IHG Rewards Club has lowered is elite requirements for 2020 in face of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The international hotel group announced on March 12 that due to the recent sharp decrease in travel it has reduced its elite status criteria by at least 25%.
In addition, IHG is waving cancellation fees for any new or existing bookings on stays between March 9 and April 30, 2020. This hotel group is one of the larges hospitality brands in the world and includes well-known brands like Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, and Crowne Plaza.
It is one of several hotel brands that has made short-term modifications to its policies to accommodate guests with concerns over the novel Coronavirus epidemic. You can learn about other hotels that have modified their cancellation policies here.
IHG Rewards Club
The IHG Rewards Club is a free loyalty program that earns members points when they book stays with any IHG brand. Guests earn 10 points for every dollar they spend on all but two brands. However, stays at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites earn members only five points for every dollar spent.
What’s more, members can also earn points on auto rentals through Hertz. As well, Rewards Club also awards points on select dining and shopping purchases through the loyalty program’s partners. Additionally, members can take advantage of select offers to earn even more points, like filling out consumer surveys.
You can redeem your points for free hotel stays and merchandise. Complimentary stays at IHG properties start at 10,000. That means you would have to spend about $1,000 at an IHG hotel to earn a free night. Many Holiday Inn properties’ rates hover at around $100 per night, on average. As such, you would have to stay for 10 nights to qualify for a free night.
However, IHG Rewards Club features a points and cash redemption option. This way, you can use any amount of points to pay for a portion of a booking. You don’t need to wait to earn 10,000 points.
Your points don’t expire with this loyalty program, and there is no earning cap. However, you do need to keep your account active. All that requires is either earning or redeeming points within a 12-month period.
New IHG Rewards Club Elite Requirements
Just for 2020, IHG Rewards Club has reduced the requirements needed to gain elite status. Gold Elite status normally requires you to book 10 nights and earn 10,000 points in a calendar year. However, you now only need to earn 7,000 points and book 7 nights.
What’s more, Platinum Elite status used to require 40,000 points and 40 nights. The 2020 requirements for Platinum Elite are now 30,000 points and 30 nights.
Finally, Spire Elite – the highest IHG Rewards status – now only requires you to earn 55,000 points in a year in addition to booking 55 nights in that same period. This is down from 75,000 points and 75 nights.
For more information on the new requirements, as well as access to a nifty chart that explains the new requirements, check out the IHG website.
IHG Rewards Club Credit Cards
IHG Rewards Club credit cardholders also benefit from the 2020 elite status requirements. However, cardholders can reach elite status much quicker. The Premier card, for instance, earns cardholders 25 points for every dollar they spend on IHG bookings. That means you only need to book about four nights to qualify for a free night at an IHG property.
Traveler cardholders earn slightly less at 15 points per dollar spent. However, it’s still 50% more than what you’d earn by just being a Rewards Club member. Take a look at the IHG Rewards Club credit cards below. Now is a great time to make your purchases earn you even more rewards. IHG Rewards members can also transfer points to select partners, including leading airlines.
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