IHG has joined the other hospitality sector actors that have decided to extend the members tier by additional 12 months, and in the IHG Rewards case, this means until February 2023.
IHG will essentially extend member tiers earned in 2019 and 2020 (some did qualify last year, too) until 2023. It remains to be seen what policies IHG Rewards has in place for qualifying in 2022.
You can access IHG’s page for Travel Advisories here.
READ MORE: IHG Reward Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Here’s the main update:
All members’ program status has been automatically extended through February 2023.
Status Qualification In 2022?
It is unclear what IHG will do with status qualification requirements in 2022. The current reduced policy only applies to 2021.
Spire Elite Choice Benefit:
Members who earned Spire Elite status in 2019 and had their status extended through January 2022 will receive the Choice benefit of 25,000 bonus points or gifting of Platinum Elite status by the end of March 2021.
Members who earned Spire Elite in 2020 received their Choice benefit at the time of achieving the status. To receive another Choice benefit in 2021, members will need to meet the 2021 tier threshold criteria.
IHG has not clarified the Choice Benefit requirement for those who have Spire Elite status in 2022.
Rollover Nights:
For Gold, Platinum, and Spire Elite members, all qualifying nights stayed in 2020 will be rolled over into 2022 and count towards status earned in 2022.
I am still lost here. 2020 nights are rolled over to 2022. What happens to consumed nights in 2021? Are they completely lost?
Conclusion
I am glad that IHG has decided to extend tiers of its IHG Rewards elite members for an additional year, like most of their competitors have already done.
It remains to be seen whether IHG will lower the status qualification requirements for 2022 like others have already done.
I find it very unlikely that there would be another blanket extension unless something awful happens with the Covid-19 in the coming months,
![Airfare of the Day [Business Class] ETIHAD London to Johannesburg from £1,284](https://cdn.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/johannesburg-gf0fe3c37f_1280-120x86.jpg)
I gained Platinum status this year during the status match stay 6 nights promotion… so that status will be extended until Feb 2023?
IHG extends members tiers but Marriott extends members tears!!
What about point expiration which was previously extended to Dec 31, 2021? Any word on whether that date will be extended again?
Unclear. If you are ab elite member, the points shouldn’t expire anyway.
What about those who have earned the status in 21 the old fashion way… By actually WORKING and EARNING the appropriate number of stays???
Agree. That’s what I’m interested in!
Seems little/no reward for those who achieved the status this year
@@gasman1125:disqus I am afraid IHG doesn’t give a damn.
Why on earth would you waste time qualifying for such a week programme. Hyatt and Marriott hotels offer their top tier members lounge access and free breakfast unlike IHG that ofer Spire members cookies as welcome amenity
You guys are getting cookies?
There Is a lot of truth to what you are saying. After IHG devalued their reward points recently, I started using a cash-back card which offers 3% back on IHG hotel spending, any restaurant I patronize, and also IHG “dine-reward” (participating restaurant) spending instead of IHG’s 1/2 cent per point value re hotel booking, dine rewards restaurants, etc. And as a 6 or 7-year Spire member (Ambassador this year, and 17-year Rewards Club member), I am also disappointed that IHG has cheapened the Spire level in several ways.
Cash back is much easier to track vs the new “dynamic” pricing (changing required Hotel reward points based on demand). Changing reward points required throughout the year does not reward IHG brand loyalty (Spire especially); so like IHG, I am also “adjusting” my loyalty too. I think a good cash-back card may compete well with Chase’s IHG “point value” cards as I move back to Platinum after years as a Spire.
I qualified Spire for 2022 in early September, 2021, and will not spend a dime on my Chase IHG card until at least January, 2022. Even my favorite Spire checkin upgrade perk to a much nicer room, suite and/or view has been inconsistent and somewhat watered down. So I plan to give up Spire and compare that level to using a 3% cash back reward card which also offers 4% on gas. Another card I use offers 6% back on groceries instead of 1/2 cent to 9/10 cent per IHG point value re dollars spent. So I feel Spire has been cheapened enough to compare favorably with Platinum level membership. We shall see.
Im lifetime Titanium Elite with Marriott and their program is weak in the bonus points category…nor do they have lounges in the service Hotels. For luxury destinations and “high end business” dealings I agree that Hyatt is the better option and my first choice!
and yet those that earn status get nothing extra? i earned spire both years during covid the hard way… but i don’t even get a thank you!!! same with Marriott
So,”by the hard way”,you mean actually staying in a hotel?
Has IHG announced whether they will extend the dates for free night certificates expiring in 2021, as Marriott has ?
They haven’t.
Does this include IHG Royal Ambassadors? I would like to know what the current policy is with the RA free night as it has been very hard to book at my preferred IC. Actually several times I have tried to book even 5 weeks out and was not available.
Very curious to know that as well.
I guess Ihg will also extend RA status , otherwise it will be very unfair and unreliable!!!
It will be interesting. I have been told that the requirements would be lower but who can be sure.
Frustrating as always!!!!
I have been in touch with IHG to find out if RA is extended too.
I hope to find out soon if the RA tier is extended as well.
Hey guys!
IHG has just extended my RA status through December 2022.
This information was received by email this morning.
I guess all RA members will receive this emai
in the next 24/48 hrs.
Good Luck!