As the tip of the yr approaches, chances are you’ll be questioning how you may earn your required stage of elite standing with IHG One Rewards this yr.
A number of promotions this yr have helped some IHG loyalists snag standing shortly. For instance, IHG’s profitable standing problem this summer time let members earn Diamond Elite standing by way of the tip of 2023 after simply 15 nights.
Sadly, that standing problem is over now. However this information will talk about the right way to earn IHG elite standing earlier than the tip of the yr, together with methods to earn extra qualifying nights or qualifying factors.
IHG One Rewards elite standing overview
- Silver Elite: 10 qualifying nights.
- Gold Elite: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying factors.
- Platinum Elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying factors.
- Diamond Elite: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying factors.
As you’ll be able to see, you’ll be able to earn IHG elite standing by accruing qualifying nights or qualifying factors. IHG makes use of a calendar yr as its qualification interval, so you will have from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 annually to qualify in your desired elite tier. Then, you may hold your standing by way of the tip of the next calendar yr.
Moreover, you’ll be able to earn milestone rewards based mostly in your qualifying nights every calendar yr. You may earn milestone rewards after simply 20 qualifying nights, which will be one more reason to earn extra qualifying nights.
Associated: What’s IHG One Rewards elite standing price?
Methods for incomes extra qualifying nights
Sadly, there is not a shortcut to accruing qualifying nights with IHG One Rewards. You may earn an elite-qualifying evening for each evening of a qualifying keep, together with reward stays.
The IHG phrases and situations explicitly observe that you just will not earn any qualifying nights for a keep in the event you no-show or cancel after the resort cancellation time (even in the event you’ve paid the room in full and it is nonrefundable). Moreover, in the event you e-book two rooms for a similar day, just one evening will depend as a qualifying evening.
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In different phrases: you may want to indicate as much as the resort and keep on a qualifying paid fee or award keep to earn qualifying nights.
Check out your plans for the remainder of the yr and see when you might keep at an IHG resort. Even when an IHG resort is costlier than your different choices, it could be worthwhile if it would provide help to earn the next elite tier or a milestone reward. Alternatively, take into account doing a staycation or mattress run close to your home.
If it’s essential to choose up greater than only a few qualifying nights, you would possibly wish to take a trip to a vacation spot the place you’ll be able to e-book an affordable IHG keep. For instance, you might e-book a four-night keep from Dec. 11 to Dec. 15 on the Vacation Inn Ocean Metropolis in Maryland for $253.76 or 40,000 factors (or 30,000 factors you probably have an IHG card that gives entry to the fourth-night reward perk).
Or, you might go to Mexico and keep inexpensively at a property such because the Vacation Inn Tuxtla Gutierrez. At this property, you will get a four-night keep from Dec. 11 to Dec. 15 for simply $159.83 or 34,000 factors (or 25,000 factors you probably have an IHG card that gives entry to the fourth evening reward perk).
There are additionally cheap IHG properties in lots of different worldwide locations; I observed some significantly cheap choices in Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia. In fact, for our U.S.-based readers, it is simpler to plan a last-minute journey to Maryland or Mexico than to Indonesia.
Associated: Select the way you earn bonus factors with IHG One Rewards’ present promotion
Methods for incomes extra qualifying factors
Primarily based on IHG’s phrases and situations, solely the next actions earn elite-qualifying factors:
- Qualifying charges paid for resort stays.
- Spending on Hertz automotive leases, OpenTable reservations, Grubhub orders and Viator experiences.
- Buying an IHG One Rewards bonus factors package deal.
- Qualifying spending by way of IHG Enterprise Rewards.
- Purchases on IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.Okay. and Larger China.
If you wish to earn extra qualifying factors to succeed in a particular elite standing tier by the tip of the yr, you would possibly choose to participate in a number of of those actions. Incomes by way of companion actions like Hertz automotive leases, OpenTable reservations, Grubhub orders and Viator experiences might assist in the event you solely must earn a small variety of extra qualifying factors.
For those who can add an IHG card issued within the U.Okay. or Larger China to your pockets, you’ll be able to earn extra qualifying factors in your purchases. However most TPG readers within the U.S. probably aren’t eligible for these playing cards.
For a lot of U.S.-based IHG loyalists, one of the best ways to earn extra qualifying factors is so as to add bonus factors packages to approaching stays. For instance, this is a proposal I noticed on a keep on the Vacation Inn Ocean Metropolis in Maryland:
For those who added 5,000 factors per evening at $32 per evening, you would be shopping for factors at 0.64 cents every. This buy fee is larger than TPG’s valuation of IHG factors (0.5 cents every) however nonetheless decrease than I can sometimes get when redeeming IHG factors. Plus, the factors you would be including to your keep are elite-qualifying factors.
Associated: 7 methods to earn extra IHG One Rewards factors in your subsequent redemption
Different methods for incomes IHG elite standing shortly
As you might need observed, there aren’t many shortcuts to incomes extra qualifying nights or factors. However that does not imply there are not any shortcuts for incomes IHG elite standing.
Listed here are some methods you’ll be able to earn IHG elite standing shortly.
Get an IHG bank card
Your spending on these playing cards can even provide help to earn larger elite standing as follows:
It is probably solely price spending to succeed in Diamond Elite standing, although. Diamond Elite standing gives useful perks, together with the power to decide on breakfast for your self and a visitor as a welcome amenity at most properties that do not present breakfast to all friends.
Associated: Why I’m completely satisfied to pay the annual payment on the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card
Pay for InterContinental Ambassador membership
One other option to shortly get Platinum Elite standing is to buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership. A 12-month Ambassador membership prices $200 or 40,000 factors. However, membership gives Platinum Elite standing within the IHG One Rewards program in addition to the next perks when staying at InterContinental properties:
- Assured one-category room improve.
- Assured 4 p.m. late take a look at.
- Complimentary weekend evening.
- Eating places and bars credit score of as much as $20 per keep.
- Complimentary mineral water.
- Complimentary web.
- Devoted check-in space.
- Single room fee for double occupancy.
If you would like Platinum Elite standing and do not wish to get the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card or IHG Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card, sustaining an InterContinental Ambassador membership could also be a good selection even in the event you hardly ever (or by no means) keep at InterContinental properties.
Associated: I paid $200 for Ambassador despite the fact that I hardly ever stick with InterContinental: This is why
Search for a standing match or problem
Lastly, you might hold an eye fixed out for a standing match or problem. IHG periodically provides standing matches or challenges, however there weren’t any open to all members once we printed this story.
Backside line
As you’ll be able to see, there is no simple shortcut to incomes elite-qualifying nights and factors within the new IHG One Rewards program. However you should buy IHG Platinum Elite standing through an InterContinental Ambassador membership or with a standing match if one turns into out there.
In fact, you too can simply get IHG elite standing as a perk of IHG bank cards just like the IHG Rewards Premier Credit score Card and IHG Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card.
You may earn top-tier Diamond elite standing by way of the tip of the next yr by spending $40,000 or extra on both of those playing cards in a calendar yr. When you have your sights set on a specific IHG elite standing, getting an IHG bank card is perhaps the simplest and least costly option to attain your purpose.
