Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Double Points Bonus Starts After Second Stay at IHG Properties
As of January 2025, IHG One Rewards introduced a double points promotion for cash stays at their hotels. It runs until the end of March, and you do have to sign up for it beforehand. The catch, and it is a bit of one, is that the double points don't actually start until your third eligible stay. So, the first two stays will earn the usual amount, and then from the third stay onwards, you will get double points for stays until end of March. Each night needs to cost at least $30 to qualify, which rules out some of the really cheap options. On the positive side, there's no limit to how many bonus points you can rack up during this time. Most IHG properties worldwide are participating, but some of the more exclusive brands are excluded. Double points simply means you get your usual base points plus bonus points equivalent to the base points you earned. Needing two stays before getting any bonus might be a letdown for less frequent travelers. Whether this deal is genuinely worthwhile depends on your travel patterns over the next couple of months and how often you planned to stay at IHG hotels anyway
IHG One Rewards is now offering a promotion where members can accrue double points on qualifying cash stays. However, there's a notable condition: this enhanced earning rate only activates from the second eligible stay onwards. Effectively, the first stay at an IHG property within the promotion period earns the standard points rate. This tiered approach suggests a strategy aimed at encouraging multiple bookings rather than rewarding single, infrequent stays. It's a structured way to amplify rewards for those who demonstrate repeat business, which, from a purely logistical standpoint, makes sense in managing promotional costs. It remains to be observed if this staged bonus structure will significantly shift booking behavior or primarily benefit guests who were already planning multiple IHG stays within the promotional timeframe.
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Registration Required Before First Stay in January 2025
To benefit from the IHG One Rewards double points offer, running from January to March 2025, members need to register beforehand, specifically before their initial hotel visit within the promotional period. Registration is a prerequisite to unlock the double points benefit. The program mechanics are such that the first stay post-registration doesn't accrue bonus points; the double points accumulation begins only with subsequent eligible stays. This setup clearly favors guests with plans for multiple IHG stays during this timeframe. For those contemplating only a single stay, the promotion offers no additional rewards. It’s a structured approach by IHG, likely aimed at encouraging repeat bookings at the start of the year.
To fully benefit from this IHG One Rewards double points offer, one key step is to register for the promotion prior to any eligible stays starting in January 2025. This pre-registration is a mandatory step, somewhat unusually, even before your initial hotel booking within the promotion period if you intend to eventually earn bonus points. It’s worth noting that while you must register upfront, the double points accumulation itself only kicks in from your second qualifying stay onward during the promotional timeframe. The rationale behind this upfront registration demand isn't immediately transparent. One could speculate it's a mechanism for IHG to gauge interest in the promotion early on, or perhaps it’s a way to segment participants for targeted marketing efforts down the line. From a practical standpoint for travelers, it means remembering to actively opt-in before even embarking on the first stay in January if the intention is to maximize points over multiple visits. This requirement adds a layer of administrative process upfront, which may be overlooked by some members who assume program participation is automatic. The effectiveness of this mandatory registration in actually driving different booking behavior versus simply adding an extra hurdle for members remains to be seen.
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Minimum Spend of $30 Per Night Required for Double Points
To unlock double points with IHG One Rewards on cash stays, starting January 2025, a new rule is in play: you'll need to spend at least $30 per night. This minimum spending condition adds a layer to the promotion. While intended to boost rewards, it also means that budget travelers looking at cheaper hotel options might miss out on this deal entirely. Even though the double points start kicking in from your second stay, the nightly spend requirement demands careful consideration of your travel budget to actually benefit. Such spending thresholds might be more appealing to frequent, higher-spending guests, but they could be a turn-off for those who usually seek out more affordable accommodations and might only stay occasionally. This new condition underscores how IHG is targeting loyalty while also potentially limiting the appeal to a wider spectrum of travelers, especially those mindful of nightly expenses.
An interesting element within this double points scheme from IHG is the condition of a minimum spend of $30 for each night to qualify. When we look at average hotel costs, particularly in places like the US, this figure, while not enormous, still sets a floor.
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Online Travel Agency Bookings Not Eligible for Extra Points
Starting January 2025, IHG One Rewards is changing the rules for earning extra points. Bookings made through online travel agencies, like many people often use, will no longer qualify for these extra points. This move clearly favors direct bookings made via IHG’s own website or app, which seems to be a push to get customers to book directly with them. This shift coincides with their double points promotion for cash stays, but this deal has its own set of conditions. There’s a minimum spending amount per night, and the double points only kick in after you’ve completed your second eligible stay. For those who regularly use online travel agencies to find deals, this new policy might make them rethink their booking habits in the future.
Online travel agencies, or OTAs like those ubiquitous booking websites, are now officially outside the circle for accruing bonus points in the updated IHG One Rewards program. As of January 2025, if you're chasing those extra points being offered for cash stays, booking through these third-party platforms will not get you there. This isn’t entirely unexpected. Hotel chains are increasingly pushing for direct bookings. It's a strategic shift observed across the industry, designed to funnel customers towards their own websites and apps.
Why this push away from OTAs? From a hotel chain’s perspective, direct bookings strengthen customer relationships. They gain direct access to guest data, supposedly enabling more personalized offers in the future, though the actual level of personalization often remains debatable. Furthermore, bypassing OTAs improves profit margins. OTAs charge commissions, impacting the hotel's bottom line. By incentivizing direct bookings, hotels reclaim this revenue.
For travelers in early 2025, this policy change necessitates a recalculation of booking habits if maximizing points is a priority. OTAs often present attractive initial pricing or package deals, creating a perception of better value. However, losing out on potential bonus points for IHG stays booked via these channels should be factored into the overall cost-benefit analysis. Is the upfront discount on an OTA worth sacrificing potentially more valuable loyalty points down the line? It's a trade-off that depends heavily on individual travel frequency and engagement with the IHG program.
This move reflects a broader tension in the travel ecosystem. OTAs have built their business on convenience and price comparison, while hotel loyalty programs aim to cultivate direct engagement and repeat business. This policy firmly draws a line: if you want to fully leverage IHG One Rewards, the message is clear - book directly. Whether this ultimately benefits the traveler or simply strengthens the hotel chain's direct distribution channels is an ongoing experiment in customer behavior and loyalty program dynamics. It will be interesting to monitor if this strategy truly shifts booking patterns in the long run or simply introduces another layer of complexity for travelers navigating the landscape of hotel rewards.
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Elite Members Can Stack Double Points with Status Bonuses
From January 2025, IHG One Rewards introduced a double points promotion, and elite members get an extra perk. They can combine this double points offer with their regular status bonus. The idea is to reward frequent guests, giving them even more points for their cash stays, though only starting from their second stay in the promotional period which runs until the end of March. While this sounds good for loyal customers, it is not without its limits. A minimum spend per night is required and registration is needed before any stays. So, while those with elite status who frequently stay at IHG might find value in stacking these bonuses, the actual benefit for the occasional traveler may be less impressive due to the various conditions attached.
For those already invested in the IHG One Rewards ecosystem, the interaction of this double points offer with elite status warrants closer inspection. Individuals achieving higher status tiers via frequent stays or substantial spending are already granted bonus points – a perk of their
Hot Deal IHG One Rewards Doubles Points on Cash Stays Starting January 2025 - What You Need to Know - Cash Rates Only - Points and Cash Bookings Excluded from Promotion
Starting January 2025, the IHG One Rewards program is launching a promotion that allows members to earn double points on cash stays, but it’s important to note that this offer is strictly for cash rate bookings only. Reservations made using a combination of points and cash will not be eligible for this bonus, which limits the appeal for those who typically utilize the Points & Cash option. This targeted approach aims to encourage members to book directly using cash, reinforcing IHG's strategy to strengthen customer loyalty and engagement through their own platforms. With the exclusion of Points & Cash bookings from the promotion, travelers must strategically plan their stays to maximize their rewards under the new program terms.
Within the IHG One Rewards double points promotion, there's a specific carve-out that travelers should note: bookings using the Points & Cash option are ineligible for this bonus. This detail means that to access the double points, stays must be paid for entirely with currency. It appears IHG is prioritizing transactions made with actual money in this promotional push, rather than those leveraging points for partial payment. For members who often utilize Points & Cash to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses, this condition effectively sidelines that booking method from accruing extra rewards. One could interpret this as a clear strategy by IHG to incentivize full cash stays, perhaps to optimize revenue streams directly from these transactions. It prompts a question about the perceived value hierarchy within loyalty programs: where