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The new IHG One Rewards has arrived! And rather than a light makeover, IHG is going to compete with Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton by offering valuable elite benefits!

The hurdles for qualifying for elite status had already been announced. If you are a Spire today, you will become a Diamond within the next couple of days…

New Elite Benefits

The updated elite benefits offered by IHG One Rewards will be implemented in June 2022.

These benefits are based on your elite status at the time of your stay.

Complimentary Breakfast

Diamond members will be allowed to choose a complimentary hot breakfast for two as a welcome amenity choice. (presumably in lieu of points or a welcome drink)

Not all brands / properties will participate, however. You will NOT receive a complimentary breakfast at:

• some Kimpton properties
• InterContinental Alliance Resorts (Las Vegas and Macau)
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Candlewood Suites
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Reward Night Discounts

Platinum and Diamond members will occasionally be able to receive discounts when booking Rewards Nights. We have seen something similar twice this year, where co-branded credit card holders could book reward nights at a discount, followed by some (but not all) IHG members.

Suite Upgrades

Platinum and Diamond members will be entitled to suite upgrades, however this will remain at the discretion of individual hotels.

Milestone Benefits

IHG is mimicking Hyatt with a new set of Milestone Benefits based on the number of nights spent each year at an IHG hotel. Your options will be:

20 Nights

• 5,000 points
• 2 Food & Beverage Rewards
• 1 Confirmable Suite Upgrade

30 Nights

• 5,000 points
• 2 Food & Beverage Rewards

40 Nights

You can choose two of:

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards
• 1 Confirmable Suite Upgrade
• 1 Annual Lounge Membership

50 Nights

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards

60 Nights

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards

70 Nights

You can choose two of:

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards
• 2 Confirmable Suite Upgrades
• 1 Annual Lounge Membership

80 Nights

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards

90 Nights

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards

100 Nights

• 10,000 points
• 5 Food & Beverage Rewards

What is a Food & Beverage Reward?

Each Food & Beverage Reward is worth $20 (£15) and must be used during an IHG hotel stay. You charge to your room as normal and the local currency equivalent of $20 is simply removed from your folio during check-out.

You can use more than one per stay. However, you cannot use them at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and InterContinental Alliance resorts (Las Vegas & Macau).

What is a Confirmable Suite Upgrade?

These are closer to Marriott’s Suite Night Awards than Hyatt’s version.

Members can use the confirmable suite upgrade to upgrade a stay of up to five nights. The upgrade can only be applied by contacting IHG One Rewards 14 days (or fewer) before arrival. If suites are unavailable, members can also upgrade to a premium room.

What is an Annual Lounge Membership?

As the same suggests, it entitles you to access executive lounges at those IHG hotels that have them. This lounge membership is good for the rest of the year and all of the following. (i.e. if you stay 40 nights in 2022 and choose the Annual Lounge Membership in October 2022 as your Milestone Benefit, you would be able to access lounges until 31 December, 2023)

Choosing Milestone Benefits

This might catch out those road warriors who don’t pay close attention to loyalty programmes…

You must make your choice within 90 days of reaching the milestone night. Otherwise you forfeit it! (rather than being given a default option)

What About Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle?

The paid Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle programs are not changing.

You still receive Platinum status by paying for Ambassador status. And you will still require Spire (now Diamond) status to be invited to Kimpton Inner Circle.

The Bottom Line

IHG is finally going to provide a breakfast benefit, but only to those who earn Diamond status.

The new Milestone Benefits are also going to appeal to those members who actually spend nights in a hotel (rather than travel hack their way to status via the Elite Qualifying Points system).

You can click here to be taken to the new IHG One Rewards website.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section…