Apr 30, 2019, 12:23 pm
Last edit by: craigthemif
A new season and a new IHG Accelerate promotion. 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.
Other than the tasks for redeeming points and point + cash reservations, tasks are generally very stackable. Enjoy the game of figuring out how to get the most out of the least amount of nights and money.
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/gb/en/offers/accelerate2019
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.
Other than the tasks for redeeming points and point + cash reservations, tasks are generally very stackable. Enjoy the game of figuring out how to get the most out of the least amount of nights and money.
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/gb/en/offers/accelerate2019
New Accelerate Promotion (May 01, 2019 - August 31, 2019
May 2, 2019, 7:59 am
#106
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: TX, USA
Programs: Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG SA
Posts: 139
May 2, 2019, 4:03 pm
#107
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Somewhere in Europe
Posts: 3,362
Ask any central banker for a high inflation country how much fun it is to try and get that inflation down.
IHG have clearly been handing out too many bonus points, but don't know how to stop doing it without crushing their revenue. Those double point promos surely got zero stays from a bunch of us...
IHG have clearly been handing out too many bonus points, but don't know how to stop doing it without crushing their revenue. Those double point promos surely got zero stays from a bunch of us...
Some of the offers that have come out this time though have the potential to harm revenue. People are used to 40/50/60k over the quarter so offers of 28k probably isn't going to cut it much longer.
May 2, 2019, 5:27 pm
#108
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Spire, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 83
May 2, 2019, 8:23 pm
#109
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Flyover Country
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Free Range Airline Chicken
Posts: 202
May 2, 2019, 10:50 pm
#111
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
My promo this time around has basically the same challenges as the last one, except with total fewer points offered! 
As with the last one I don't see myself stretching my plans to pursue it. Especially as I've been finding IHG hotels in my destinations are priced above their Marriott and Hilton competition! 
As with the last one I don't see myself stretching my plans to pursue it. Especially as I've been finding IHG hotels in my destinations are priced above their Marriott and Hilton competition!
May 3, 2019, 6:50 am
#112
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: AA PLT PRO, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plt. Premier
Posts: 587
No wonder I never stay at this brand it is worse than Marriott when I try to register I get
We appreciate your loyalty. Please see IHG® Rewards Club offers available now.
We appreciate your loyalty. Please see IHG® Rewards Club offers available now.
May 3, 2019, 12:07 pm
#113
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,725
6600 points when I book 2 bonus points packages.
10800 points for staying at 3 brands.
12000 points for 2 stays of 4 nights+
5600 points for 2 weekends inc. Saturday night.
8400 points for staying at 2 Crowne Plazas.
4500 points for a cash + points stay.
Going to complete the bonus points package this weekend and hit Spire.
2 out of 3 brands will be covered
1 CP stay covered.
10800 points for staying at 3 brands.
12000 points for 2 stays of 4 nights+
5600 points for 2 weekends inc. Saturday night.
8400 points for staying at 2 Crowne Plazas.
4500 points for a cash + points stay.
Going to complete the bonus points package this weekend and hit Spire.
2 out of 3 brands will be covered
1 CP stay covered.
May 3, 2019, 1:10 pm
#114
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
- 13,200 Points - Discover Our Brands: Stay at 4 Brands.
- 8,400 Points- Stay at Crowne Plaza: Stay at 2 Crowne Plaza Hotels
- 3,200 Points - Saturday Stay Bonus: Stay Two Weekends Including a Saturday Night
- 4,500 Points - Stay for Less and Earn: Book One Stay Using Points and Cash
- 1,500 Points - Spend on your IHG Credit Card
- 15,400 Points - Your Achievement Bonus: Complete 5/5 Tasks
Total: 46,200 Points
I can move two weekends worth of stays pretty easily to CPs, one of which I did with Points and Cash so that just leaves me to find two more stays at two different brands (already have a CS booked) and I've got them all.
- 8,400 Points- Stay at Crowne Plaza: Stay at 2 Crowne Plaza Hotels
- 3,200 Points - Saturday Stay Bonus: Stay Two Weekends Including a Saturday Night
- 4,500 Points - Stay for Less and Earn: Book One Stay Using Points and Cash
- 1,500 Points - Spend on your IHG Credit Card
- 15,400 Points - Your Achievement Bonus: Complete 5/5 Tasks
Total: 46,200 Points
I can move two weekends worth of stays pretty easily to CPs, one of which I did with Points and Cash so that just leaves me to find two more stays at two different brands (already have a CS booked) and I've got them all.
May 3, 2019, 5:17 pm
#115
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 9
6600 for 3 bonus point packages
10800 for 3 brands
3200 for 2 weekend stays
1500 for paying for a stay with the old IHG card
4500 for one points and cash stay
13300 bonus for all 5 of the above
Total of 39,900
Totally doable with my current plans for the summer. Will only have to spend a few extra bucks for the bonus point packages because I don't usually spring for those.
10800 for 3 brands
3200 for 2 weekend stays
1500 for paying for a stay with the old IHG card
4500 for one points and cash stay
13300 bonus for all 5 of the above
Total of 39,900
Totally doable with my current plans for the summer. Will only have to spend a few extra bucks for the bonus point packages because I don't usually spring for those.
May 4, 2019, 7:16 am
#117
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,569
What am I missing here? My husband's offer includes points for staying at three brands and points for staying at 3 hotels. How do you stay at three brands without staying at three hotels? (Okay. I guess you could stay at three hotels without staying at three brands, but the points for that are sooo insignificant.)
(My offer is a total non-starter, as it's been for the last few times.)
(My offer is a total non-starter, as it's been for the last few times.)
May 4, 2019, 8:52 am
#118
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,807
I've actually been one of the few to like my last few offers. Luckily, I have a weekend stay already planned. Other than that, I probably won't be using IHG much this quarter
May 4, 2019, 10:13 am
#119
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 394
I could read through all of the above to look for an answer, but frankly, after skipping the last Accelerate, I'm slipping into chasing this one's low return because it should be fairly easy to accomplish.
Except for the P&C that so many got. When I try to "Let's reserve it", it loses enough of my stored billing information (I click YES on "billing address = mailing address" but it somehow craps out because it loses my USA component and doesn't let me enter that field manually.)
Maybe it'll work when I get back Stateside (or I can call them then -- there's enough time through August to deal with this) but I'd like to do it while I'm still away this month. I've never had any problem with P&C bookings before.
Anyone else encountering a glitch (or a solution) on P&C?
Other than that, the two CPs should be affordably doable slightly out of my way in two Latin American locations. Otherwise, a $250 night nearby in Seattle for a couple hundred worth of points that I already have too many of? Na-uh, no way!
The challenge of pulling the CP locations together is part of the game. And "Just when I thought I was out,..."
Except for the P&C that so many got. When I try to "Let's reserve it", it loses enough of my stored billing information (I click YES on "billing address = mailing address" but it somehow craps out because it loses my USA component and doesn't let me enter that field manually.)
Maybe it'll work when I get back Stateside (or I can call them then -- there's enough time through August to deal with this) but I'd like to do it while I'm still away this month. I've never had any problem with P&C bookings before.
Anyone else encountering a glitch (or a solution) on P&C?
Other than that, the two CPs should be affordably doable slightly out of my way in two Latin American locations. Otherwise, a $250 night nearby in Seattle for a couple hundred worth of points that I already have too many of? Na-uh, no way!
The challenge of pulling the CP locations together is part of the game. And "Just when I thought I was out,..."
May 5, 2019, 9:27 am
#120
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 394
Looking at the Wiki, I think I see an error:
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.
Shouldn't this be "at the same or different properties"? Or, better, isn't this trying to give the definition of "Stay at X number of Holiday Inn Express hotels", etc.?
Another question on P&C. I haven't had or watched them before on previous promos.
Obviously it would be ridiculous if you could just book and cancel a P&C and have it count for this task. But there's been a lot of ridiculous in IHG promos.
But, once bought, a P&C converts to a points stay, and the hotels reportedly don't know what type of points stay you have. Does the IHG computer system keep track of it having originated as a P&C stay, track it all the way through, and therefore credit you once the stay has completed?
This would be a new and impressive level of IT coordination for IHG.
Of course, I've had trouble with hotels conflating my two types of stays (points, paid) together and then having to argue for the missing credit.
Seems like it would be wisest to keep this P&C task a standalone well away from other nights at the same hotel., in case it needs to be argued later, screenshots and all.
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.
Shouldn't this be "at the same or different properties"? Or, better, isn't this trying to give the definition of "Stay at X number of Holiday Inn Express hotels", etc.?
Another question on P&C. I haven't had or watched them before on previous promos.
Obviously it would be ridiculous if you could just book and cancel a P&C and have it count for this task. But there's been a lot of ridiculous in IHG promos.
But, once bought, a P&C converts to a points stay, and the hotels reportedly don't know what type of points stay you have. Does the IHG computer system keep track of it having originated as a P&C stay, track it all the way through, and therefore credit you once the stay has completed?
This would be a new and impressive level of IT coordination for IHG.
Of course, I've had trouble with hotels conflating my two types of stays (points, paid) together and then having to argue for the missing credit.
Seems like it would be wisest to keep this P&C task a standalone well away from other nights at the same hotel., in case it needs to be argued later, screenshots and all.
