IHG have announced a series of changes to their IHG Rewards Club program. These changes include the addition of a new top level tier, a revision of the requirements to reach the existing levels, and the introduction of a points expiration policy.
The changes for the elite tiers are schedule to take place in July, while the changed expiration policy will first begin to affect point balances from May next year.
New Elite Level
IHG Rewards is introducing a new top level tier – which as yet is unnamed. The new level will be available to members staying 75 nights, or earning 75,000 base points in a calendar year.
The benefits of achieving the new top tier include
- 100% bonus points on stays
- A 25,000 point annual bonus, or the ability to gift platinum status to a friend. You get to make a choice each year you maintain the level, but once the choice is made for the year, there are no changes allowed.
The new level does not have an announced name, with IHG saying that it will be announced in July when it is introduced. At the same time, further benefits of the level will be made public.
Qualification Changes
Along with the introduction of the new level, the requirements to achieve the Gold and Platinum levels of the program are being reduced. The following table shows the new requirements, together with existing requirements.
| Level | New Requirements | Existing Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nights | Base Points | Nights | Base Points | |
| Gold | 10 | 10,000 | 15 | 20,000 |
| Platinum | 40 | 40,000 | 50 | 60,000 |
| New Level | 75 | 75,000 | – | – |
There are some fast track offers available that reduces some of the stay requirements at present, however, with the new reduced requirements, the fast track offers are being removed.
Expiration Policy
At present, IHG Rewards points are not subject to an expiration policy, however, IHG have advised that they will be introducing a policy to expire points. This policy will expire points in accounts that have not earned or redeemed points in the preceding twelve months.
This change is effective immediately, with the clock starting now for counting twelve months. As a consequence, the first time any points will expire will be in May next year.
There are some exceptions to the expiration policy. Elite members will not be subject to the expiration policy, although if they do not stay at IHG properties, they may find themselves heading to club level, at which time their points will expire..
Having said that, Ambassador and IHG Dining members are at least at Gold or Platinum level. As a result, being a member of either, or both, of these programs will prevent your points from expiring. There is, however, an annual cost associated with doing this.