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New IHG Rewards Club top tier fails to launch on time!

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Yesterday was meant to be the launch date for the new top tier in IHG Rewards Club.   However, the day came, and went, and nothing happened.  It turns out that the launch has now been delayed to an unspecified date in July.

As a reminder, this is what was meant to happen on July 1st.

Gold and Platinum status becomes easier to achieve.  Platinum will drop from 50 nights or 60,000 base points to 40 nights or 40,000 base points.  Gold will drop from 15 nights or 20,000 base points to 10 nights or 10,000 base points.

The ‘Fast Track to Elite Status’ offer – which allowed to earn status more quickly by staying at multiple IHG brands – is discontinued.

IHG Rewards Club 350

A new top tier is introduced with a rumoured name of ‘Black’.  It will require a slightly crazy 75 nights per year or 75,000 base points to reach.  The only guaranteed benefit is a 100% bonus on base points when you stay.  Stays and points earned during 2015 to date will count towards qualification.

The new top tier will have no additional stay benefits – at least for now.  The main selling point is the choice of 25,000 bonus IHG Rewards Club points or free Platinum status for a friend or relative.  You can take one of these benefits each year.

Points will expire if there is no activity on your account in any 12 month period.  This does not apply to status members.  The first round of expirations will take place in May 2016.

None of the above has happened.  My online account still shows that I need 60,000 points to retain Platinum status, my ‘Fast Track to Elite Status’ tracker is still there and there is no sign of the new top tier.

It is coming, though, honestly, according to IHG ….

The official ‘teaser’ page for the changes on the IHG website can be found here.

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Category

IHG Rewards Club

Comments (12)

  • SydneySwan says:
    2 Jul2 July 04:27

    This is the sort of incompetence that I would expect from Accor!

  • Nathan says:
    2 Jul2 July 06:19

    Not even surprised!!

  • Martin says:
    2 Jul2 July 07:40

    Not a surprise but not a deal breaker just now either. If it changed as planned yesterday nothing would be any different for the bulk of us anyway

  • Henry C says:
    2 Jul2 July 08:26

    If you go into the IHG app, tap the area that shows your name and points balance, then tap benefits – interestingly the levels here have changed to ’10-39 nights’ for gold and ’40-74 nights’ for plat. That’s the only change I’ve seen so far.

    • Chris says:
      2 Jul2 July 10:19

      That changed a few weeks back when they done the update to stop the apps showing Platinum Ambassador.

      I don’t know why but I was surprised that it didn’t happen as announced, the fact nothing was being announced about it should have warned us all was not going to plan. Why they just didn’t announce it had been pushed back until August 1st or whatever is beyond me, surely that would have been better then sneakily changing the wording of their press release.

      I’ve made it under my own steam without changing my plans but I have a bit of sympathy for people who have changed their plans to make or have changed their holiday plans in order to avail of the additional points wi it going to 100% bonus.

      I also wonder how much of an increase in the bonus points rates booking there have been.

  • Bill says:
    2 Jul2 July 15:54

    Some have suggested that it is an IT issue….that IHG is purchasing its first computer.

  • Martin says:
    3 Jul3 July 19:56

    Is it better to hold out for a new Premium IHG Visa offer linked to the new tier possibly and/or points bonus or sign up for the existing one ?

    • Rob says:
      3 Jul3 July 21:38

      Won’t happen – it seems very clear that the new tier is meant to be hard to reach. The credit card now plays no part in helping you reach the new tier, apart from the fact that spending on the card (NOT the sign-up bonus) counts for base points.

  • Stuart says:
    8 Jul8 July 23:05

    Details of new tier have been released to staff today and I understand launch will now be 13 July. Emails on the way I understand on the 13th. Don’t have any more details.

    • Rob says:
      9 Jul9 July 08:38

      No, it is tomorrow apparently. This is from a 3rd party, though – IHG has not told me anything directly.

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