IHG Rewards Club Variable Award Pricing

We reported on Saturday (read more here) with examples that IHG Rewards Club had introduced variable award pricing for stays at select hotels in Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan).

IHG also communicated last year that they were going to introduce dynamically priced hotel awards, but this was delayed until 2020 beyond a couple of hotels in Macao.

You can access the IHG Rewards Club here.

READ MORE: IHG Rewards Club Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions

Here’s the response that we received from the IHG spokesperson:

On 23 April, IHG® Rewards Club began introducing Reward Night redemption flexibility to a select number of hotels in Greater China. This program will roll out more widely through the course of the year as appropriate.

With this program update, the amount of points required for members to redeem a Reward Night will now flex up and down, just like cash rates for room bookings.

This new way for members to make the most of their points complements the existing IHGRewards Club benefits our members enjoy at more than 5,900 IHG Hotels & Resorts around the world, including exclusive member rates, no blackout dates for Reward Nights, and free Wi-Fi—making every stay as rewarding as possible.

Announced last year, we are taking a measured approach to introducing Reward Night price flexibility so that when our members are ready to travel again, they’ll be able to enjoy the benefits.

Conclusion

It is interesting to see what will come out of this variable award pricing (dynamic?). I am just afraid that it might start well and with good intention, but end up being the most significant devaluation of IHG Rewards Club points ever.

Remember when just a few years ago, the maximum number of points required for the IHG award was capped at 35,000? Now they can go all the way up to 100,000.

Have you noticed any variable award pricing within and outside of Greater China?