As the end of the year approaches, you may wonder how you will achieve your desired level of elite with IHG A bonus This year.
Several promotions this year have helped some IHG loyalists quickly gain ground. For example, Challenging IHG’s lucrative position This summer allows members to achieve Diamond Elite status through the end of 2023 in just 15 nights.
Unfortunately, that status challenge is over. But this guide will discuss how to achieve IHG elite status before the end of the year, including ways to earn more qualifying nights or qualifying points.
IHG One Rewards Elite Status Overview
IHG overhauled its loyalty program this year, including the addition of new elite perks and a whole new elite tier. The following is IHG A bonus elite tiers and current requirements for each:
- Silver Elite: 10 nights of qualifying competition.
- Golden quintessence: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying points.
- Platinum Elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points.
- Diamond Elite: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points.
As you can see, you can earn IHG elite status by accumulating qualifying nights or qualifying points. IHG uses a calendar year as its eligibility period, so you have between January 1 and December 31 of each year to qualify for your desired elite level. You will then keep your status for the rest of the next calendar year.
Additionally, you can earn significant rewards based on your qualifying nights each calendar year. You’ll earn key rewards after just 20 qualifying nights, which could be another reason to earn more qualifying nights.
Related: What is the IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
Strategies to earn more qualifying nights
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to accumulate qualifying nights with IHG A bonus. You’ll earn one night of elite eligibility for each qualifying night of stay, including a bonus stay.
The Terms and Conditions of IHG clearly note that you will not earn any eligible nights for your stay if you show no-shows or cancel after the hotel’s cancellation period (even if you have paid for the room in full and not return). Also, if you book two rooms on the same day, only one night will be counted as one qualifying night.
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In other words: you’ll need to go to the hotel and stay at the qualifying paid rate or bonus stay to earn the qualifying nights.
Take a look at your plans for the rest of the year and see when you can stay at an IHG hotel. Even if an IHG hotel is more expensive than your other options, it could be worth it if it will earn you higher elite tiers or important rewards. Also, consider making a stay or running mattress near your home.
If you need to pick up more than just a few qualifying nights, you may want to vacation to a destination where you can book an inexpensive IHG stay. For example, you can book a four-night stay from December 11 to December 15 at the Holiday Inn Ocean City in Maryland for $253.76 or 40,000 points (or 30,000 points if you have an IHG card that offers access to access to Wednesday night bonus privilege).
Or, you could visit Mexico and stay at a hotel such as the Holiday Inn Tuxtla Gutierrez. At this property, you can get a four-night stay from December 11 to December 15 for as little as $159.83 or 34,000 points (or 25,000 points if you have an IHG card that offers access to perks). Wednesday night rewards).
There are also inexpensive IHG properties in many other international destinations; I noticed some particularly inexpensive options in Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia. Of course, for our US-based readers, it’s easier to plan a last-minute trip to Maryland or Mexico than it is to Indonesia.
Related: Choose how you earn reward points with the current IHG One Rewards promotion
Strategies to earn more qualifying points
Based Terms and Conditions of IHGOnly the following activities earn elite points:
- Valid rates are paid for stays at the hotel.
- Spend Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations, Grubhub orders and Viator experiences.
- Purchase IHG One Rewards points package.
- Eligible to spend through IHG Business Rewards.
- Purchases on IHG One Rewards credit cards issued in the UK and China.
If you want to earn extra points that qualify you for a specific level of elite status at the end of the year, you can choose to participate in one or more of these activities. Earn money through partner activities like Hertz car rentals, OpenTable bookings, Grubhub orders, and Viator experiences can be helpful if you just need to earn some extra small qualifying points.
If you can add an IHG card issued in the UK or Mainland China to your wallet, you can earn more qualifying points on your purchases. But most TPG readers in the US may not be eligible for these cards.
For many US-based IHG loyalists, the best way to earn more qualifying points is to add bonus points packages for upcoming stays. For example, here’s an offer I saw while staying at the Holiday Inn Ocean City in Maryland:
If you added 5,000 points per night at $32 per night, you’ll buy points for 0.64 cents per point. This purchase rate is higher Valuation of TPG IHG points (0.5 cent each) but still lower than I can usually get when exchange IHG points. Additionally, the points you will add to your stay are elite qualifying points.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One bonus points on your next redemption
Other Strategies to Quickly Achieve IHG Elite Status
As you may have noticed, there aren’t many shortcuts to earning extra points or qualifying nights. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any shortcuts to IHG elite status.
Here are a few ways you can quickly earn IHG elite status.
Get IHG credit card
Some Credit Card IHG offers automatic elite status as cardholder privilege. In particular, the following branded IHG credit cards offer automatic elite status as a perk:
Your spending on these cards can also earn you higher elite status as follows:
However, it is likely only worth spending to achieve Diamond Elite status. Diamond Elite status offers valuable perks, including the ability to choose breakfast for yourself and guests as a welcome amenity at most properties that don’t offer breakfast for all guests.
Related: Why am I happy to pay my annual fee on IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
Paying for InterContinental Ambassador Membership
Another way to quickly achieve Platinum Elite status is to buy one InterContinental Ambassador member. A 12-month Ambassador membership costs $200 or 40,000 points. However, the membership offers Platinum Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program as well as the following perks after staying at InterContinental hotels:
- Single class room upgrade guaranteed.
- Guaranteed 4pm late check out.
- Free weekend night.
- Restaurant and bar credit up to $20 per stay.
- Free mineral water.
- Free Internet.
- Dedicated check-in area.
- Single room rate for two people.
If you want Platinum Elite status and don’t want to get it IHG Rewards premium credit card or IHG Rewards Premium Corporate Credit CardMaintaining an InterContinental Ambassador membership can be a good option even if you rarely (or never) stay at InterContinental properties.
Related: I paid $200 to Ambassador even though I rarely stay at InterContinental: Here’s why
Looking for a suitable or challenging status
Finally, you can follow the match or challenge the status. IHG periodically offers matches or status challenges, but there aren’t any openings to all members as we publish this story.
Key point
As you can see, there are no easy shortcuts to earning elite qualifying nights and points in new IHG One Rewards program. But you can purchase IHG Platinum Elite status through Membership InterContinental Ambassador or with an appropriate status if available.
Of course, you can also easily gain IHG elite status as a privilege of Credit Card IHG like IHG Rewards premium credit card and IHG Rewards Premium Corporate Credit Card.
You can earn top tier Diamond elite status through the end of next year by spending $40,000 or more on either of these cards in a calendar year. If you set your sights on a particular IHG elite status, getting an IHG credit card could be the easiest and least expensive way to achieve your goal.
