Author: Mark

IHG Rewards has launched a new global promotion offering members up to triple points when staying at IHG hotels. Registration has now opened, and the promotion is valid for stays between 15 May and 16 August 2021. Key Details Offer: Earn Up to Triple IHG Rewards Points. Double points on your second stay and Triple points on your third and subsequent stays. Travel Period: You must stay between 15 May and 16 August 2021 Registration: You must register for the promotion by 16 August. You will need to register before your first stay. In most cases, any night eligible to…

Back in 2019, IHG announced that it was acquiring Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. IHG Rewards has now announced that nine Six Senses properties will be joining the program. As a result, IHG Rewards members can now earn and redeem points at the nine properties. The properties that have joined are: Six Senses Fiji Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand Six Senses Laamu, Maldives Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia Six Senses Botanique, Brazil Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey Six Senses Ibiza (opening July 2021; bookable with IHG Rewards soon) The addition…

American Express have just launched a new credit card in Australia, and they have taken a different tack with the new card. Instead of offering points as a reward, the new card is a cashback card. In the past some American Express cards have allowed you to convert points as a part payment on your account. However, this is the first that gives a direct cashback. And it’s an uncapped cashback. You can get 1% back on all eligible spend. American Express Cashback Card The standard offer on the card is for an uncapped 1% on most of your purchases.…

Woohoo! More than a year after shutting their international lounges down, Qantas has announced the first steps in reopening them. To coincide with the launch of the Trans-Tasman bubble, Qantas will be opening its First Lounges in Melbourne and Sydney, together with International Lounge in Brisbane. As there is just one lounge opening, Qantas will be swinging the doors open to all eligible members. So Business customers,  Gold Frequent Flyers, and Qantas Club members will be welcome to visit the First Lounge. That is until the Business lounges reopen. Product Offering First Lounge customers will be offered an a la…

Virgin Australia has launched a new offer of triple Velocity Points on new bookings. If you take advantage of the offer you will earn 15 Velocity Points per dollar rather than the usual 5 Points. It’s a fairly straightforward promotion. All you need to do is register and book a flight by 25 April 2021. You can choose to travel at any time between 1 June 2021 – 8 March 2022. Triple Velocity Point Offer Details Booking Dates: 12 April – 25 April 2021 Travel Dates: 1 June 2021 to 8 March 2022. Registration: Activation of the offer is required…

When Accor Live Limitless (ALL) first launched Ibis Budget hotels chose not to participate in the program. This wasn’t just something in Australia, it was a worldwide exclusion. While they have had promotions with Accor Plus, they have never really participated in ALL. You have not been able to earn points or use your membership benefits. Now, ALL are welcoming 13 Ibis Budget hotels to the program. As is often the case, there is a quadruple points offer for new hotels to ALL. Not only does this include the 13 Ibis Budget hotels, but there is also a range of…

The Parmelia Hilton in Perth reopened in February following a 10-month refurbishment. Entering the hotel, you first notice that the Lobby has been completely reworked. However, it’s not just the lobby. Pretty much everything in the hotel has been updated to a greater or lesser extent. The guest rooms have had a makeover, and there are now 32 more rooms than before. One thing that had been lacking in the Parmelia Hilton was an executive lounge. While the hotel did provide Diamond members evening canapes in the bar, it was not really the same as a lounge.  Hilton Honors Diamond…

Sorrento’s Continental Hotel will become the InterContinental Sorrento following an agreement between IHG and the building owners. Opening in November, it will give IHG Rewards and Ambassador members a new option in the Mornington Peninsula. Intercontinental Sorrento The 145 year-old Hotel Intercontinental will undergo a restoration during 2021. Once completed, the Intercontinental Sorrento will swing its doors open. The restored hotel will feature 106 guestrooms, many of which will have water views. On the dining front, IHG says they will soon be announcing a high-profile chef partnership for the signature restaurant. The hotel will also be home to five other…

Velocity has sent out news that they are offering eligible Velocity Gold or Platinum members an 18-month extension. Even though the announcement came on April 1, it was no April Fools Joke. Initally, Velocity had promised a 12-month extension for members making an eligible booking. However, in a momenet of generosity, members meeting the requirements will now get an 18 month extension. Details of the Extension Members that met the status extension requirements will be eligible for the extension. Basically, all you had to do was make an eligible booking by 28 March 2021 for travel from 7 December 2020.…

American Express has just launched a new round of their Shop Small promotion. While Shop Small has run for a number of years, this time around it comes with a few twists on previous offers. Firstly, it will be running for a full year, between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022. Secondly, it is offering bonus points, instead of a cashback. Rather generously, you will be able to earn 3 extra points per dollar when you spend at small businesses. Over the year, you will be able to earn a maximum of 40,000 points. Enrolling in Shop Small In…