Update 3/21/22: These changes have been delayed until at least April 2022.
IHG has announced some changes to it’s loyalty program that will go into effect in March. The changes are as follows:
- Introduction of Gold Elite Tier Status (requires 20 nights). This is a bit confusing as the new elite level is actually silver (requires 10 nights), it’s just that gold status now requires 20 nights instead of 10.
- Spire Elite renamed to Diamond Elite
- Improving point earning at all Elite Tiers
- Removal of 25,000 bonus points when hitting Spire Elite/Diamond Elite
- More difficult to earn status via base points (e.g Spire was 75,000 points, now 120,000 points)
- Easier to earn status via nights (e.g Spire was 75 nights, now 70 nights)
This is stage one of the changes, stage two is new elite benefits and at this stage it’s unclear what these will be.
Still no breakfast credit
I agree. Needs a breakfast option and although not directly related, their IHG premier card needs to earn more points per dollar. It maxes out at 2 points per dollar for general purchases.
More points per dollar coming soon to IHG Premier: 5x travel, dining, gas stations, and 3x on other purchases.
Still no OFFICIAL breakfast credit. Right now it’s up to the individual properties. One Holiday Inn that I occasionally stay at always gives me a free breakfast voucher as an IHG Platinum (which I am solely due to holding the IHG credit card 🙂 ). But other Holiday Inns don’t. Supposedly also IHG Platinums can often get lounge access at Crowne Plazas that have lounges, but again it’s not an official benefit and thus not guaranteed.
Hopefully they’ll announce some breakfast benefit when then announce elite changes later, but I’m not holding my breath.
Can current holder of the old IHG credit card apply for IHG premier card?
Yes, may change on march 24th.
I wonder if IHG is delaying the changes to see how the Marriott and Hyatt changes go and learn from any of their mistakes.
The consultants really had their work cut out for them on this one, as it’s extremely difficult to make IHG status worth less than it already is. My money is on a “stealth devaluation” on point redemption values coupled with the announcement of the addition of a worthless benefit (worthless in theory or, that failing, in practice).
IHG, Hilton, Marriot for most tiers, really its all just the % back you get when using card + Tier, no reason to expect anything more at this point unless Hyatt.
At least the naming confusing is gone with “Spire elite” at least changed to a name of a rock like all of the others. Still have the weird Kimpton Circle, Ambassador, and Royal Ambassador.
I really wonder if the IHG credit card still gets the Platinum Elite long term and what would be the new benefit on the credit card elite tier
Same for me.
Probably a work from some “consulting firm” who hires a bunch of new grads pretending to be the industry insider with some second-hand data purchased from “business analyst company” to decide this. Maybe they are still waiting IHG to pay the 2nd phase contract before releasing the suggestion to IHG. This is how this society “elite” makes money. 🙂
The 25k annual benefit for spire elites was the only good thing left for the program and they e essentially ended that too. They were dead to me anyway.
Wow – I didn’t know that. Bummer
And I will continue to not give them my business.