment isn't one of them.

tangey

That is just factually incorrect, BOGO can be used to book an entry level room, although often that's not the way to get best value (i.e. book a room with lounge access, and you get that same access on the 2nd night).

Also there is no such thing as an ambassador bedroom, there are club rooms, which can be booked by anyone regardless of status.

It appears the OP is complaining about a programme with which he is not fully au fait.

In terms of lounge capacity, the OP has clearly never stayed in either of the LV properties where the lounges can be jammed, or the IC park lane, which was always at least reasonably busy the 3-4 stays I had there to date.

fotographer

My wife and I both have Diamond with Hilton, and Ambassador IHG,
Since most of my travel is international, I have enjoyed both the chains, IHG Mumbai is wonderful, and includes free breakfast, IHG Hong Kong is a wonderful hotel,
never had issues with using free nights or points for that hotel
Hilton Hotels around the world are great, upgraded rooms, great service
We are also some decent levels at SPG

Never had a problem at any of the hotel chains that the staff were not able to fix

ecaarch

+1

I jumped from Starwood (where is was treated pretty well) to IHG when my travel patterns changed. Now most of my stays are in the UK and China/HongKong and there are IHG properties near where I need to be. The IHG program works for me...for now. And that is all that the OP (and any traveller) should take into consideration when selecting any travel program.

Global321

I have been a Spire elite since they started the Spire level. I have not gotten any better service than my friend who is Platinum.

I don't expect much from IHG for being a Spire... and they deliver... not much.

I use IHG when I can get the best deal. It is a good secondary hotel program.

ElmhurstNick

i am only a Spire because Kimpton Inner Circle was a status level that worked for my travel patterns now that Hyatt and Starwood/Marriott are all nights-only, and now Spire comes along with it. I thought I was going to requalify for Inner Circle this year even with the nebulous qualification criteria, but some client changes in the last few months combined with disproportionately high rates in a few cities which I can't justify.... that means that I'm contemplating letting it go.

I just qualified for Spire with 43 nights. On my non-Kimpton nights, i've gotten a higher floor a few times, and a couple of hundred extra points a few times. So as of January 1, I will be a free agent again.

harryhv

Last year IHG trashed their one great redeeming feature - Poinsbreaks - which had been a reason, the only reason, for amassing accumulated points from the Accelerates and other promos.

Now that Pointbreaks is dead, the tide is out and Priority Club is revealed as having been swimming-naked with no significant elite benefits and all-blacked-out aspirational redemptions.

Still the are some nice/convenient properties, still worth a stay and comparable with other nice hotels where there is no loyalty program.

... And yet, halfway on the treadmill of Accelerate so will continue to stay at IHG for this month anyway

BaconSF

darthbimmer

That's not so weird. It's been discussed before in this forum that IHG caters to two different types of travelers. There's the high end traveler who enjoys IC hotels. OP seems to be in that category, moaning about HIXes. And on the other hand are the people who are with IHG specifically because of the HIXes -- which, to their credit, are very consistent and (as you noted) have a wider footprint than comparable brands from MR and HH.

stc

So, the industry as a bunch of different categories rather than just low / mid / high. But, I really have to say I would call HIX or any hotel without an on-site restaurant low or low-mid rather than mid. HI and CP are Mid Level. Courtyard (and HGI Hilton Garden Inn) are a step above HIX but even they are probably not even mid which would instead be Marriott / Hilton / Doubletree / Sheraton. HIX is competing with Fairfield and Hampton not Courtyard or HGI.

Honestly the industry is probably right and there are at least six or seven categories:

1) Super8, Red Roof Inn (etc.)
2) HIX, Hampton, Fairfield (etc.)
3) Courtyard, HGI, Four Points (etc.)
4) HI, Hilton Doubletree, Sheraton, (etc.)
5) CP, Renaisance, Westin, W?, (etc)
6) Indigo?, JW Marriott, W?, Conrad?, IC?
7) IC?, WA?, IC, Ritz

There are certainly some individual hotels that fall into a different category and 6 and 7 begin to overlap even more. Certainly there are some CPs that are no better than HIs. And certain brands like Indigo and W are hard to categorize because they are really targeting a different demographic.

But I have to agree with what others have said, IHG is good at the low and high ends, meh in the middle, and it sounds like the FT program is meh also.

craigthemif

Well, if you book a $125 hotel to get a 15% cashback rebate instead of a similar $100 hotel with 0% cashback, then your math skills need some work. (or you are ripping off your employer/client)

But indeed IHG members have to focus on getting lower rates, higher point bonuses, etc. to make up for the fact that they aren't getting elite status benefits. (which might not matter for corporate travellers on expenses...)

Dreamworks

Honestly, I'm a Kimpton guy. I've found they have treated me better than any hotels I've ever stayed in. The Gray in Chicago, I'm looking at you. And if I am travelling somewhere without a Kimpton, then I'm a Marriott guy, and enjoy my lounge access and free cubes of cheese. I think it really depends on your travel type. If you're in the same city for an extended period of time, I've made friends with staff at Kimptons and have fell in love. If you're bouncing around the country for a day or two, then that's less important and getting Hilton or Marriott membership is probably better.

superfly293

Well, how about the things they DO guarantee like the GUARANTEED ROOM AVAILABILITY that is a complete BS since they will nonchalantly tell you that they can't honor it because "the hotel is full", as if anyone ever needed that when the hotel is not full. Their customer service is really lacking to say the least, from the really atrocious live chat operators to the call center that is mostly just trying to get you off the line.