IHG One Rewards Benefit Clarification Effective June 10, 2022

IHG launched its IHG One Rewards this week by allowing eligible members to start selecting their Milestone Rewards (read more here) and rolling out new elite benefits (read more here).

IHG One Rewards amended the T&Cs of some of the elite benefits yesterday, and not all the changes are expected.

You can access IHG’s page for IHG One Rewards here.

READ MORE: IHG One Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers

Previous IHG One Rewards Coverage:

• IHG One Rewards New Elite Tiers & Benefits Now Live
• IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards Now Live
• When IHG One Rewards Benefits Are Rolled Out?
• Reader Question: IHG One Rewards Annual Lounge Membership Excludes Intercontinental & Regent Lounges?
• IHG One Rewards Incidentals On Award Stays Not Eligible For Elite Bonus?
• IHG One Rewards Prestay “Enjoy Your Upgrade” Email
• IHG Launches IHG One Rewards With Breakfast, Suite Upgrades & Lounge Access

IHG One Rewards T&Cs changes:

Diamond Member Breakfast:

Previously:

Diamond Elite Members’ Welcome Amenity choice also includes Free Breakfast at full-service brands (Six Senses, REGENT, InterContinental, Hualuxe, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Even, Holiday Inn, and select Kimpton properties)

Now:

Diamond Elite Members’ Welcome Amenity choice also includes Free Breakfast at full-service and select-service brands (REGENT, InterContinental, Hualuxe, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, Even, Holiday Inn, and Kimpton)

IHG now excludes Six Senses from Diamond member complimentary breakfast but removes the word “select” from Kimpton hotel participation.

Annual Lounge Membership:

Previously:

• Lounge Membership provides access to the hotel’s Club Lounge and offered amenities within the physical space (e.g., library, meeting room, and business station) for the registered Member plus one additional guest (the additional guest does not need to be staying at the hotel) for the duration of their stay or until time of Check-Out.
• Annual Lounge Membership is available at IHG properties with a Club Lounge unless restricted due to renovations, closures, or other facility limitations
• Annual Lounge Membership does not include Club REGENT or Club InterContinental amenities or services beyond the physical lounge, e.g., free pressing, farewell amenity, airport transportation, etc.
• Annual Lounge Membership available on Qualified Stays only

Now:

• Lounge Membership provides access to the hotel’s Club Lounge and offered amenities within the physical space (e.g., library, meeting room, and business station) for the registered Member plus one additional guest (the additional guest does not need to be staying at the hotel) for the duration of their stay or until time of Check-Out.
• Annual Lounge Membership is available at IHG properties with a Club Lounge unless restricted due to renovations, closures, or other facility limitations
• Annual Lounge Membership does not include Club REGENT or Club InterContinental amenities or services beyond the physical lounge, e.g., free pressing, farewell amenity, airport transportation, etc.
• Annual Lounge Membership available on Qualified Stays only, including Reward Night/Free Night and stays booked through an OTA
• Annual Lounge benefit is not available at Mr & Mrs Smith properties or at InterContinental Alliance Resorts (Las Vegas and Macau)

IHG now clarifies that the Annual Lounge Membership is also valid on stays booked through OTAs (Online Travel Agents whose most rates are NOT eligible for points, nights credits, or elite benefits), as well as reward nights.

It is not surprising that InterContinental Alliance Resorts are excluded as Mr & Mrs Smith hotels (latter only loosely affiliated with IHG).

Confirmable Suite Upgrade:

Previously:

• Confirmable Suite Upgrades will be applicable for one room upgrade to an entry-level suite or premium room where a suite is not available.
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade is valid for 12 months from milestone selection
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade may only be selected once at 40 and 70- night milestone choice
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can only be applied to stays that are on an eligible rate, e.g., Best Flexible, Member Discount, Government, and select Corporate and package rates
• Not valid on bookings that require advance payment
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade must be redeemed by contacting IHG Customer Care
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can be made starting 14 days before arrival up to 24hrs before Check-In
• Valid for stays up to a maximum of 5 nights
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can only be applied to the Member’s room and is non-transferable
• Suite Upgrade is not exchangeable for cash or other type of credit
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade cannot be applied if staying as part of a group, package tour or convention where charges are being paid by a third party
• Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite 72-hour guarantee availability is not applicable
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade will be reinstated to Member’s Rewards Wallet if cancelled in advance of hotel’s cancellation policy timeframe, and original validity dates will apply
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade availability exceptions may apply during special events that result in extraordinary demand, as determined by the hotel
• If a Member uses a Confirmable Suite Upgrade and ‘no-shows’ for their reservation, the Confirmable Suite Upgrade will be forfeited
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade cannot be applied in addition to guaranteed upgrades for Royal Ambassador, Ambassador, and Inner Circle Members
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade is available at all IHG brands, except avid hotels, Atwell Suites, IHG Army Hotels, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, InterContinental Alliance Resorts (Las Vegas and Macau) and Six Senses Hotels Resort Spas
• Suite inventory is limited at some properties; where suite inventory is limited, premium rooms will be offered if available.

Now:

Confirmable Suite Upgrades will be applicable for one room upgrade to an entry-level suite or premium room where a suite is not available.

• Confirmable Suite Upgrade is valid for 12 months from milestone selection
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade may only be selected once at 40 and 70- night milestone choice
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can only be applied to stays that are on an eligible rate, e.g., Best Flexible, Member Discount, Government, and select Corporate and package rates
• Confirmable Suite Upgrades cannot be used with the following rate types:
  • Group rates, package tour or convention where charges are being paid by a third party
  • Reward Night/Free Night (eligible at a future date) 
  • Non-Qualified rate like Wholesale, OTA, and Employee rate  
  • Prepaid rates if deposit is already applied 
  • Some hotel defined packages
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade must be redeemed by contacting IHG Customer Care
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can be made starting 14 days before arrival up to 24hrs before Check-In
• Valid for stays up to a maximum of 5 nights
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade can only be applied to the Member’s room and is non-transferable
• Suite Upgrade is not exchangeable for cash or other type of credit
• Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite 72-hour guarantee availability is not applicable
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade will be reinstated to Member’s Rewards Wallet if cancelled in advance of hotel’s cancellation policy timeframe, and original validity dates will apply
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade availability exceptions may apply during special events that result in extraordinary demand, as determined by the hotel
• If a Member uses a Confirmable Suite Upgrade and ‘no-shows’ for their reservation, the Confirmable Suite Upgrade will be forfeited
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade cannot be stacked with guaranteed upgrades for Royal Ambassador, Ambassador, and Inner Circle Members, any additional upgrades are at the discretion of the hotel
• Confirmable Suite Upgrade is available at all IHG brands, except avid hotels, Atwell Suites, IHG Army Hotels, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, IHG Residences, including but not limited to InterContinental Residences, voco Residences, Crowne Plaza Residences, and Six Senses Hotels Resort Spas. The benefit also is not available at Mr & Mrs Smith properties or at InterContinental Alliance Resorts (Las Vegas and Macau)
• Suite inventory is not available at all properties or is limited at others; where suite inventory is limited, premium rooms will be offered if available.

IHG clarifies what rate types are eligible for confirmable suite upgrades. Award nights eventually are, but they are not yet. Also, OTA booked and employee nights are not, but prepaid rates are if the deposit/payment has not yet been charged.

Conclusion

IHG has quite swiftly amended the terms of some of these new benefits.

I am surprised that the lounge access IS available on stays booked through OTAs because those rate types are mostly not eligible for any loyalty recognition.

I am glad that IHG is now clarifying that reward nights are eligible for confirmable suite upgrade purposes, but not at this date,