As with each kind of resort elite standing, you may discover positives and negatives when evaluating IHG elite standing to different applications. That mentioned, I’ve gotten nice worth from IHG elite standing and the IHG One Rewards program during the last 9 years.
IHG elite standing will not all the time get you upgrades, even on the top-tier Diamond Elite stage, and extra advantages than I would like are topic to the discretion of every property. However, particularly because of the worth I can get when redeeming IHG factors and IHG’s in depth worldwide portfolio, I’ve discovered IHG elite standing worthwhile.
This is what you need to learn about incomes IHG elite standing and utilizing its advantages.
What’s IHG elite standing?
IHG elite standing supplies perks when staying at IHG lodges and resorts. The IHG portfolio consists of manufacturers starting from Candlewood Suites and Vacation Inn to Lodge Indigo, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. With IHG elite standing, you possibly can take pleasure in advantages at a variety of properties.
You may earn most tiers of IHG standing by accruing set quantities of qualifying nights or elite qualifying factors throughout a calendar yr. When you earn a particular IHG elite standing tier inside a calendar yr, you may preserve the standing by the top of the next yr. Nevertheless, every Jan. 1, your qualifying nights and factors towards elite standing reset to zero.
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IHG elite standing tiers
The IHG One Rewards program affords 5 membership tiers. The primary membership tier — Membership member — does not have any necessities. To earn IHG elite standing, you may want to fulfill the next necessities every calendar yr:
- Silver Elite: 10 qualifying nights
- Gold Elite: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying factors
- Platinum Elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying factors
- Diamond Elite: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying factors
Along with these IHG elite standing tiers, you could get invited to Kimpton Inside Circle you probably have Diamond Elite standing and incessantly keep at Kimpton properties. You may also buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership and doubtlessly get an improve to Royal Ambassador based mostly in your qualifying exercise at InterContinental lodges and resorts.
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You will earn rewards by IHG’s Milestone Rewards program as you accrue qualifying nights every calendar yr as nicely.
Associated: How a lot worth does IHG One Rewards standing present whenever you e-book immediately?
earn IHG elite standing
To earn IHG elite standing, you may have to accrue particular quantities of qualifying nights or factors every calendar yr. As mentioned above, you may have to accrue 10 nights for Silver Elite standing, 20 nights or 40,000 factors for Gold Elite standing, 40 nights or 60,000 factors for Platinum Elite standing and 70 nights or 120,000 factors for Diamond Elite standing.
Qualifying nights are nights you e-book with IHG factors or at a qualifying charge — which is best outlined as a charge that earns IHG factors. In brief, for those who e-book immediately with IHG, you may probably get qualifying nights.
Qualifying factors are a bit trickier. IHG affords two sorts of factors: elite qualifying factors and nonelite qualifying factors. The distinction between these two sorts of factors is barely necessary for incomes elite standing. In brief, here is a listing of the sorts of actions that earn elite qualifying factors:
- Lodge stays for which you pay a qualifying charge
- Spending with choose companions, together with Hertz automotive leases, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences
- Shopping for IHG One Rewards bonus factors packages
- Certified spending by the IHG Enterprise Rewards program
- Spending on IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.Okay. or Larger China
And here is a listing of actions that earn factors that you may redeem however aren’t elite qualifying:
In case you e-book costly stays at qualifying charges, closely make the most of the IHG Enterprise Rewards program or incessantly use an IHG One Rewards card issued within the U.Okay. or Larger China, you could discover it simple to qualify for IHG elite standing based mostly on qualifying factors. Nevertheless, most members discover qualifying nights a better metric to fulfill.
Associated: maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program
IHG elite standing advantages
IHG elite standing affords some invaluable perks to vacationers who incessantly keep at IHG lodges and resorts. This is a have a look at a few of the most helpful perks, together with how they differ by standing tier.
Bonus factors
IHG members earn 10 factors per greenback spent on qualifying stays at most IHG properties. Nevertheless, you may solely earn 5 factors per greenback spent at Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and residences (serviced flats and prolonged keep items) properties; 3 factors per greenback spent at IHG Military Motels; and a pair of,000 factors per keep at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort (for stays earlier than March 31, 2025, booked by Dec. 31, 2024).
IHG elite members get bonus factors on qualifying stays. Silver Elite members get a 20% bonus, Gold Elite members get a 40% bonus, Platinum Elite members get a 60% bonus and Diamond Elite members get a 100% bonus. However keep in mind, these bonus factors aren’t elite qualifying factors.
Rollover nights
This perk could also be useful for those who normally qualify for IHG standing based mostly on qualifying nights. On the finish of every calendar yr, IHG will calculate the rollover nights for Gold Elite and above members because the qualifying nights they earned above the quantity required for his or her standing. These nights will roll over and rely towards incomes elite standing within the new calendar yr.
Nevertheless, rollover nights are solely legitimate for one calendar yr. IHG calculates rollover nights as your complete qualifying nights on the finish of the calendar yr (together with rollover nights from the earlier yr) minus the nights required for the IHG elite standing you earned minus the rollover nights from the earlier yr.
Reward night time reductions
One of many perks launched with the new IHG One Rewards program was reward night time reductions.
These reward night time reductions are periodically obtainable for IHG One Rewards bank card holders, Platinum Elite members and Diamond Elite members, however members with IHG One Rewards bank cards normally get early entry.
Complimentary upgrades
Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members are eligible for complimentary upgrades topic to availability and on the resort’s discretion. Nevertheless, complimentary upgrades to club-level rooms or flooring do not embody club-level advantages or lounge entry. And since upgrades are at every property’s discretion, I’ve discovered some lodges and resorts are way more beneficiant than others.
Welcome amenity
Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members can take pleasure in a welcome amenity when checking in to IHG lodges or resorts. Silver Elite and Gold Elite members additionally take pleasure in a welcome amenity for stays in Larger China.
The choices fluctuate by model and area however typically embody a snack, a food-and-beverage credit score or factors. Prime-tier Diamond Elite members additionally get each day breakfast for the member and a visitor staying in the identical room as a welcome amenity alternative at full-service and select-service manufacturers. IHG defines breakfast as limitless nonalcoholic drinks and one predominant menu merchandise or full buffet, though some menu objects and specialty drinks could also be excluded.
Be aware that utilizing digital check-in might mechanically offer you factors as a welcome amenity. In case you’d reasonably have one thing else, it is best to verify in to your room in individual.
Early check-in and late checkout
Solely Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members can request early check-in, which is topic to availability and supplied as early or late because the resort chooses.
In the meantime, late checkout is on the market to all IHG members — together with nonelite members — upon request, topic to availability and till 2 p.m. on the newest. It is a nice perk for members with out standing, nevertheless it’s irritating to be denied late checkout as a top-tier Diamond Elite or solely given an extra hour or two over the usual checkout time. Plus, many IHG properties will not verify a late checkout request till the checkout day, which makes it tough to depend on this profit.
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Can a bank card assist earn IHG elite standing?
Bank cards may also help you earn IHG elite standing. When you’ve got an IHG One Rewards bank card issued within the U.Okay. or Larger China, you possibly can earn elite qualifying factors towards standing together with your spending. Nevertheless, IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.S. supply complimentary IHG elite standing and alternatives to spend to earn larger tiers of standing.
For instance, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card supply automated Platinum Elite standing as a cardmember profit. You may also earn Diamond Elite standing by the top of the subsequent calendar yr after spending $40,000 or extra in your IHG Premier or IHG Premier Enterprise card in a given calendar yr.
In the meantime, the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card affords automated Silver Elite standing as a cardmember profit. You may earn Gold Elite standing by the top of the next calendar yr after you make purchases totaling $20,000 or extra in your IHG Traveler card in a single calendar yr.
All three IHG bank cards issued within the U.S. supply a invaluable fourth-night-free reward perk. This perk drops the price of each fourth night time on stays of 4 nights or extra that you simply e-book with IHG factors to zero factors. This will not directly allow you to earn IHG elite standing since you possibly can stretch your factors throughout extra nights for those who incessantly keep in increments of 4 nights.
Likewise, if you’re a main United Membership℠ Infinite Card member, you possibly can enroll in complimentary Platinum Elite standing as a perk of your card.
Associated: Which bank card must you use for IHG stays?
Is IHG elite standing price it?
IHG elite standing is undoubtedly price it for some vacationers; the query is whether or not or not it is price it for you. The advantages on the Silver Elite and Gold Elite tiers normally will not be price striving for — though for those who earn these statuses organically, you may profit from bonus factors and will earn some IHG Milestone Rewards.
Platinum Elite standing affords some invaluable perks price striving for over Gold Elite or Silver Elite standing. So, for those who stick with IHG not less than a couple of occasions a yr, it could be price getting the IHG Premier Credit score Card, the IHG Premier Enterprise Credit score Card, the United Membership Infinite Card or an InterContinental Ambassador membership — all of which provide complimentary Platinum Elite standing in addition to different perks that may allow you to justify paying an annual price. I just like the IHG Premier Credit score Card since I get considerably extra worth than the cardboard’s $99 annual price every year utilizing the fourth-night reward perk and the anniversary free night time certificates.
Nevertheless, you may want top-tier Diamond Elite standing to decide on each day breakfast as a welcome amenity when staying at full-service and select-service manufacturers. This standing requires 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying factors every calendar yr, quite a bit in comparison with different resort loyalty applications. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing at 50 nights or World of Hyatt Globalist standing at 60 nights (or 100,000 base factors) are comparable statuses that each supply methods to earn elite qualifying nights by bank card spending.
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