How does IHG release reward nights?
Dec 21, 2018, 2:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SGN
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 84
How does IHG release reward nights?
Trying to book an award night at the IC Danang (Vietnam). Their award availability is almost non-existent. Does anyone know how these work? Do they just release them all at once at a certain time (which means if I cannot find availability now I would unlikely get it in the future due to the hotel's popularity), or does the hotel release them at will at random time (which means I should keep checking)?
Dec 21, 2018, 2:59 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 320
That particular hotel is a tough one. For any other low in-demand hotel, you can book as soon as the reservation calendar opens up 50 weeks in advance or something like that. The new day usually starts at midnight local time. I’ve booked a few hot spots by waiting until midnight and booking right away. You have to book one night at a time this way though.
Actually, what are your dates? I did a few random reward night searches later next year and they were coming up as available.
The Crowne Plaza there is another story though. Booked solid even for paid reservations. Been like that for years.
Actually, what are your dates? I did a few random reward night searches later next year and they were coming up as available.
The Crowne Plaza there is another story though. Booked solid even for paid reservations. Been like that for years.
Dec 21, 2018, 3:05 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SGN
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 84
I am looking at late January, so maybe that's why. But I am curious how you found availability, since when I pull up their schedule, everyday got crossed out for like a year.l
Dec 21, 2018, 3:12 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 320
Yeah, I know what you’re going thru. I’m not techie enough to explain it. Maybe clear your cache or restart or something. Sometimes it gives no reward availability and when you click on other available dates, the whole year is blocked out. But restart or clear cookies or do something like that and maybe you’ll see availability.
i arbitrarily looked at Jan 15/19 and got reward night availability for 70k.
edit. That calendar being blocked out is what’s happened for me at other hotels, not just this one.
i arbitrarily looked at Jan 15/19 and got reward night availability for 70k.
edit. That calendar being blocked out is what’s happened for me at other hotels, not just this one.
Dec 21, 2018, 11:14 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 320
I don’t see availability for Jan 20th or anything +/- 3 days of it. When the link comes up to see the availability calendar, the entire month is blocked out. Yet you can still book the 15th. Weird.
You should try contacting IHG Customer Service to see if they can book it on their end.
You should try contacting IHG Customer Service to see if they can book it on their end.
Dec 22, 2018, 6:47 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SGN
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 84
Thanks for checking! I am seeing the same thing! I contacted IHG support and they knew less than me about the issue 
)
Also found out that in order for our friends, who stay nearby, to come in and have breakfast with us, they will have to pay $45/person. No, that's not the price of breakfast (which is $35/person, not too bad), but just the "entrance fee" to the hotel. Maybe I don't stay at hotels often enough, but this is hillariously unfriendly... Big attractions in Europe don't even cost this much. The wife is annoyed and wants me to look elsewhere)
)Also found out that in order for our friends, who stay nearby, to come in and have breakfast with us, they will have to pay $45/person. No, that's not the price of breakfast (which is $35/person, not too bad), but just the "entrance fee" to the hotel. Maybe I don't stay at hotels often enough, but this is hillariously unfriendly... Big attractions in Europe don't even cost this much. The wife is annoyed and wants me to look elsewhere
)
Dec 22, 2018, 9:09 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,855
The problem with booking the high-end resorts with IHG is demand gets scooped up too fast because the system is broken. It won't change until these two things change.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:57 am
#9
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 320
The problem with booking the high-end resorts with IHG is demand gets scooped up too fast because the system is broken. It won't change until these two things change.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
Please don’t advocate for higher redemption levels! It wasn’t long ago when that IC would have been 40,000 points. I did break down however, and booked IC Wonderland in shanghai for 70k. That’s the most 1-night redemption I’ve made but that one has a cash redemption rate of about $750usd. But for 70k, I can stay in some small US cities for a week. I think a reseller is scooping up these reward nights. Almost on autobot since the nights are taken before it even hits the open market.
Dec 22, 2018, 11:19 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,855
How is IHG addressing #1? Just curious as to what’s changing.
Please don’t advocate for higher redemption levels! It wasn’t long ago when that IC would have been 40,000 points. I did break down however, and booked IC Wonderland in shanghai for 70k. That’s the most 1-night redemption I’ve made but that one has a cash redemption rate of about $750usd. But for 70k, I can stay in some small US cities for a week. I think a reseller is scooping up these reward nights. Almost on autobot since the nights are taken before it even hits the open market.
Obviously, I would rather redeem rooms for less points, but what else is the fix? Trying to book some of these rooms is a nightmare. Valuations being lopsided, favoring the expensive rooms is a dumb model.
Dec 22, 2018, 2:15 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SGN
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 84
The problem with booking the high-end resorts with IHG is demand gets scooped up too fast because the system is broken. It won't change until these two things change.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
1.) IHG credit card holders: This one is being addressed. Anyone can just come off the street, without any stays, and stay at a prime IHG property for free. This kills reward night availability.
2.) The top points rate is far too low. 70,000 points for that room is a "steal" in terms of valuation for IHG points. Combine that with the 4th night free, and it makes complete sense to save up your points for these stays, vs paying cash. Using points should not offer you a "Discount" it should be a way that you're cashing in on what you earned, to not have to spend money out of pocket.
This hotel should realistically not be under 100,000 points per night. Even that is generous.
On top of that, scarcity could be real, or artificial. How does one know how many room do they release per property per day for reward nights? If they give out one room per day for this property (hypothetical), and that's it, then go blame them, not the people who book the rooms. I suspect this property is doing just that, as suspiciously, there is exactly one room available in the few days I manage to catch award availability.
Dec 22, 2018, 7:29 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: AC,CX,KE,EK / IHG Spire, 1865 Gateway
Posts: 184
individual properties will open up 5% of their total inventory for bookings under certain discounted rates, that includes employee rates and reward nights and of course complimentary stays for eg gift voucher etc, also if it reaches a certain occupancy they will have the right to black out also.
Dec 23, 2018, 1:01 am
#13
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
It's simple, don't use the calendar function. Never worked. You need to search for the specific dates. Still tough at this property, but Jan is low seasons.
The CP in Danang is not even open for revenue bookings. It is 100% catering to Chinese tour groups and even if one could get a room there, I wouldn't take it. IHG should just remove that property from the list.
The CP in Danang is not even open for revenue bookings. It is 100% catering to Chinese tour groups and even if one could get a room there, I wouldn't take it. IHG should just remove that property from the list.
Dec 23, 2018, 3:49 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BNE
Programs: QF Gold, VA Gold, IHG Spire, Accor Plat, Marriot Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,281