Get an IHG Rewards Club status match – including to top tier Spire Elite
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IHG Rewards Club has launched a status match promotion, offering 2,500 members with UK or US addresses the chance to get a status match to top-tier Spire Elite.
If are not currently top tier in another programme, IHG will match your mid tier status to either Platinum Elite or Gold Elite.
Full details are on their website here.
You will have your new status for the next 90 days, and you can retain it by staying a specific number of NIGHTS (note nights, not stays) during those 90 days:
If you match to Spire Elite, you need to do 10 nights in 90 days to keep your status
If you match to Platinum Elite, you need to do 5 nights in 90 days to keep your status
If you match to Gold Elite, you need to do 2 nights in 90 days to keep your status
This page of the IHG website shows the benefits you get at each tier.
This is how the match works:
Step 1: Go to this page of the IHG website
Step 2: Upload a screenshot showing your status with another major hotel loyalty scheme – here is the list of options:
“Accor – Le Club AccorHotels
Best Western – Best Western Rewards
Caesars Entertainment – Caesars Rewards
Choice – Choice Privileges
Hilton – Hilton Honors
Hyatt – World of Hyatt
Marriott – Marriott Bonvoy
NH Hotel Group – NH Rewards
Radisson – Radisson Rewards
Wyndham – Wyndham Rewards“
Step 3: Once your status is updated online, enjoy your new benefits for 90 days!
Step 4: Try to complete the required number of nights to keep your new status until 31st December 2020
The deadline for applying for a match is 30th June. However, only 2500 Spire Elite matches will be given, so apply quickly if you want a top tier match.
If you do not complete the required number of nights to keep your status, you can still retain it at a lower level. By which I mean …. if you match to Spire Elite but only manage 5 nights in 90 days, you will not drop down to nothing. You will drop to Platinum Elite, which only required 5 nights in the first place.
This offer is, almost word for word, a copy of the current Hilton Honors status match.
The snag is that IHG Rewards Club status has fewer benefits. Virtually nothing is guaranteed – even at Spire Elite, you do not get free breakfast or a guaranteed late check-out. You certainly don’t get guaranteed lounge access, although the majority of Crowne Plaza hotels in Europe will offer it – but not InterContinentals.
The bottom line is that it is certainly better to have the status than not to have it, but don’t expect miracles.
What I would say is that you should check out your targets for the current IHG Rewards Club Accelerate promotion too. Whilst a lot of Accelerate offers were quite weak for the Summer period, the extra carrot of a Spire Elite upgrade may be enough to get you to switch some stays to IHG.
Remember to apply for your match before 30th June – and ASAP if you want Spire Elite.
PS. Remember that IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status is a benefit of having the £99 IHG Rewards Club Premium Mastercard. Frankly, you are better off paying £99 for the credit card – which has excellent benefits, see my IHG Premium Mastercard review here – than doing mattress run nights to complete a Platinum Elite status match.
Similarly, Gold Elite is a benefit of having the FREE IHG Rewards Club Mastercard. Do the status match if you want, but you will have Gold Elite status permanently as long as you keep the free IHG credit card. My IHG Rewards Club Mastercard review is here.
IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:
Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering 2,000 bonus points for every two cash nights you stay (not necessarily consecutive) between 1st April and 31st May 2024. You can read our full article here and you can register here.
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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