LAST CALL: Instant IHG Platinum status plus a simple challenge to get 18 months of Diamond

IHG One Rewards has been celebrating the launch of its new programme with an exceptionally generous status challenge.

The last day to register is next Sunday, 31st July.

This is a very strong offer, because IHG One Rewards now has meaningful benefits.

If there is any chance that you might stay at an IHG hotel (Holiday Inn, HI Express, InterContinental, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza etc) over the next four months then you’d be mad not to register for this.

How does the status challenge work?

Full details and the registration page are on ihg.com here.

This is how it works in a nutshell:

• You register via the link on this page (you must be a member – not a status member, just a general free member – of another major hotel loyalty scheme to take part)

• You will be instantly (well, it may take a day or so) elevated to Platinum Elite status for 120 days

• If you do five paid nights within those 120 days, your Platinum Elite status will be extended until 31st December 2023 (note: 2023, not 2022)

• If you do 15 paid nights within those 120 days, your Platinum Elite status will be upgraded to Diamond Elite status and you will keep it until 31st December 2023

Easy peasy.

What are the benefits of Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite?

We wrote a 3-part series of articles on the new-look IHG One Rewards. If you are doing this status challenge, I recommend you read them:

IHG One Rewards – how to earn points and status

IHG One Rewards – the new elite status benefits

IHG One Rewards – all about Milestone Rewards

We summarise it in our IHG One Rewardds overview article here.

The new status levels are:

• Silver – requires 10 nights
• Gold – requires 20 nights or 40,000 base points
• Platinum – requires 40 nights or 60,000 base points
• Diamond – requires 70 nights or 120,000 base points

At most IHG brands, you earn 10 base points per $1 of pre-tax spending.

Reward nights will continue to count towards status and also count towards the new Milestone Rewards.

These are the new base point bonuses earned on paid stays:

• Silver – 20%
• Gold – 40%
• Platinum – 60%
• Diamond – 100%

Here are the benefits:

Let’s pick out the key points:

• Platinum and Diamond members will receive regular discount deals on booking rewards – I expect this will be similar to the recent 20% discount given to IHG credit card holders. You can’t say that this makes your points more valuable, however, because – as reward pricing is now linked to cash rates – holding off to wait for the next discount period could result in the cost of your reward increasing.

• Diamond members will get a dedicated telephone line

• The upgrade policy for Platinum and Diamond members has been improved and may include suites

• Free breakfast for Diamond members. As with Marriott Bonvoy, this is an option you must choose at check-in (those on expenses may want to pay for breakfast and take the bonus points instead, plus earn more points on the breakfast spend). Unlike Marriott, the rules are simple – your breakfast is free if there is a buffet, with no restrictions on what you can have, or you get one hot item if it is a la carte. The only major brands excluded are Candlewood Suites and Mr & Mrs Smith.

• Gold members will no longer receive a welcome amenity. Say goodbye to your 600 points or a drink and a KitKat. The amenity remains as it was for Platinum members, so doing this status challenge is a good way to keep receiving it.

• Late check-out is offered to ALL members, even those who sign up at the front desk when they check-in. This is not guaranteed, clearly. What isn’t clear is if Platinum and Diamond members get priority for it. I would have been happier if this had been just given to Platinum and Diamond members but been guaranteed.

Conclusion

If you have any cash stays at an IHG hotel coming up in the next 120 days then you should register for this offer. You’ll receive Platinum benefits on your stay.

If you can divert 15 nights to IHG in the next 120 days after registration, you’ll receive free breakfast and other Diamond benefits on all of your stays until the end of 2023. This is pretty attractive, especially given that Diamond usually requires 70 nights.

You may even be able to status match from Diamond Elite to top tier in another programme, given that Diamond Elite will be hard to earn from next year and may be valued more by competitors.

You can register for the status challenge here.

Whilst it asks you to name another hotel programme you are a member of, you do NOT need to have any status in that programme. This is not a status match. IHG just seems to want to be able to count what percentage of new members are coming from each programme.

The offer ends on 31st July.

Click here for a complete guide to getting hotel elite status from UK credit cards.

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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.