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I have been perusing the IHG portfolio for UK short breaks next April and have noticed some very odd pricing. For example, in Glasgow, the HI and HIEX cost, on average £342/71k points per night throughout April 2024, by far the most expensive IHG hotels in the city. By contrast, the very lovely Kimpton Blythswood Square is priced at an average of £172/38k points per night for the same period. This is repeated around the UK.
What is going on here? As I understand it, IHG sets the prices, so are they overestimating somewhat the desirability of HI and HIEX properties, or is it a cunning plan for them to declare all redemptions at lower rates a “mistake” under their new policy and cancel everyone’s stays?
I saw a Hampton Inn in Edinburgh for £600 recently. Even the one by the airport was £350. And the Indigo Paris for 117,000 points per night.
But were there also much cheaper IHG properties in Paris on the night in question? While I’m pleased that not all hotels are being priced at this ludicrous level, it’s the discrepancy that’s got me bamboozled.
It comes to something when a reasonable use of a free night cert would be at a Holiday Inn Express in Swindon 😂
I was intrigued by this post so just quickly checked on my B2B rate system (which shows the rates before commission) for the 1st April 2024. It seems the HI express is out of sync with nearly every hotel in Glasgow and is wildly more expensive- so it’s unlikely to be an IHG thing!
How do you mean, unlikely to be an IHG thing?
If you search the whole UK for next April, both HI and HIEX are massively overpriced, apart from a handful of properties, e.g. HIEX Warwick/Stratford which is 13k when nearby properties are 60 – 70k.
How do you mean, unlikely to be an IHG thing?
If you search the whole UK for next April, both HI and HIEX are massively overpriced, apart from a handful of properties, e.g. HIEX Warwick/Stratford which is 13k when nearby properties are 60 – 70k.
I didn’t do a great job of explaining myself (!) but I meant it’s unlikely that IHG’s lower redemptions for the Kimpton are a mistake. If anything, it’s asking that much for a HIEX/HI that is the error. The net rate for other brands of hotels in Glasgow are all around what you would expect. The Kimpton is in the region of the price you quoted, but the HIEX is way more expensive (with no obvious reason). I initially wondered if there might be an event on in Glasgow but it seems it’s just the HIEX that’s out of sync.
This has been going on for a long time. I once saw the HIX in Chicago for $700 when the IC a few blocks away was $400 and the HI was $300.
I think the system sets the default rack rate 12 months out and then it comes down to sensible levels a few months later.
But were there also much cheaper IHG properties in Paris on the night in question? While I’m pleased that not all hotels are being priced at this ludicrous level, it’s the discrepancy that’s got me bamboozled.
It comes to something when a reasonable use of a free night cert would be at a Holiday Inn Express in Swindon 😂
Oh, I didn’t quite understand your opening post. I had info to share and I live alone so wanted to tell someone 🤪
The pricing seems inconsistent across the portfolio and around the world, and then there’s the volatility.
For example, I’ve seen the Holiday Inn Manchester Airport fluctuate between 19k and 35k lately. Same date of stay, checked a day or two apart.
Frequently checking reservations and re-booking when the points rate falls is almost as lucrative for my IHG points balance as was the old Creation card
I’ve been doing the same. Issues all over the place with both IHG and Hilton. If you spot a useful bargain 10-12 months out it is worth locking down. The rest I just ignire as more rational pricing adjustments follow later when they are about 8-10 months out. As alway, keep resercations under review until the stay. Just save 20k on a July Phuket stay yesterday.
You’re looking for too far into the future.
Well, not really if I can get the Kimpton Blythswood Sq for 32k points pn on the same dates. Kimptons and ICs seem to be pulling award night availability (and Ambassador free nights in the case of ICs) at popular times so it doesn’t hurt to lock in a few bookings.
I have been perusing the IHG portfolio for UK short breaks next April and have noticed some very odd pricing. For example, in Glasgow, the HI and HIEX cost, on average £342/71k points per night throughout April 2024, by far the most expensive IHG hotels in the city. By contrast, the very lovely Kimpton Blythswood Square is priced at an average of £172/38k points per night for the same period. This is repeated around the UK.
What is going on here? As I understand it, IHG sets the prices, so are they overestimating somewhat the desirability of HI and HIEX properties, or is it a cunning plan for them to declare all redemptions at lower rates a “mistake” under their new policy and cancel everyone’s stays?
So looking around:-
HIX – Theatreland – £342
HIX – Riverside – £342
HIX – Stirling – £342
HIX – Swindon – £342They all have one thing in common – they are owned by Atlas Hotels.
https://atlashotels.co.uk/our-hotels/
The Kimpton Blythwood Square isn’t.
Do IHG set hotel rates internationally or is it the local operator who uses local knowledge to set the prices? It looks like there is a default rate set for each hotel as availability opens, then this would be individually adjusted, say 11 months in advance by the proprietor. Points price would adjust dynamically in line with the cash rate.
@Andrew I said that above. The system sets Rack rate and then they’re adjusted down a little later.
As for why it happens in some places and not others I assume that’s to do with the property owner and the communication between them and IHG. Some properties will just let IHG get on with it if they have a few, and others who have their own revenue management staff will maybe have a different line in to the system to update it.
IHG aren’t going to know about local events calendars or if local staff are selling meeting room space/halls for weddings etc
I have been perusing the IHG portfolio for UK short breaks next April and have noticed some very odd pricing. For example, in Glasgow, the HI and HIEX cost, on average £342/71k points per night throughout April 2024, by far the most expensive IHG hotels in the city. By contrast, the very lovely Kimpton Blythswood Square is priced at an average of £172/38k points per night for the same period. This is repeated around the UK.
What is going on here? As I understand it, IHG sets the prices, so are they overestimating somewhat the desirability of HI and HIEX properties, or is it a cunning plan for them to declare all redemptions at lower rates a “mistake” under their new policy and cancel everyone’s stays?
So looking around:-
HIX – Theatreland – £342
HIX – Riverside – £342
HIX – Stirling – £342
HIX – Swindon – £342They all have one thing in common – they are owned by Atlas Hotels.
https://atlashotels.co.uk/our-hotels/
The Kimpton Blythwood Square isn’t.
Do IHG set hotel rates internationally or is it the local operator who uses local knowledge to set the prices? It looks like there is a default rate set for each hotel as availability opens, then this would be individually adjusted, say 11 months in advance by the proprietor. Points price would adjust dynamically in line with the cash rate.
The hotels from atlas in the ihg portfolio tend to be basic and / or very dated.
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