Here is One Rewards, the new IHG loyalty program

IHG, InterContinental Hotels Group, is a hotel chain based in England. It is the world's largest hotel company by number of rooms (889,582 in November 2020) spread across 5,977 properties in more than 100 countries (more than 2,000 fewer than Marriott, which holds the title for the most hotels).

In total, there are 16 signs in the group, divided into four hotel levels. Intercontinental, Regent e Kimpton are the best known brands, but Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn are also popular in Europe.

Goodbye Priority Club & IHG Rewards Club and. welcome IHG One Rewards: a completely new loyalty program that now seriously competes with major rivals such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Radisson Rewards. The benefits provided for new statuses are comparable to the competition: at last, loyal customers can expect to receive free breakfast, suite upgrades, lounge access, and more.

The statuses of IHG One Rewards

• IHG One Rewards Club Is the basic level, with no qualification requirements
• IHG One Rewards Silver Elite Requires 10 elite nights per year and offers a bonus of 20% in points
• IHG One Rewards Gold Elite Requires 20 elite nights or 40,000 qualifying points per year and offers a 40% bonus in points
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Requires 40 elite nights or 60,000 qualifying points per year and offers a bonus of 60% in points
• IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Requires 70 elite nights or 120,000 qualifying points per year and offers a bonus of 100%

The benefits of the various levels

The new program is already active, all current fidelity members will see the new status on the new app starting April 17. The main benefits will be for Diamond members who from now on will be entitled to breakfast for two. They will also have the option to choose their preferred Milestone Rewards, such as annual lounge access and guaranteed suite upgrades.

Most of the new benefits come in the form of Milestone Rewards, breakfast is undoubtedly a huge new perk. Here are the other notable benefits:

• Early check-in and check-out postponed are not guaranteed for any elite level, but are subject to availability
• IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will have access to discounts on award nights several times a year
• IHG Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members will receive free upgrades up to standard suites
• IHG Diamond Elite members will have access to a dedicated phone number, which should provide better customer service

Milestone Rewards

The IHG loyalty program then provides a number of benefits linked to the number of nights you stay within the calendar year. The more qualifying nights you spend in the group's facilities the better the rewards will be. Every tenth night, starting with the 20th, you can then choose an award

The first interesting shot is that of the 40 nights, having reached the threshold you can choose two gifts. There are many possibilities: 10 thousand bonus points, 5 vouchers to use in hotel restaurants, a guaranteed upgrade to a suite, or annual access to lounges in the hotels. My advice is obviously to go for lounges and upgrades.

Suite upgrades, how they work

• Can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for a stay of up to five nights only on paid stays
• They must be requested by calling IHG One Rewards customer service starting 14 days before check-in and the day before arrival
• There is no waiting list mechanism, if there is a standard suite available you can apply.
• Upgrade can be up to a standard suite, if not available you can request another premium room also not suite

Lounge access

It is effectively a lounge pass, where you can access it for the entire year in which it is earned, plus the next 12 months: if you get it in August 2022, for example, it will be valid until December 2023. It is valid for an unlimited number of stays, regardless of the type of room booked and the method of payment. It also applies at all facilities that offer a lounge, including Intercontinentals.

How do food and beverage vouchers work?

Vouchers can be accumulated over time and you will be able to view them in your IHG account. This way you can choose to redeem them individually or use more for a single purchase. They are valid for 12 months from issuance.

In conclusion

In my personal rankings, the IHG program was the worst, worse even than Radisson Rewards and Accor All, since it did not in fact provide benefits to loyal customers. At last now the long-awaited revolution makes this card attractive and full of benefits, also and especially because of the presence in Italy of so many low-cost establishments of the Holiday Inn group, which could allow to accumulate many qualifying nights without having to stay in luxury hotels.

When I evaluate a loyalty program, free breakfast for me is an essential benefit and has always been the reason why Hilton's Gold level is, in my opinion, the best of all the loyalty programs of global hotel chains. For a person who travels a lot for business maximizing the many nights in mid-range hotels will now also allow for upgrades to suites in truly unique hotels such as Intercontinentals and save thousands per night for up to 20 nights per year.