IHG launched a new status challenge in mid-May.
This status challenge, which must be completed by July 31, 2022, is rather valuable, especially now that the new IHG One Rewards programme bonuses are available.
You might not want to register right now, unlike many hotel promos.
Rather, register as soon as possible before your next visit or by July 31 (whichever comes first), as your 120-day challenge period begins when you register.
The challenge gives you Platinum Elite status for the duration of the challenge, and you can keep it until the end of 2023 if you stay five qualifying nights over the 120-day period.
You can earn Diamond Elite status through the end of 2023 if you remain 15 qualifying nights throughout the challenge period.
I previously discussed my IHG One Rewards elite status ambitions, but this status challenge has caused me to reevaluate my intentions.
So here's why I signed up for IHG's status challenge and what my plans are for IHG One Rewards status and milestone rewards this year.
This year, IHG has made some changes to its loyalty programme.
Without detailing how IHG's loyalty programme has altered in the first five months of 2022, it's impossible to discuss why this status challenge prompted me to reassess my approach to the IHG One Rewards programme this year.
In short, loyalists of IHG have had a terrible time planning for elite rank this year.
IHG, on the other hand, revealed adjustments to its elite status tiers, including qualifications and bonus rewards, two weeks later.
I wasn't the only one who was annoyed when IHG shifted the goal posts for elite rank in mid-January.
It didn't help that, while stating that additional elite advantages would be introduced later this year, IHG couldn't provide any clear information about the new benefits.
So, until IHG unveiled its new IHG One Rewards programme in April, I shifted my focus — and my stays — to World of Hyatt (where I'm aiming to requalify for Globalist level) and Marriott Bonvoy (where I'm attempting to requalify for at least Platinum Elite status).
Free breakfast for Diamond Elite members as a welcome amenity at certain hotels is one of the new IHG One Rewards program's highlights, as are more options for elite members to gain early check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades.
Milestone awards, including as bonus points, food and beverage rewards, confirmable suite upgrades, and an annual lounge membership, were also introduced by IHG.
After every 10 qualifying nights stayed, IHG members can choose a milestone incentive, starting at 20 nights per calendar year.
Also, the option to upgrade to an annual lounge membership after 40 nights in a year piqued my interest.
Before the challenge, I took a different path to IHG One Rewards status.
I wanted a yearly lounge membership as soon as I learnt about the milestone awards.
I've stayed at a number of Crowne Plaza and InterContinental hotels with club lounges, despite the fact that I normally stay at locations that offer reasonably affordable award nights or paid rates.
As a result, I was eager to obtain this special perk.
However, I normally travel with my husband, and we both have IHG reservations for mid- to late-2022 and early-2023.
Unfortunately, several of the prices have risen since we made our reservation.
As a result, we won't be able to quickly shift the majority of our stays into one of our accounts and then focus on getting that account to 40 nights.
We each have the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, which comes with automatic Platinum Elite status as a reward for being a cardholder.
As a result, when I wrote about my ambitions for IHG One Rewards elite status in April, just after IHG announced the terms of its new IHG One Rewards programme, I stated that neither of us would try for Diamond Elite rank.
Instead, we'd rely on our IHG Premier Cards' automatic Platinum Elite status and concentrate on accumulating milestone rewards.
Because my husband already has Diamond Elite level through the end of 2022, I expected him to stay for 40 nights to acquire an annual lounge membership.
Meanwhile, I planned to stay for 20 nights in order to secure a confirmed suite upgrade.
Our plans, however, were altered when IHG announced a new status challenge.
Is it still worth it to be a hotel elite member?
Why did I sign up for IHG's status challenge?
IHG's current status challenge, in summary, was too wonderful to pass up.
Some of the travellers I know are merely taking use of the Platinum Elite perks during the 120-day challenge period, with the goal of staying five nights to gain Platinum Elite status till 2023.
My husband and I, on the other hand, will preserve our Platinum Elite status as long as we keep our IHG Premier Cards.
Also, I'm willing to pay the IHG Premier Card's annual charge because I can easily obtain more than the card's $99 annual fee each year from the card's anniversary night voucher.
In addition, the card's fourth-night reward incentive is extremely valuable.
As a result, achieving or maintaining Platinum Elite status as a result of the challenge isn't important to us.
Securing Diamond Elite advantages till the end of 2023, on the other hand, would be beneficial.
The key benefits of Diamond Elite membership to us would be additional bonus points earned on paid stays and breakfast as a welcome amenity at full-service and select-service hotels, as opposed to Platinum Elite rank (including Regent, InterContinental, Hualuxe, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn and Kimpton).
While we frequently stay at Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites — none of which are eligible for the new Diamond Elite breakfast perk - we regularly visit InterContinental, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn locations while travelling abroad.
Quick points: Elite perks in a flash with status matches
I think I'll be able to secure 15 qualifying nights in 120 days, especially because I've already scheduled an 11-night IHG stay in Bangkok in July.
I had used IHG points to arrange an 11-night stay in Bangkok, however I was able to cancel my award and schedule a paid stay at the same hotel for only $51 per night.
Most importantly, IHG's current bonus points campaign allows me to earn double base points on my second through fifth qualifying nights, as well as triple base points on my sixth through eleventh qualifying nights.
After that, I'll just need four more nights to finish the challenge.
That might work, so I scheduled a four-night stay in Phuket, Thailand, for only $45 per night.
We'll also be spending time in Dubai, Seoul, and Johannesburg in the coming months, and IHG hotels in each of these cities are reasonably priced.
In reality, with the status challenge and the bonus points promotion, my husband could sign up for the status challenge and spend 15 nights throughout his 120-day challenge period, extending his Diamond Elite status until the end of 2023.
You might be wondering why we'd both want to be Diamond Elite.
It's not necessary, as proven by our decision to continue with the default Platinum Elite rank we obtain through our IHG Premier Cards before IHG announced the challenge.
However, we both have a big IHG point balance at the moment.
And, prior to the pandemic, we frequently reached the maximum number of IHG points per account every calendar year.
As a result, we like to use both of our accounts to book award stays.
With the Diamond Elite account, we could book expensive paid stays and stays at full-service hotels where we wanted breakfast, and with the Platinum Elite account, we could book other stays.
Using IHG's status challenge to individually acquire Diamond Elite rank through the end of 2023 sounds attractive, especially because we're on course to earn the other hotel elite statuses we seek.
Final thoughts
During this status challenge, you can earn top-tier IHG One Rewards elite status after just 15 qualifying nights.
Of course, the new IHG One Rewards benefits only went live on June 8, so we're still waiting to see how beneficial complimentary upgrades for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members, free breakfast at certain brands for Diamond Elites, and late checkout for all members will be.
However, I'm hoping that the new IHG One Rewards programme will continue to deliver good value to me, especially given the fantastic value I regularly get when redeeming IHG points - often much more than valuation of 0.5 cents per point.
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