IHG has launched its fully revamped loyalty program, which we’ve been expecting for quite some time. This is in addition to the credit card portfolio recently being refreshed.
Historically IHG’s loyalty program hasn’t been very competitive with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. That’s finally changing, and I’m really impressed. IHG has greatly improved elite perks, including free breakfast for top tier elite members, plus the introduction of Milestone Rewards, offering confirmed suite upgrades and club lounge passes. Let’s go over all the details.
In this post:
IHG Rewards becomes IHG One Rewards
To start, IHG’s loyalty program has been rebranded as IHG One Rewards. This is part of a bigger focus by IHG to promote unity, and to emphasize that we all share one world.
To coincide with the launch of the new program, IHG has launched a new mobile app, which offers a greatly improved experience for members.
IHG One Rewards has five membership tiers
IHG One Rewards has five membership tiers, as follows:
- IHG One Rewards Club is the entry level membership tier, with no qualification requirements
- IHG One Rewards Silver Elite requires 10 elite nights per year, and offers a 20% points bonus; you can also get this simply by having the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card (review)
- IHG One Rewards Gold Elite status requires 20 elite nights or 40,000 qualifying points per year, and offers a 40% points bonus
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status requires 40 elite nights or 60,000 qualifying points per year, and offers a 60% points bonus; you can also get this simply by having the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card (review) or IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (review)
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status requires 70 elite nights or 120,000 qualifying points per year, and offers a 100% points bonus; you can get this by spending $40,000 per year on either the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Below is a chart comparing the membership benefits by elite tier.
While most of the new perks come in the form of Milestone Rewards, and while breakfast is a huge new perk (I’ll cover both below), let me just note a few things about the other perks:
- Early check-in and late check-out isn’t anything to get too excited about, as it’s not guaranteed for any elite tier, but rather is subject to availability
- IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will get access to award night discounts several times per year; there are no specific promises about how often we’ll see these, though
- IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members get suite upgrades up to standard suites; however, I’m told there’s not actually a policy change here compared to the old rules, but rather hotels have just been better coached and encouraged to try to upgrade guests, including up to 48 hours before arrival
- IHG Diamond Elite members get access to a dedicated phone number, which should offer better customer service
We were told from the beginning that these new elite perks would be live as of June 2022, so it’s good that members can now start enjoying these benefits.
IHG Diamond members get free breakfast
One of the most exciting features of the new IHG One Rewards program is that select elite members finally receive complimentary breakfast. Specifically, Diamond Elite members are able to select breakfast as their welcome amenity:
- This will include a hot breakfast for two people; hotels can exclude certain items (like alcoholic beverages or specialty coffees), but this does seem to be a “real” breakfast, and not a watered down continental breakfast
- The only properties excluded from this are limited service properties that already offer breakfast to all guests, plus Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, InterContinental Alliance properties (in Las Vegas and Macau), and Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties
I’d consider it to be huge that IHG is finally offering free breakfast as an elite perk, and it’s a pretty legitimate offering at that.
IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards program
The most exciting aspect of the IHG One Rewards program is the introduction of Milestone Rewards, which is a way that members can get confirmed suite upgrades, club lounge passes, and much more. Specifically, members will receive perks for every 10 elite nights that they earn in a calendar year, from 20 to 100.
At 20 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose one of the following:
- 5,000 bonus IHG points
- Two food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
- A confirmable suite upgrade
At 30 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose one of the following:
- 5,000 bonus IHG points
- Two food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 40 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose two of the following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG points
- Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
- A confirmable suite upgrade (limit one)
- An annual lounge membership (limit one)
At both 50 and 60 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose one of the following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG points
- Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 60 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose one of the following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG points
- Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
At 70 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose two of the following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG points
- Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
- A confirmable suite upgrade (limit one)
- An annual lounge membership (limit one)
At 80, 90, and 100 elite nights, IHG One Rewards members can choose one of the following:
- 10,000 bonus IHG points
- Five food & beverage rewards worth $20 each
It’s important to note that IHG Milestone Rewards are specifically linked to how many elite nights you earn in a calendar year. So if you receive status through a credit card, you wouldn’t automatically be entitled to Milestone Rewards.
For context, I value IHG points at 0.5 cents points. Therefore the food & beverage rewards generally represent a better value than the points, if you’re trying to make a selection. Personally I’d pretty consistently select the confirmed suite upgrades or lounge passes when they’re options.
How do IHG confirmed suite upgrades work?
It’s exciting to see IHG finally introducing confirmed suite upgrades:
- These can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for a stay of up to five nights
- These can only be applied on paid stays when booking eligible rates
- These can be applied by calling IHG One Rewards customer support between 14 days and one day prior to arrival
- There’s no waitlisting mechanism here, but rather if there’s a standard suite for sale, you can confirm it at that time
- The upgrade can be up to a standard suite, though if that’s not available you can confirm an upgrade to another premium room that’s not a suite
- In the future there are plans for this process to be possible online, and for members to be able to waitlist upgrades
How do IHG annual lounge memberships work?
IHG has also finally introduced club lounge upgrades as part of the Milestone Rewards program:
- An annual lounge membership gets you access to lounges for the entire year in which it’s earned, plus the following 12 months (in other words, if earned in June 2022, it would be valid through December 31, 2023)
- This can be used to get club lounge access for an unlimited number of stays, regardless of whether you’re paying cash or redeeming points
- This can be used at virtually any IHG property with a club lounge, including InterContinentals
How do IHG food & beverage rewards work?
The food & beverage credits can be accrued over time, and will show up in your IHG account. That way you can choose whether you want to redeem them individually, or use multiple toward a single purchase. They’re valid for 12 months after they’re issued, and they don’t retain any residual value.
Note that while you can select these as your Milestone Rewards perks, the functionality to redeem them isn’t quite live just yet.
My take on the new IHG One Rewards program
The new IHG One Rewards program greatly exceeds my expectations. As mentioned above, previously I didn’t consider IHG to have competitive elite perks, but that has finally changed:
- IHG is finally offering breakfast as an elite benefit, and it’s a full, hot breakfast, rather than a continental one
- Members can earn up to four confirmable suite upgrades per year, plus can get unlimited club lounge access if they earn at least 40 elite nights per year, which is exciting
- The fact that you earn your first confirmable suite upgrade at 20 elite nights is pretty remarkable, as that’s the easiest to attain confirmable suite upgrade in the industry
- It sounds like IHG is instructing hotels to be more proactive about suite upgrades for elite members, but there’s still not much there in the way of guarantees, aside from when a confirmed suite upgrade is used
So, am I ready to switch some loyalty to IHG?
- My biggest issue is that I find IHG’s portfolio to be rather uninspiring; aside from limited service properties, I quite like Kimpton and Six Senses (even though Six Senses isn’t fully integrated into IHG yet), but I find most InterContinental properties to be rather drab
- It’s unlikely I’d earn the 70 elite nights per year to earn Diamond Elite status, though I could spend $40,000 per year on a co-branded credit card to earn the status; while this would get me free breakfast, the issue is that it wouldn’t get any of the valuable Milestone Rewards
All things considered I’m really impressed by the program. This won’t make me switch my loyalty fully to IHG, simply because I don’t find the portfolio to be that interesting. But it will cause me to stay at IHG properties a bit more.
I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for the InterContinental Ambassador program. This is a separate paid membership program that offers perks at InterContinental properties. With IHG’s new loyalty program offering more robust perks at InterContinental properties, I imagine we’re going to see a significant refresh to this over time.
Bottom line
IHG’s new loyalty program have just been formally launched, and I’m impressed. The new program is called IHG One Rewards. With this, we’re seeing the introduction of free breakfast for top tier Diamond Elite members. Furthermore, we’re seeing the introduction of the Milestone Rewards program, offering everything from confirmable suite upgrades, to unlimited club lounge access.
IHG’s loyalty program has finally evolved to the point that it’s competitive, and that’s exciting.
What do you make of IHG’s new loyalty program?
I booked a 3 night reward stay.
I was offered breakfast for just one morning.
If I had booked three individual nights I would have been given 3 breakfasts.
Should we as loyal members miss out on our diamond elite rewards like this.
It sucks. Consider at Platinum Marriott you get lounge access or breakfast depending on the brand or some sort of F&B credit. Platinum is Marriott's level four - Basic, Silver, Gold and then Platinum. Diamond appears to be the fifth level and there is no discussion of Club access. Further IHG has some decent hotels but no luxury ones.
I have diamond status because I was a spire in the old program. My account is sitting on around 700,000 points and 12 nights stayed in 2022.
For context, I also have ambassador and globalist statuses with Marriott and Hyatt (the two highest tiers in those respective programs).
I’ve been playing around with IHG since the new benefits were announced.
I honestly can’t see myself spending 70 nights a year with IHG, especially when I...
I have diamond status because I was a spire in the old program. My account is sitting on around 700,000 points and 12 nights stayed in 2022.
For context, I also have ambassador and globalist statuses with Marriott and Hyatt (the two highest tiers in those respective programs).
I’ve been playing around with IHG since the new benefits were announced.
I honestly can’t see myself spending 70 nights a year with IHG, especially when I get the second-tier platinum status by virtue of holding the credit card. There just aren’t enough Intercontinental or Kimpton properties domestically in the United States to make it worth it. As for Crowne Plaza, I can’t remember the last time I saw a Crowne Plaza that was an option.
If I’m staying with IHG it’s because the only chain option in a given market is a Holiday Inn Express. And unlike Holiday Inn, breakfast is free for all guests at Holiday Inn Express. So that new IHG breakfast benefit for diamonds is pretty worthless. I’m simply not going to spend 70 nights a year a Holiday Inn.
In practice, the Holiday Inn properties that have offered diamonds breakfast since the new IHG program was launched have had horrendous breakfasts; like the food at Starbucks and McDonald’s would be better at breakfast. I stayed at one property over the weekend that didn’t have oatmeal, didn’t have yogurt, and the only eggs were from egg mix. They couldn’t fry an egg because they didn’t have real eggs.
While IHG is promising a lot with its new program, the reality is the portfolio is very weak in the United States as it’s predominately geared toward low-end brands. Even the prospects of staying at IHG’s nicest-ever Holiday Inn property won’t be enough to lure me away from a Marriott, Westin, Renaissance, JW Marriott, or Hyatt Regency.
Maybe if I was traveling to big cities in Asia or going to an Intercontinental-branded resort in the South Pacific. But 70 nights at Holiday Inn in North America? No thank you.
Checked into Holiday Inn City Centre in Munich 2 days ago and was explicitly told I booked the no breakfast award reservation regardless of my Diamond/former spire status. I did receive a suite upgrade but was told I would have to purchase breakfast.
The same happened to me (paid 3 night stay) at the other HI in Munich (Leuchtenbergring) - they refused free breakfast. I had to actually pull up the IHG Rewards page stating this before they reluctantly accepted - won't stay there again obviously.
Does stays on IHG points entitle to elite nights?
i've been quite happy with IHG - the property I stay at in Abu Dhabi *always* upgrade me :)
Where’s the lifetime status requirements
Very disappointing
It's a scam. I was one night & 500 points away from the old Club going to Gold, so I booked a 6 night stay from 7 May. Now I'll barely make Silver. Why not downgrade your rewards system as you've done at the end of a year, not part way through.
Lounge access based on status is sure to kill the experience of Club Intercontinental stays. I guess it is time to enjoy them while possible, and then just watch as the lounges are being devalued to nothing special.
40 legitimate nights to get there sounds pretty fair, no?
So I don't get it. I am a Platinum Elite member (paid) and get 4PM checkout which is nice. Does this continue?
Would the annual lounge membership apply to the member and a guest staying with you? So, it is not just for you. It is for two.
Wondering about that too. Between me and my husbands, we stay about 80+ nights a year at IHG properties for work. Two Gold or One Diamond? If lounge membership applies to a member only, I inclined to choose two gold status (40 night each). If it applies to a member and a guest staying with a member, I would go for one diamond (with hot breakfast). Any information?
After checking the new IHG One benefit chart again, it seems that the lounge membership milestone should apply to two people. Just my guess on on it.
Do any of the elite benefits (breakfast, suite upgrades at check-in) apply for award stays? That's one of the big negatives for the current program. "Oh you want to use your points that were earned from previous stays to stay at somewhere for vacation? Sorry, you can't use any of your elite perks." Lame.
Katie from TPG stated that an IHG rep confirmed that these benefits will apply to paid and award stays.
Are point stays award stays? or not? I thought points stays are award stays. Correct me if I am wrong.
Yes, I believe points stays are award stays.
Holiday inn express has most value and already has breakfast. This is a nothing burger
I never upgraded my chase chard when they came out with the news ones. What status will I get ?
I believe that since IHG Select Chase CC has offered Platinum, it should still be the same with this new program.
I like IHG in general. I wish there were more Indigos though. I wonder what dort of qualifying rate is required for these suite upgrades
Any perk enhancement is welcomed but let's not get too excited. What IHG has done here, by adding F&B/Lounge and milestones benefits, is what was already offered by the other three big hotel chains. IHG is basically trying to catch up to the competition, but even so fell short, due to enhanced benefits not being available at award stays and only triggered at the top tier status, unlike Hilton and Marriott. IHG is better now...
Any perk enhancement is welcomed but let's not get too excited. What IHG has done here, by adding F&B/Lounge and milestones benefits, is what was already offered by the other three big hotel chains. IHG is basically trying to catch up to the competition, but even so fell short, due to enhanced benefits not being available at award stays and only triggered at the top tier status, unlike Hilton and Marriott. IHG is better now but still behind WOH, HHonors and Bonvoy.
The biggest problem with IHG domestically is it lacks good, full-service brands.
Nobody in their right mind is going to book the average Holiday Inn over the average JW Marriott, Westin, or Hyatt Regency. Intercontinental and Kimpton aren't in enough markets. Crowne Plaza is few and far between. Even then a Crowne Plaza domestically is more like a Sheraton or Delta.
I have diamond status now but get platinum status automatically for having an...
The biggest problem with IHG domestically is it lacks good, full-service brands.
Nobody in their right mind is going to book the average Holiday Inn over the average JW Marriott, Westin, or Hyatt Regency. Intercontinental and Kimpton aren't in enough markets. Crowne Plaza is few and far between. Even then a Crowne Plaza domestically is more like a Sheraton or Delta.
I have diamond status now but get platinum status automatically for having an IHG-branded credit card. Even if I wanted to do, I could never do 70 nights at Intercontinental and Kimpton because there aren't enough of them in the places I visit for work. I could easily do 70 nights at Holiday Inn -- they're everywhere! -- but there's no way I would do that that. IHG will be an alternative option for me when a given destination only has a Holiday Inn Express or Holiday Inn. And in those situations, I'll probably book the Holiday Inn Express since breakfast is free for all guests.
For elite tier , what considers as qualified points ? does my transfer from UR counts?
It would be up to you if you are willing to try to transfer Chase UR points. According to their T and Cs, points transfer don’t count. Elite qualifying points would be spend on activities such as their co-branded credit cards, stays at their hotels, spending at their restaurants/bars, or BPP.
Oh, spend on their co-branded cards will no longer count as elite qualifying with this new program, but I do wonder if it is effectively immediately or will it be in effect in June 2022.
Until they offer benefits on award stays, it’s not worth me switching.
They should offer it on award stays as I was a little shocked that they did not.
It really seems like the breakfast for 2 should be platinum level and above since Diamond seems kind of unreachable ($40K spend) or 60 nights, I think?
That was my first reaction as well. It seems a complementary breakfast is available for a very small segment of members
The problem is everyone is a platinum because of the credit card. They likely couldn't reduce the giveaway status because of credit card contracts. But it would have been nice to offer breakfast to everyone at 50 or 55 nights and then differentiate that with lounge access and breakfast at 70 nights. You shouldn't have to choose lounge access. If there's a lounge and you're a diamond, you should get it. After all, it's not...
The problem is everyone is a platinum because of the credit card. They likely couldn't reduce the giveaway status because of credit card contracts. But it would have been nice to offer breakfast to everyone at 50 or 55 nights and then differentiate that with lounge access and breakfast at 70 nights. You shouldn't have to choose lounge access. If there's a lounge and you're a diamond, you should get it. After all, it's not like any Holiday Inn domestic properties have a lounge. The only properties in North America with a lounge are limited to some but not all Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza properties.
IHG has pretty consistently been my fallback program this year (one of the preferred brands at work) and I'm pleased with the consistency of their brands/offerings vs. other large chains. I don't know how, but I've been Platinum for several years now, and the earnings bonus is nice. The free weekend night as Ambassador is a good value, too. Ideally I finish out the requirements for Marriott LT Plat this year, then they become my...
IHG has pretty consistently been my fallback program this year (one of the preferred brands at work) and I'm pleased with the consistency of their brands/offerings vs. other large chains. I don't know how, but I've been Platinum for several years now, and the earnings bonus is nice. The free weekend night as Ambassador is a good value, too. Ideally I finish out the requirements for Marriott LT Plat this year, then they become my fallback and perhaps I end up putting more focus on IHG. I don't have the momentum or 5/24 availability to pursue the Hyatt status right now.
Are you an Ambassador member, so if that is the case, then that is the reason why you are also Platinum.
It's taken them way too long to bring about these changes. They should have done it at the time of the SPG/Marriott merger to get the SPG folks to jump. That said, a slap in the face for Hilton and Marriott and their constantly devaluing of benefits for their Elites, and some (though likely limited) competition for Hyatt.
The fact that breakfast or lounge access has to be chosen as a benefit is stupid. The lounge access benefit is pretty worthless since pretty much only Intercontinental properties have a lounge.
Do the changes mention about life style status ?
@ Frank -- Sorry, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about? Do you mean the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle program available through select travel agents, or something else? There's no change to that program...
Perhaps I am missing it, but I do not see how IHG can promote this idea of unity and to emphasize that we all share one world, while continuing to be the lone major hotel awards program that charges you to transfer points to your own spouse. Free household transfers was a slam dunk change and they biff'd it.
My first thoughts? IHG screwed Chase again.
I believe the last time shortly after chase updated the design of the IHG Premier Credit Card (and maybe also the legacy Select card), IHG started this rebranding, changed their logo and renamed IHG Rewards Club to just IHG Rewards. Now just weeks after Chase finally changed their card designs, IHG revealed this new IHG One Rewards name, which apparently nobody knew. I wonder how long it will...
My first thoughts? IHG screwed Chase again.
I believe the last time shortly after chase updated the design of the IHG Premier Credit Card (and maybe also the legacy Select card), IHG started this rebranding, changed their logo and renamed IHG Rewards Club to just IHG Rewards. Now just weeks after Chase finally changed their card designs, IHG revealed this new IHG One Rewards name, which apparently nobody knew. I wonder how long it will take for Chase to add this 1 to their card lol. Lack of coordination all over.
@ Brian -- Hah, I imagine there was communication between Chase and IHG throughout this, though I agree, I find the way the rebranding is happening to be a bit odd. Over a short period we're going from IHG Rewards Club, to IHG Rewards, to IHG One Rewards.
Half the time I still type "priorityclub.com" when I'm trying to get to my account. (It still works.)
Yes, and their customer service email is still [email protected] LOL
Rollover nights (at least over 55 nights) from 2021 hasn't happened (yet) for Spire Elite like Hilton did for Diamond (all 2021 nights). Any chance it's still coming?
@ Jason -- Rollover nights should still be happening for this year for eligible members, as far as I know.
Right, I'm also over 55 nights but not over 70 and haven't seen it, fine print suggests you need to be over the 70 (or 75) for last year and not just over the reduced requirement of 55 they put in place during the pandemic. I'm a little disappointed, as the prior year EVERY night rolled over, not just those over the threshold. Maybe they got too many Spire Elites as a result and need...
Right, I'm also over 55 nights but not over 70 and haven't seen it, fine print suggests you need to be over the 70 (or 75) for last year and not just over the reduced requirement of 55 they put in place during the pandemic. I'm a little disappointed, as the prior year EVERY night rolled over, not just those over the threshold. Maybe they got too many Spire Elites as a result and need to winnow it back. But I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised with something rolled over rather than mildly disappointed with no roll over nights credited at all which seems to be the case.
Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised by the new benefits that will be offered to Platinum and Diamond members and I will likely choose to stay at IHG hotels more often going forward. However, one significant issue with the confirmed suite upgrades is that they cannot be used for award bookings and this is unfortunate. Also, a free night should have been included as one or more milestone awards.
These changes are fantastic. Well done IHG. And look out Marriott. My ranking is now:
Hyatt
IHG
Hilton
Marriott (used to be my #2 prior to the recent devaluation)
LOL. IHG remakes itself in Hilton Honors' image by a wholesale imitation of the latter program (but still comes up short), and it suddenly leaps to the second place, behind WoH, itself a weak program that does not offer its...
LOL. IHG remakes itself in Hilton Honors' image by a wholesale imitation of the latter program (but still comes up short), and it suddenly leaps to the second place, behind WoH, itself a weak program that does not offer its members the 4th or 5th award night free, which is unquestionably the single most valuable perk in hotel loyalty? I would say that there's something 'fishy' with that ranking...
Anyway, as they say, imitation is the most sincere (sincerest) form of flattery.
G'day.
Wow. Color me impressed. Finally we have a major player scaling UP loyalty benefits! When was the last time that happened? This won’t steal me away from Hyatt (yet) but it’s a viable alternative if Hyatt (continues to) decline. Perhaps some insurance that Hyatt won’t further devalue?
I also hope Hyatt sees this as a warning shot. If they continue to devalue, IHG could become my #1.
When are these changes expected to be rolled out? I have a Kimpton stay in early May and wondering if there will be Breakfast as I am a current Spire member.
@ Izz -- Tiers will be upgraded in the coming days, but it's expected that the new perks will be introduced as of June 2022. So unfortunately you probably won't get these new perks.
Thanks for the update, looking forward to these changes!
I'd be even more impressed of more of the Club lounges were reopened. Seems like these are the last on the list to get up and running despite Intercontinental charging full price. I've used 40K points to get Ambassador status for the BOGO free weekend night and lounge access and there aren't many to choose from.
Ambassador status doesn't have lounge access as a benefit. Royal Ambassador does, but that's not the same as the $200/40K Ambassador program.
And if you’re royal ambassador you’re also most likely Spire Inner Circle for your stays at kimpton, which is kimpton’s invite only level