Yes, you just need to send an email to [email protected] with your request. I was matched to their Gold tier using Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold.

Thank you for the link. Will give it a try, since I have a Japan trip coming up.

Is the matched IPreferred staus good for 1 year?

I have had it for about 18 months and only spent two nights in iprefer properties.

Yes, also with a once per lifetime restriction.

I am also planning to go to Switzerland. Which hotels did you end up booking and how are the benefits?

I also was drawn to Preferred due to Citi Thank You 4X multiplier. As a new chain to me I was surprised when i look at cash locations worldwide there are 657 properties, when I click "points" it drops to 223 properties. Only 34% of properties participate with points? Is that correct?

With Citi dropping the transfer ratio from 1:4 to 1:2 I'm wondering if it's worth moving some points before the devaluation.

Does anyone have any experience beyond what's in this thread so far? Are there any decent redemption options?

I have the same question.

Thinking about transferring 50k city points before the devaluation. How easy is to find 50k rooms? Most of the ones I am seeing are at least 75k or 100k

There is definitely value in the program. The amount of hotels bookable via points can change based on when you are traveling. Searching is an absolute pain in the a$$. We have stayed in a castle in Ireland, Boston Harbor Hotel in summer. I am suprised to see points availability at Chatham Bars Inn and the Wequassett Resort during summer. (Both are high end resorts on Cape Cod). I have not found many in the 50-75k only because I haven't searched for them.

For those like me considering a speculative Citi transfer before the rate halves, can you extend points expiration just by transferring another 1,000 Citi points? Or is a stay really required?

I see a lot of value when using ChoicePrivileges Points for redemption nights as the booking channel remains through PreferredHotels thus triggering the Titanium/Elite Benefits.

The downside is that it is necessary to communicate with each property for the possible advantages.

After the Authority Status disappeared meaning that breakfast was no garantueed benefit anymore with Titanium (former Elite) i still see that apart from a possible Upgrade which is subject to availability still the hotels provide some kind of resort Credit that can be used towards anything, including breakfast.

My experiences from past years are scarce but still:

No level:
Aranwa Cusco Peru: Upgrade to Suite, breakfast, late CheckOut

Condado Vanderbilt Puerto Rico: Later CheckOut.

Elite level:
Hotel Wellington Madrid: Upgrade, breakfast, Welcome Amenity (bottle of red wine and snacks), late CheckOut.

Titanium level:
Hotel Palafitte Switzerland: Resort Credit of 100 CHF, Late CheckOut, no Upgrade available

I still would like to see availability at Hotel Storchen Zurich and the return of 7132 Hotel.