Get IHG Rewards Platinum hotel status with just five nights
Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.
IHG Rewards has extended its ‘fast track’ promotion for status into 2022. It is, on the face of it, very generous but you still need to accept the fact that IHG Rewards status has virtually no concrete benefits.
How does the IHG Rewards Fast Track promotion work?
Full details, and registration, can be found here.
You can register up to 12th March.

You will get IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status until December 2023 when you stay five nights within 90 days
Note that the criteria relate to nights and not stays, so it is even easier to hit the target.
It’s probably best not to register now
Since you only have 90 days to achieve the five qualifying nights, there is little value in signing up today unless you have a stay lined up.
You can register until 12th March 2022 which would give you until mid June to complete your five nights if you registered at the last minute.
As stays booked prior to registration count, the best time to sign up would be the day before your next IHG Rewards stay.
Reward nights do not count towards your five nights.
What happens if I already have IHG status?
It isn’t clear. The terms and conditions are badly written and do not say what would happen to existing members.
Can an existing Gold Elite member do this, and get upgraded to Platinum Elite after five nights? I would imagine that you can.
Can an existing Platinum Elite member do this, and get an extension of their status until December 2023? I would imagine not.
This is all speculative, unfortunately.
Does this offer work alongside other IHG promotions?
Yes. However, IHG has not yet launched a bonus points promotion for Spring 2022.

Is IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status worth having?
You can see the benefits of IHG Rewards status on this page of their website.
I used to say that IHG status was better than nothing and would ‘stop you getting the room overlooking the bins’. I then did a night at Holiday Inn Rotherham and did get the room overlooking the bins, so I don’t say that any longer.
Platinum Elite members get a 50% points bonus. A Platinum Elite member will also be considered for upgrades, but you need to remember that Spire Elite members will outrank you.
At most European hotels, you will also receive a welcome gift – usually 500 points or a drink and snack. The secret is to take the drink and snack regardless, partly because it is worth far more than 500 points (worth £2) and partly because the hotel is very likely to give you the points anyway.
Remember that you can buy Platinum Elite status for $200 instead
Platinum Elite status is now a benefit of the InterContinental Ambassador membership programme. You can pay $200 to join and get Platinum Elite amongst many other benefits, with no need to stay five nights.
You can learn more about InterContinental Ambassador here.
Does this promotion help me get Spire Elite status?
No. Because you are upgraded via a status change, rather than by being given an equivalent credit of status nights, you would still need to complete the full 55 nights required for Spire Elite.
I think this is a mistake by IHG Rewards. A member who is given Platinum Elite (currently 30 nights) via this promotion could easily be encouraged to do the extra required to get up to 55 nights for Spire Elite.
I doubt anyone who does five nights and is given Platinum Elite is going to be motivated to do another 50 for the marginal extra benefits of Spire Elite.
Conclusion
There is no way that you can justify a mattress run for this promotion. However, if you need a few hotel nights anyway and a Holiday Inn or other IHG brand is suitable, this may be a reason to jump in.
You need to register for the IHG status fast track here.
IHG One Rewards update – May 2022:
Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering bonus base points on all cash stays between 18th May and 31st August. You earn double points on your 2nd to 5th nights, triple points on your 6th to 14th nights and quadruple base points from your 15th night. Our full article is here. Click here to register.
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.
You will receive an 80% bonus when you buy IHG One Rewards points by 10th June 2022.
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.
Comments (15)