IHG, which includes among others Intercontinental, Six Senses, Kimpton, Holliday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels, is launching a status challenge that can allow members of competitor’s loyalty programs to acquire Platinum or Diamond status on its One Rewards program in 5 or 15 nights.

A status challenge ?

A status challenge is an operation that, for a loyalty program, aims to “steal” customers from its competitors.

Its functioning is very simple:

1°) It is necessary to have a certain status in the competitors’ program

2°) It is necessary to be a member of the loyalty program in question

3°) It is necessary to register for the promotion

4°) At this point you are given a provisional status even if you have not stayed long enough to deserve it.

5°) You must then achieve a certain number of stays over a given period to keep it for another year.

IHG’s status challenge

The target clientele is very broad as all members of the following programs are eligible, regardless of their status.

• Accor Live Limitless.
• Best Western Rewards.
• Choice Privileges.
• Hilton Honors.
• Marriott Bonvoy.
• Radisson Rewards.
• World of Hyatt.
• Wyndham Rewards.

If you are not a member of any program you can even join any program for the occasion and pick up your Diamond at IHG… nothing prevents it at first sight.

You must then go and register on thededicated page. If you are not a member of IHG One Rewards you will be asked to join.

At that time you will immediately receive a Platinum Elite status, valid for 120 days.

If, within those 120 days, you stay5 nightsat IHG you will retain this status. If you stay 15 nightsyou will receive a Diamond Elite status. In both cases it will be valid until the end of 2023.

And if you stay less than 5 nights you will have enjoyed the benefits of being Platinum Elite for 120 days.

The deadline for registration is July 31, 2022.

An interesting challenge?

Platinum and Diamond status are the two highest at IHG One Rewards and are earned in 40 nights (or 60,000 points) or 70 nights (or 120,000 points) respectively.

It is a true accelerator for those who aspire to a status with IHG even if they leave their regular loyalty program in the future, or even for those who do not wish to change programs but want to enjoy a Platinum or Diamond for a year on occasion without the intention of keeping it.

Are these statuses interesting?

In our opinion IHG One Rewards is less interesting than Marriott Bonvoy but much better than Accor Live Limiteless.

This, said among the notable advantages that these statuses will offer you.

– rollover of nights from one year to the next: if you stay more than the number of nights necessary to acquire a status, the remainder will be credited to your balance the following year.

– Bonus points (60% for Platinum and 100% for Diamond)

– Special discounts (Platinum and Diamond)

– Dedicated assistance (Diamond)

– Availability of rooms guaranteed

– Upgrade subject to availability (without engagement about the upgrade level)

– Welcome gift (drink or snack for Platinum, points, drink or snack for Diamond)

– Early check in.

– Late check out (2pm…that’s stingy).

Can do better but it’s not bad.

Conclusion

IHG One Rewards offers an attractive status challenge for members of competing loyalty programs, regardless of their status.