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IHG One Rewards has launched another version of its status challenge. Like prior versions, you do NOT need to have status with a competitor.

Members who register for the status challenge can earn either Gold or Platinum status based on how many nights they stay before December 31, 2022:

• If you stay two nights, you will earn Gold status for 2023
• If you stay five nights, you will earn Platinum status for 2023

Why You Shouldn’t Bother…

Ambassador Status

If you pay ~£180 ($200) for Intercontinental Ambassador status, you will automatically become a Platinum member. Moreover, if you take advantage of a current offer, you can receive a bonus of 20,000 points for staying two nights before the end of January 2023.

The $200 you pay for Ambassador status also gets you a complimentary (buy one get one free) weekend night at an Intercontinental hotel – meaning that the status can easily pay for itself. With no need for 5 paid nights at an IHG hotel before the end of 2022…

Don’t Waste Your Challenge

During the summer of 2022, IHG One Rewards was offering a status challenge that provided a route to Diamond status. This challenge may or may not return. But you would be very unhappy if IHG customer service were to say “sorry, you are not eligible because you recently did a Platinum challenge”.

Bottom Line

If you will DEFINITELY be staying 5 nights before the end of 2022 AND don’t think paying $200 for Ambassador status makes sense for you, then this status challenge might work for you. Otherwise, just pay for Ambassador or wait for a better status challenge/match opportunity.