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IHG opens the voco Oxford Spires hotel – and it’s just 20,000 points per night

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IHG has completed the rebranding of Principal Oxford Spires as voco Oxford Spires.  The hotel website is here and there is a picture below.

vovo is IHGs new upscale ‘conversion’ brand.  It allows hotels to become part of IHG without having to sign up to the strict list of ‘do’s and dont’s’ which come with its other brands such as Crowne Plaza.

voco Oxford Spires

These demands can be exceptionally picky – when I toured Kimpton Fitzroy in London, for example, I was told that they had to add flavoured water to the fridge in the gym, alongside normal water, because it is a brand requirement.  The delay in converting Principal Manchester to Kimpton is, I understand, over the requirement for an expensive air conditioning system.

As a launch offer, you can book voco Oxford Spires for just 20,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night until mid February.  This is very good value, especially for peak dates.

For comparison, the second voco in Oxford – voco Oxford Thames – is 40,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night.

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IHG One Rewards news

IHG One Rewards update – April 2025:

Get bonus points: IHG is not currently running a global promotion.

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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Comments (152)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • BA-Flyer says:
    23 Nov23 November 05:55

    OT: I want to change a booking made via Avios with a Lloyds voucher. Five times I’ve called and been told my call is being transferred to the ‘change team’. After 1 hour on hold, the line goes dead. Is there any point trying to call BA instead, or will they direct me back to Avios?
    Is there any point complaining, or can I just expect a cut and paste apology?

    • Anna says:
      23 Nov23 November 08:25

      It does sound as though it’s become very difficult to use the remaining Lloyds vouchers. I suspect that the phone line automatically cuts off after a certain period on hold – have you mentioned this to the first CSA you speak to each time? I would call again and insist on speaking to a supervisor as you cannot be confident of ever getting through to the right department!

    • BJ says:
      23 Nov23 November 10:36

      I would call the number for avios (AerClub) and try that.

      • fivebobbill says:
        23 Nov23 November 13:35

        Good luck with that one BJ! I had to call them yesterday due to an issue with my latest Tesco Avios not going over, and when they accessed my account they said there were ZERO transactions on it for 2019. This despite me being logged into my Aerclub account and viewing it online whilst we were speaking – and looking at over 30 transactions, and movement in and out of over 280,000 Avios in the last 6 months!
        They weren’t even going to let me through security because i didn’t give them the correct email address on file, the one they were looking for I had changed with them over 3 years ago, and the correct one I was viewing in my online Aerclub account!
        Fortunately my Avios statement IS still viewable on avios.com, and when I eventually do get through to BA they seem to have no trouble accessing it.

        • BJ says:
          23 Nov23 November 16:40

          Useful feedback thanks. Only use them for the shopping now so hopefully I’ll never be calling.

    • Gerry says:
      23 Nov23 November 11:36

      I had this very problem last month. All I wanted to do was pay for my Avios Lloyd’s voucher booking. Was put through to the department and after being on hold for 1 hour exactly they hung up. Called back and after 2hrs20m on hold, I frustratingly hung up.
      However, next day early afternoon I got through in 30 seconds and things were sorted. I was advised that early afternoon is the best time to call as it is quieter on the phone lines.

      • Reeferman says:
        23 Nov23 November 12:01

        I too had this same problem – my phone also cut-off after 60 minutes waiting.
        I then phoned BA Exec Club who got in touch with the Lloyds Avios people (I think it’s the same group as in BA now, it’s just that some staff are trained on both systems and some are not).
        In any event, it was all sorted out – they called me back and booked everything (without any additional charges for doing so on the phone).

      • George K says:
        23 Nov23 November 18:09

        It may be an interesting data point for some, but the Lloyds avios voucher team has obviously seen a reduction in staff of late, but even more importantly, anyone calling to redeem leftover vouchers will have a hard time getting through at the end of any particular month. It appears all vouchers have an end-of-month expiration date, regardless of when you unlocked them (so a voucher appearing on your account on the 5th of November 2018, would expire 30th of November 2019) and traditionally people leave it late to redeem. So the earlier during the month you call, the better!

    • Graham Walsh says:
      23 Nov23 November 12:37

      I spent 6+ hours trying to speak with someone at Lloyds Avios, absolutely shower of shit.

      • ankomonkey says:
        23 Nov23 November 17:12

        Is the shower of shit a Spire Elite benefit?

      • Alan says:
        24 Nov24 November 00:20

        Yikes – I had the fun of having a Lloyds booking affected by the BA strike! Thankfully got through first thing in the morning and got moved onto Qatar once I’d told the agent what the process was!

  • Zara says:
    23 Nov23 November 06:08

    Is there a date range for the 20k offer. In May/June next year it’s showing 40k points for the Oxford Spire

  • TripRep says:
    23 Nov23 November 06:21

    Currently awake early in an IHG in Glasgow.

    Next room had TV on so loud it woke me up @5:30am. I actually thought they were arguing but on close listening it was polictical leaders ranting.

    Reception eventually got them to turn it down, be interesting to see what the front desk says later. Anyone know if IHG have a good night’s sleep polic (Got a long drive later was hoping to kip til 9am and now I’m wide awake.)

    • TripRep says:
      23 Nov23 November 08:02

      Front desk offered 50% off my next stay with them, however I told them unlikely to be back as Hilton is usually my first choice in Glasgow.

      So they’ve offered me 7k points instead which on balance for a room cost if £73 is reasonable. They are also double checking that their in room TVs are set to “Hospitality mode”

      I now need to see if I can power nap after breakfast, hopefully the weather on the A9 isn’t as hideous as yesterday pm.

      • Shoestring says:
        23 Nov23 November 08:55

        ah, the A9, home of more speed cameras than any other UK road 🙂

      • Jill (Kinkell) says:
        23 Nov23 November 09:12

        It’s dreich up here. Can’t see Ben Wyvis, wet and lie cloud. Gave a safe trip

      • BJ says:
        23 Nov23 November 10:45

        To put it into perspective I got 5000 points and 2 drinks because I had to wait 20 minutes after checkin for a room at HI Oxford Circus earlier this year. To be fair though I was like a bear with a sore posterior that day, I think reception sensed that and did not want a scene in the lobby.

      • Lady London says:
        23 Nov23 November 13:22

        Defo see if they’ll give you a later checkout as well if you’ve got the time @Triprep !

      • TripRep says:
        23 Nov23 November 14:33

        Now safely home enjoying a cuppa after driving through the rain.
        To be honest the front desk staff were really nice, especially as I was a tad grumpy. Feeling a bit better, I spoke with them again as I left apologising if I was a little frustrated earlier, they completely empathised and said they had already proactively upped the compensation to 10k. Top performance by them at the HIE Riverside, left on a high.

      • Jeff says:
        23 Nov23 November 17:21

        Am considering a wee weekend in Glasgow with the wife and kids (swimming pool a necessity). May I ask which Hilton property is best, Hilton by M8 or Doubletree centrally?

        Thanks!

        • TripRep says:
          24 Nov24 November 13:38

          Only ever stayed in the Hilton yet to try the DT.

          Pool is ok, I tend to get an exec upgrade most of the time.

  • Michael C says:
    23 Nov23 November 07:08

    Voco Oxford Spires is where my gym is! Great location for a visit: 12 minutes’ walk to Christ Church, 1 minute to the river. Bus stop outside goes to lots of nice villages. And the Duke of Monmouth up the road v pleasant (and total bargain for Ox.)

    • TGLoyalty says:
      23 Nov23 November 07:44

      Have you noticed any changes at the hotel?

      I thought it could’ve been updated and upgraded to become a kimpton.

      I find it strange that IHG took the decision to rebrand the principal hotels to Voco with no changes to the properties when they could’ve just kept the principal name as a brand.

      • Michael C says:
        23 Nov23 November 09:00

        Just the sign outside!
        Does quite a few smaller corpporate conferences.
        Never seen a room, no “cute” bar, but all seems clean/modernish.
        Nice small indoor pool.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          23 Nov23 November 09:08

          Yeah don’t get me wrong it’s decent. Some rooms were more recently re-decorated, but on the cheap as bathrooms are cheap and nasty for example.

          Just baffles me that they go to the trouble of coming up with a new brand and change pretty much nothing.

          • Rob says:
            23 Nov23 November 09:49

            That’s what ‘conversion’ brands are for!

          • TGLoyalty says:
            23 Nov23 November 16:12

            I see what you are saying but what was wrong with principal? Unless Starwood retained the name which I doubt.

        • Chrisasaurus says:
          23 Nov23 November 10:31

          Is the pool family friendly? It’s a deal breaker for a weekend trips for us

    • The Original Nick says:
      23 Nov23 November 07:58

      The Wheatsheaf has got to be my favorite pub

    • G-bit says:
      23 Nov23 November 09:09

      I know this hotel well. A few recent changes but mainly just Voco branding. If visiting try The Folly restaurant, hidden gem and closest ‘proper’ restaurant to the hotel. It’s on Folly Bridge on the walk between the hotel and the city. Decent gym at the hotel but pool is small and (overly) hot.

    • Lady London says:
      23 Nov23 November 13:20

      Hi @Michael, which of the nice villages do you prefer?

  • TGLoyalty says:
    23 Nov23 November 07:33

    The Montcalm at the Brewery would be an interesting addition to Bonvoy.

    • Scallder says:
      23 Nov23 November 12:35

      Lovely hotel and we had our wedding reception at Chiswell Street Dining Rooms downstairs which can’t recommend highly enough for the food 🙂

  • Mark says:
    23 Nov23 November 07:45

    We used to live on the same road as the Montcalm in Shoreditch. Had a good bar which we went to a few times but it never felt it was at capacity so adding it to Bonvoy might help to raise its profile. Biggest gripe was all the staff hanging out on the road smoking between shifts, never pleasant walking past!

  • Princess says:
    23 Nov23 November 07:47

    OT: hi! I want to define an hotel points strategy for my trip to China next year.
    I would appreciate any suggestions of good hotel you tried and would recommend
    I’ve already have decent amount of Hilton and Bonvoy points

    Itinerary is not defined yet, arriving Beijing and coming back from Hong Kong. Definetely stopping in Xi’an and Chengdu, not sure where else yet.

    I did a quick check and in many case redemptions seem poor value considering many hotel are quite cheap….

    • JPa says:
      23 Nov23 November 08:08

      I stayed in the Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel in 2017, it is great location just and a walkable to Forbidden City, Tiananmen square etc. and various shopping areas. Metro station is around a 5 min walk away. Fairs are about 30p a trip and £3 from the airport.

      The hotel has an amazing huge basement pool/jacuzzi, lounge and the most amazing breakfast spread I have even seen in any hotel. I was old Gold at the time so got an upgrade to the top floors with amazing views from the bath and lounge access. We never ate anywhere else, great food and wine/beer in the evenings.

      It was 15000 a night at the time, now 25000 a night, but that still is well over 0.5p per point on random nights I checked.

      • The Original David says:
        23 Nov23 November 08:21

        In mainland China you’re right – hotels are generally quite cheap so often better just to pay cash, particularly if you have some Accelerate offers to hit. Save your points up to spend in Hong Kong instead.

        I live in Beijing so haven’t used any hotels here, but in Xi’an stayed in the Novotel slightly north of the city centre, which I’d recommend. It’s right on a tube station, so quick to get around and the right side of town for both the airport and high-speed train station.

        In Chengdu I stayed in the Crowne Plaza Panda Garden, which was frankly incredible for £50/night. I get the feeling they don’t get many Spire Elites staying, so got greeted by name, access to the great lounge, good upgrades. It’s very convenient for the pandas, but a bit out of town if you want to see Chengdu centre.

        Also stayed in the Holiday Inn Dongfeng Bridge for a few nights which was ok – very close to the metro, lounge access and a reasonable breakfast, and obviously much better for the city centre.

        • Princess says:
          23 Nov23 November 08:46

          Crowne Plaza seem to have really nicely decorated big room, I’ll send them an email asking for occupancy rules because we need rooms for 2+2, but the max there seem to be 3…even in the most expensive suite!

        • Nathan says:
          23 Nov23 November 14:47

          +1 for Chengdu CP

      • Princess says:
        23 Nov23 November 08:30

        Great! I’ll definitely check the Renaissance Beijing, it sound a good option!

  • Oliv says:
    23 Nov23 November 08:19

    OT- new Addison Lee discount of £5 on an off peak £11+ ride

    • Oliv says:
      23 Nov23 November 08:19

      Using code SURGE5

      • EwanG says:
        23 Nov23 November 18:21

        I think they have a new intern working on their notifications/promos. I’ve had a few from them offering to get me to Soho for lunch, from £8.50. From Edinburgh!! 😉

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