Article: Matt's IHG Hotel Status Strategy

[AFF Editor]

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy

AFF editor Matt Graham shares his strategy for earning Diamond Elite status in the IHG One Rewards hotel loyalty program each year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Traveler999]

Since us antipodeans cannot get Marriot/Hilton high status with Credit cards then IHG (and Accor) work best for me since you can buy your way to status with points purchase on stays, or signature membership for Accor.

Last year I stayed 30 plus 10 night’s credit from IHG deals nights in Japan and earned Diamond plus a lounge pass. This year I have 30 days in Europe mostly across InterContinental’s to hopefully use my suite upgrades and enjoy lounge access and will earn Diamond again.

The costs for 5,000 points ranged from $USD 15, 20,23,28,30 the only ones I did not buy were Berlin and Vienna at $48/5000. I am very happy with IHG but do not have high hopes to get outsized value from the points.

Also worth noting is the Visa 20% discount which I used several times in Europe getting pretty much the same rate as the non-cancellable rate but with the ability to cancel/change up to 3 days before stay. That alone probably saved me $USD 1000

Even Accor helped me along, I used my suite night at Prague Mgallery for a 82m2 suite for about $850 which is usually $2100 for the 2 days. Otherwise since Accor platinum does not have free breakfast in Europe they missed out on my business unless they were a better option to IHG

 

[drron]

I have found it to be the best program for us. There are some problems though. The first is the suite night upgrades. You can only apply them 14 days before your stay and must ring to apply them. Can't be done online. However Australian ICs are hard to get the suite upgrade in my experience. Have ended up using a couple at Holiday Inns which isn't great value. The other problem is they are only for stays up to 5 nights whereas our preference is longer stays.
The real benefit for me is the lounge entrance award after 40 nights. It is an annual pass but easy to get it to go for 2 years. I found this out by serendipity. In 2023 my 40th night was on 30/12 and didn't post until 1/1.24. I claimed that award on 3/1/24.as I had a stay at the IC Bangkok coming up. It turns out you get the pass for what is left of the year you claim it plus the next year so my award lasted for all but 3 days of 2024 plus all of 2025.
However you don't have to leave it until the last minute. When the 40 nights have passed you have to choose between lounge access, suite upgrade or 5 F&B award worth $US20 each or 10000 points. This year I chose the F&B awards. However they give you 3 months to make your choice so next year my 40th night is planned for October. I even booked a couple of marriott and Hilton properties so I didn't reach the 40 nights earli
Why did I take the F&B awards. Well they are redeemed basically at the XE rate whereas the Ambassador F&B allowance of $US 25 is not. So on my last stay I got more for a milestone F&B certificate than the IC ambassador credt it gave me 600 baht allowance but the milestone award was 685 baht.
So I know I will get $US100 for my 5 certs. But the 10000 points are worth $100 if you get a US cent value for redemptions. Personally I find that rare and will get a reward if valued at 1 aussie cent per point..

But agree IHG lounges are generally much bett than other chain lounges.

 

[oz_mark]

The real benefit for me is the lounge entrance award after 40 nights. It is an annual pass but easy to get it to go for 2 years. I found this out by serendipity. In 2023 my 40th night was on 30/12 and didn't post until 1/1.24. I claimed that award on 3/1/24.as I had a stay at the IC Bangkok coming up. It turns out you get the pass for what is left of the year you claim it plus the next year so my award lasted for all but 3 days of 2024 plus all of 2025.

It's worth noting that IHG have changed the way this works. In essence they've changes the timer from the time you select it, to the time you achieved it.

• Beginning in 2025, the Annual Lounge Membership is valid for the remaining days in the year, if any, following the date the Milestone is achieved, plus one Calendar Year, regardless of when Milestone selection occurs, e.g. an Annual Lounge Membership Milestone choice achieved in June 2025 and selected in August 2025 will be valid until 31 December 2026.

 

[RB]

Cashrewards have a 10% cash back offer that goes until midnight 19th- not sure of booking fineprint

 

[VPS]

And today they notified me I've dropped to Gold

 

[Myrna]

And today they notified me I've dropped to Gold

Hubby has dropped to silver so time to buy him an ambassador membership!

 

[drron]

It's worth noting that IHG have changed the way this works. In essence they've changes the timer from the time you select it, to the time you achieved it.

So in 2026 I have to plan on my 40th night once again being 30/12. They don't post for 2-3 so the award is only available to me for the next year. I don't achieve it until I can select it. Probably there will be an argument but as my stays are more often at higher priced hotels I feel the chance is worth it.

 

[exceladdict]

Nice article @Matt Graham!

 

[trader10]

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy

AFF editor Matt Graham shares his strategy for earning Diamond Elite status in the IHG One Rewards hotel loyalty program each year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Matt you obviously spend a bucket of time in the air and hotels( as we know). I saw a photo of the Paris breakfast. I would rather eat out at a local Cafe and experience the local culture rather than eating an American all you can eat .

 

[Steven Molnar]

Thank Matt, good article. May I suggest adding a couple of sentences on IHG Ambassador program, - esp why someone would/wouldn't use it as part of a strategy?

 

[Beano]

And today they notified me I've dropped to Gold

Me too. Thinking of going for IC Ambassador, even if I can't use the free night. I'll be using points.

 

[zainman]

Thanks for sharing Matt

If I buy IHG Ambassador and get Platinum, do I only have to do the remainder points/nights to get to diamond?

Maybe I missed it but I didn't see the required nights/points for each level, but I can easily google that

 

[exceladdict]

Thanks for sharing Matt

If I buy IHG Ambassador and get Platinum, do I only have to do the remainder points/nights to get to diamond?

Maybe I missed it but I didn't see the required nights/points for each level, but I can easily google that

No, you still start a year on 0.

 

[AFF Editor]

Matt you obviously spend a bucket of time in the air and hotels( as we know). I saw a photo of the Paris breakfast. I would rather eat out at a local Cafe and experience the local culture rather than eating an American all you can eat .

That's a fair comment! I do often prefer to go out as well, but sometimes I'm in a hurry (e.g. because I have an early flight/train to catch) or just don't have time.

I'm also not personally the biggest fan of American-style breakfasts but some hotels (particularly in Asia/Middle East) do have excellent international buffet breakfasts. I enjoyed a very good one this morning in Doha.

I guess the point I'm making is that I do like to at least have the option to have breakfast at my hotel for free.

 

[AFF Editor]

Thank Matt, good article. May I suggest adding a couple of sentences on IHG Ambassador program, - esp why someone would/wouldn't use it as part of a strategy?

Thanks for the suggestion. I added a sentence to the article about IHG Ambassador.

Getting IHG Ambassador is a perfectly good strategy if you don't stay 40 nights per year, but want to get the Platinum benefits. This is useful, and you get the free InterContinental night each year which can offset the cost if used wisely (noting however the limitations when redeeming this, and that it has to be part of a 2+ night stay).

However, Ambassador alone won't get you lounge access, nor a fast-track towards Diamond status - both of which I value. Because I already have those things, the extra benefits I would personally get from Ambassador membership are too marginal for it to be worthwhile for me.

That said, I have recommended to friends that they purchase Ambassador if they are starting out with no status and expect to stay maybe 15-30 nights at IHG hotels over the following year. It can make sense in that instance.

 

[jane blogs]

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

My Personal IHG Hotel Status Strategy

AFF editor Matt Graham shares his strategy for earning Diamond Elite status in the IHG One Rewards hotel loyalty program each year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

I have just been relegated to gold from diamond and it was a bit of a shock to be treated like a queen one day and a nobody the next. I will be going from QF P1 to P this year as well so it will be a tough one to get used to although I have to confess I am looking forward to not living on hotels and planes!!! I have never been able to use any IHG certificates or benefits within Australia but have had more success in Asia. I have also found that HI's have also treated me so much better than most Intercons which is probably because they don't get so many of the higher level IHG customers into their properties but their footprint is much wider. I should also say that one of the most valuable uses for my points (and I still have way too many) has been getting rooms at the last minute at Intercons or Regents particularly in high value destinations such as right on Christmas in NYC when I had an emergency trip. Ive already had quite a few IHG nights this year so am still deciding whether to go the Ambassador route or see how the actual stays stack up and then decide. Thanks for your article MG, good food for thought.

 

[rebeccarouzbehi]

I reached Diamond through reaching 120,000 status qualifying points. But the best benefits really come through milestone rewards. However there are many incentives offered for double status qualifying nights, so you probably don’t have to stay the actual 40 nights. Just keep an eye on the booking incentives IHG are offering. They often have double/triple points type offers. (Although only base points count to status) And they also have Bonus Elite night credits whereby after registering for the incentive you earn 2 nights credit per night stayed up to 5 or 10 nights usually. My only negative surprise is that it appears I can’t use my upgrade certificates on points bookings. Does anyone have any experience with this? In your IHG article @Matt Graham you have said you can. I would love to be wrong on this. I bought a lot of points (non status qualifying points) when they went on sale. They will save a little on the room rates overall but then not being able to apply the suite upgrades makes them far less attractive a way to book imo. Being in Australia there are no credit card incentives I can apply to get free nights on reward stays…so all in all seems I would have been better off not buying points and instead just booking lead in rooms for cash so I can use my upgrade certificates.

 

[moa999]

Believe double elite nights promos are targeted (though this year most people seemingly got them, but that depends year on year).

From memory they were available for July and for Oct-Dec.

 

[Mattg]

I reached Diamond through reaching 120,000 status qualifying points. But the best benefits really come through milestone rewards. However there are many incentives offered for double status qualifying nights, so you probably don’t have to stay the actual 40 nights. Just keep an eye on the booking incentives IHG are offering. They often have double/triple points type offers. (Although only base points count to status) And they also have Bonus Elite night credits whereby after registering for the incentive you earn 2 nights credit per night stayed up to 5 or 10 nights usually. My only negative surprise is that it appears I can’t use my upgrade certificates on points bookings. Does anyone have any experience with this? In your IHG article @Matt Graham you have said you can. I would love to be wrong on this. I bought a lot of points (non status qualifying points) when they went on sale. They will save a little on the room rates overall but then not being able to apply the suite upgrades makes them far less attractive a way to book imo. Being in Australia there are no credit card incentives I can apply to get free nights on reward stays…so all in all seems I would have been better off not buying points and instead just booking lead in rooms for cash so I can use my upgrade certificates.

You should be able to use the suite night upgrades on flexible/refundable points bookings, subject to all the other conditions. I think that was previously not the case, but changed a while ago so that this is possible.

You can test this for yourself. Since points bookings are generally flexible, you could always make a booking and try to upgrade it. If it doesn't work, just cancel the reservation for a full refund of the points.