In April fo this year, IHG announced some changes to its Rewards Club.
- Points will expire after 12 month of inactivity in your account. Before the used to be not to expire at all. If you are an elite member, your points don’t expire after 12 month of inactivity. First you have to lose your status and after that the 12 months clock starts ticking. This change is live since May 2015. So better check your activity if you are not an elite member.
- Elite Level Restructuring: The current elite levels will be easier to reach. Gold at 10 nights or 10.000 points and Platinum at 40 nights or 40.000 points. Details can be found here on the IHG website.
- New Elite Level – Spire Elite: There will be a newelite level called Spire Elite. To reach this level you have to accumulate 75 nights or 75.000 points. This change is live since yesterday. At least for me.
The point expiration is not to bad and I can live with it. Most other programs have the same rule. I am not really upset about this and I think it’s not a huge impact. As mentioned if you have elite status it takes even longer before your points expire.
The new elite level is live now and I already reached it. Probably because of the hunt for the points of the “Share forever” promotion, which is still ongoing.
What are the benefits you get out of spending 75 nights or earning more than 75.000 points? You will get an additional 25.000 points (worth ~$150) or giving Platinum Status to someone else. Platinum Status is not even the top tier anymore and you get it easily with the co-branded credit cards. Another benefit of the new level is a 100% bonus on base points you earn during your stays. That means you get twice as much points for your stays once reaching this level.
The Rewards Club program still needs some more benefits for the top tier. Like a guaranteed late checkout, free breakfast or better upgrades. IHG Rewards club is still a great program to be part of because of their global foot print with over 4900 hotels worldwide.
Why they choose the new level to be called “Spire Elite” is explained in their press release:
‘Spire’ is derived from the old English word ‘spir’ – a shoot or a stalk of grass standing out amongst the others. It is awe inspiring, exceptional and a symbol of prestige. It conveys a sense of dedication and an aspirational attitude: going above and beyond; the sky is the limit. The name connotes a strong sense of prestige, elevated stature, and worthiness of admiration, along with a sense of dedication and an aspirational attitude, which is in line with how IHG Rewards Club sees its most loyal members who would qualify for this tier.
Photos by IHG
Peter has a passion for Traveling, Photography, and Geocaching. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. “Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker.” Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com
Some of Peter’s photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more.