IHG One Rewards has just started its latest bonus point promotion, giving members the opportunity to earn 2,000 bonus points for every two nights they stay at an IHG group hotel.
The promotion runs from October 12 to December 31, 2023, and there is no self-imposed limit on the number of bonus points you can earn.
While it’s not the best promotion that IHG One Rewards has offered, it’s pretty simple, and it’s probably worthwhile signing up even if you don’t have any solid plans to stay at an IHG hotel over the next few months.
What’s the deal?
Unlike similar promotions that IHG One Rewards has run in the past, the fall bonus point offer is really simple and only offers one standard earning rate.
Between October 12 and December 31, 2023, for every two eligible nights you stay at an IHG hotel, you’ll earn 2,000 bonus points on top of the standard point-earning rate. You’ll need to register for this promotion first.
There are also a few things you need to be aware of:
- Only cash-paid fares count as an eligible stay and the stay must have cost at least $30 for each night
- Reward nights and cash and point stays don’t count
- Remember, you need to register for this promotion before completing a stay
- Nearly every hotel under the IHG umbrella is participating in this offer but there are a small number of Six Senses resorts and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts that don’t participate in IHG One Rewards.
How much is an IHG One Rewards point worth?
0.5
Each IHG One Rewards Point is worth approximately 0.5 cents
On average, I value an IHG One Rewards point to be worth around 0.5 cents per point. However, the value can fluctuate based on factors such as the specific hotel property, location, and demand.
IHG One Rewards operates a revenue-based redemption program, and that means on award stays, the value of each point is pegged to the cash price for the same room.
To assess the value of your points for an award stay, you’ll want to compare the price in points against the cash price for the same room.
Unlike some hotel loyalty programs, IHG does not have a points price cap on award night redemptions, and this can mean that in some circumstances, you could find the cents per point rate is well below average stated here.
How many points do I need for a free award night?
Reward nights can be redeemed for as few as 5,000 points per night, but IHG One Rewards operates as a revenue-based rewards program which means that the number of points you need for an award night redemption is linked to the cash price for the same room.
As a result of IHG’s dynamic award pricing model, the number of points you’ll need for a redemption can fluctuate based on a number of factors. These include:
- Seasonality
- Demand
- Local hotel capacity
- And local events
This way of pricing award night without an upper limit or cap can create bizarre situations where the number of points required to stay in a Holiday Inn could be far more than an InterContinental just down the road.
How does this offer compare to previous promotions?
IHG One Rewards ran a similar promotion in the summer, although it was definitely a lot more generous for frequent travellers. During the summer promotion, IHG One Rewards offered the standard 2,000 bonus points for every two nights, but members also had the opportunity to sign up for an enhanced promotion, which offered 10,000 points for every four nights.
On this occasion, there isn’t an alternative offer for members who don’t also hold an IHG credit card, so while it’s not the most generous offer, it’s still worth registering just in case you end up in IHG hotels during the promotion period.
