IHG Rewards Club rolling out ‘elite member gifts’ on every stay
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IHG Rewards Club has long been, by far, the worse major hotel scheme when it comes to actually valuing your loyalty.
There are no guaranteed benefits at all apart from free internet (and everyone gets that from June 2014 anyway). You are totally at the mercy of the hotel as to whether you get an upgrade or any other sort of amenity.
Loyalty Lobby reports that IHG Rewards Club is making some progress on this front. In an email, they told them:
IHG Rewards Club has been piloting Elite member amenity program in Europe where Gold and Platinum members have been offered extras at the check in.
This program “Surprise and Delight” is rolling to all Crowne Plaza, Indigo, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in Europe by the end of 2013.
The program is expected to roll out in the United States in 2014.
For Platinum member, it seems that the amenity will typically be your choice of 500 IHG Rewards Club points or a ‘complimentary drink or snack voucher’. Given that the points are only worth about £2.50, the latter may be the better option.
(Or perhaps not – Holiday Inn Sheffield has always given a free Kit-Kat, value £verylittle, to elites! Although, to be fair, that is 1 Kit-Kat more than they were obliged to give you!)
Hilton HHonors remains the gold standard for mid-tier hotel recognition. Gold members receive free breakfast, free internet and a guaranteed upgrade. 500 Priority Club points or a Kit-Kat is not going to compete with that.
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IHG One Rewards update – June 2025:
Get bonus points: IHG is currently running TWO global promotions. You can register for both.
Promo 1: IHG One Rewards will give you your choice of either 2,000 bonus points for every two nights or 8,000 bonus points for every four nights you stay. The offer period is 20th May to 31st August. Click here to register and learn more.
Promo 2: IHG One Rewards is running a promotion aimed at five brands – Crowne Plaza, voco, Vignette, Candlewood and Garner. You will earn triple base points for stays at these brands until 30th September. Click here to register and learn more.
New to IHG One Rewards? Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.
Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.
Want to earn more hotel points? Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.
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