Massive IHG Rewards Category Changes for 2018 – Award Nights Now Cost Up to 70,000 a Night

by Enoch

Many hotel loyalty programs make adjustments to award stays periodically. Hilton does so quarterly, while Hyatt now seems do it without any notice to their members (ahem). Well, IHG Rewards Club has released its annual category changes for 2018, and it looks like a blood bath.

Changes to IHG Rewards Club Categories

A total of 499 hotels will be going up in price by 5,000 to 10,000 points each. On the other hand, a total of 192 hotels will be going down in price by 5,000 points a night (no hotels are going down by more than that). Not a single one of those is going down to the lowest category, which costs 10,000 points a night.

To be fair, IHG is a huge chain with a big footprint across the globe. However, even with 5000+ hotels in their portfolio, that still means that almost 10% of all IHG properties will see a price increase in 2018. That’s pretty dramatic.

The vast majority of properties affected by this change are in the United States, with 437 properties either going up or down in price. Meanwhile, 34 hotels in Canada will see a price hike or cut. In greater China, more than 40 properties will see a price change.

Top Category Now Costs 70,000 Points a Night

And as if that wasn’t enough, IHG is also (sneakily?) increasing the cost of a top-category hotel. Specifically, some hotels will now cost 70,000 points a night, a 17% hike from the previous cap of 60,000 points introduced less than 2 years ago.

Many of the “points and miles favorites” are receiving a price hike. For example, both InterContinental hotels in Bora Bora will soon cost 70,000 points a night, instead of the current 60,000.

A number of high-end properties in major cities will also see a price hike. For instance, the InterContinental hotels in Hong Kong, Paris (Le Grand), London (Park Lane), San Francisco, Washington D.C., Boston, and New York will all cost 70,000 points a night. 

The InterContinental hotels in Bora Bora will now cost 70,000 points a night. Source: IHG

The InterContinental hotels in Bora Bora will now cost 70,000 points a night. Source: IHG

Takeaway

There is no denying that this is a pretty long list of hotels that will undergo a price cut, but it’s not totally unprecedented. It’s worth mentioning that for 2015 and 2016 we have seen a list of changes closer to 400 hotels, and for 2017 a total of 653 hotels (link to PDF) underwent a price change. This will be the largest scale update yet.

I won’t include the full list of hotels undergoing a price change, but you can check that out from IHG here. Brian from The Gate has also compiled a nicely color coded list here.

Perhaps what is most bothersome is the increase in price for hotels in the highest category. IHG top category hotels used to cost 50,000 points just 2 years ago, until IHG introduced a 55,000 and 60,000-point tiers in February 2016. In less than 2 years, we are seeing a 40% increase in price for the most “expensive” hotels. There is also no mention of redemption for Kimpton hotels, even though the Kimpton Karma rewards program will be folded into the IHG program this year.

IHG has not made a public announcement about these changes yet, so it’s yet to see when they will go into effect. However, last year’s changes went into effect January 15, 2017. If you have a property in mind you might want to visit this year, I’d make the booking sooner rather than later.

(HT Lionheart)

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21 comments

Max January 1, 2018 - 8:55 pm

IHG points have become the Delta Sky pesos equivalent of hotel points.
The same thing happened with the massive Hilton devaluation a few years ago.

I guess its not worth renewing the IHG credit card this year

Reply
Jason January 1, 2018 - 9:06 pm

Well, it means the free night is actually more valuable with each devaluation, no?

Reply
Max January 1, 2018 - 10:16 pm

That’s what they want you to think.
Devalue one benefit so the other benefit is perceived to be of higher value.
Classic example would be increasing an item’s list price and then marking it down.

Reply
jay_dubya January 1, 2018 - 9:07 pm

Sorry but the value of the ihg credit card was never the points earning – it’s the annual free night, which is unchanged

Reply
Ouch: IHG Increasing Award Night Costs In 2018, Top Hotels Will Cost 70K Points Per Night - One Mile at a Time January 1, 2018 - 9:49 pm

[…] noted by Point Me to the Plane, it looks like almost 500 hotels will go up in price by 5,000 to 10,000 points per night, while […]

Reply
ADrayInTheLife January 1, 2018 - 9:59 pm

Thanks for the heads up! I’ve been eyeing a hotel on this list. This post just saved me 60,000 points!!

Reply
Ouch: IHG Increasing Award Night Costs In 2018, Top Hotels Will Cost 70K Points Per Night – Travel Website January 1, 2018 - 10:06 pm

[…] noted by Point Me to the Plane, it looks like almost 500 hotels will go up in price by 5,000 to 10,000 points per night, while […]

Reply
Max January 1, 2018 - 10:15 pm

This was expected after the generous credit card bonus signs ups in the last 12 months.
It is nothing but points inflation. Too many points chasing redemptions.
I guess this will be the year when I don’t renew my Chase IHG credit card

Reply
Ouch: IHG Increasing Award Night Costs In 2018, Top Hotels Will Cost 70K Points Per Night – APP TRAVELING January 2, 2018 - 6:34 am

[…] noted by Point Me to the Plane, it looks like almost 500 hotels will go up in price by 5,000 to 10,000 points per night, while […]

Reply
IHG Details 2018 Award Category Changes at 650+ Properties January 2, 2018 - 6:44 am

[…] 700 properties across the IHG portfolio of properties will be changing category. As reported by Point Me to the Plane, 499 hotels are increasing in price by 5,000-10,000 points each, and 192 properties will be going […]

Reply
Richard H January 2, 2018 - 9:07 am

When does this take effect? I searched a few hotels that are supposed to change, and the old points requirements are still showing.

Reply
Richard H January 2, 2018 - 9:18 am

Nevermind. I see that you said at the end that the effective date is unknown.

Reply
IHG 2018 Reward Price Changes | Million Mile Secrets January 2, 2018 - 10:10 am

[…] Via Point Me to the Plane, IHG is making their yearly adjustment to the award chart.  And it’s mostly bad news. […]

Reply
Chris January 2, 2018 - 10:32 am

What a massive devaluation! Wow

Reply
IHG Will Raise Top Award Rate to 70,000 Points per Night - Travel Codex January 2, 2018 - 11:01 am

[…] last year IHG raised the top rate, and it’s doing it again this year. Point Me to the Plane notes that almost 500 properties will go up in price by 5,000 to 10,000 points. The new top rate […]

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IHG Devaluation Looming, Top-Tier Properties Increasing by 10,000 - UponArriving January 2, 2018 - 11:54 am

[…] According to PMTTP, approximately 500 hotels will increase in price by 5,000 to 10,000 while approximately 200 hotels will go down in price by 5,000 points. The majority of affected properties are located in the US. This is one of the biggest changes to IHG’s award pricing in recent memory and could be their biggest change as of yet. While it’s normal for hotel programs to change their prices on a an annual basis, it’s not very common to see a higher ceiling on awards along with so many price increases and that’s why this is big news. […]

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New More Expensive Award Prices From IHG Rewards Club | Visor Travel January 2, 2018 - 1:16 pm

[…] (HT: Point Me to the Plane) […]

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Another IHG award devaluation - top tier now 70k - Monkey Miles January 2, 2018 - 3:33 pm

[…] points.  This comes less than a year since we had the introduction of the 60k level.  While Point Me to the Plane has noted that the deval isn’t public, so it’s unclear when the new changes will go […]

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tassojunior January 17, 2018 - 12:33 pm

Key West from 45 to 60 in 1 year.

No wonder IHG is unconcerned with all the recent point thefts….its petty theft.

Reply
Full List: The 330 IHG Hotels Where You Can't Use The Anniversary Free Night - Point Me to the Plane April 2, 2018 - 5:03 pm

[…] points. As a point of reference, IHG free nights cost anywhere between 10,000 and 70,000 points following a recent devaluation. IHG has over 5,000 hotels in its portfolio, so as far as number of properties now excluded from […]

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