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Registration for this promotion has ended, but you can still complete the stay requirements outlined below.
IHG is once again bringing back its fast track to elite status promotion. Right now, IHG Rewards members can quickly obtain Platinum Elite status by staying just 5 nights.
IHG Elite Status Fast Track Offer Details
- Registration is open until March 12, 2022.
- Members have 90 days following registration to complete the requirements.
- Platinum Elite status requires just 5 nights (normally 40).
- If you meet the requirements, you'll get Platinum Elite status through December 2023.
- Unfortunately, there is currently no offer to fast-track to IHG’s highest elite status, Spire Elite.
IHG Gold Elite and Platinum Elite Status
Gold Elite status is IHG's lowest elite tier and the perks are pretty lackluster — especially for something named after such a shiny element. Benefits include 10% bonus points, priority check-in, extended checkout, no expiration of points, and special perks at Kimpton Hotels like a $30 In-Room Spa credit and a $10 Raid the Bar credit.
You could fast-track to Gold Elite status in past promotions in as few as 2 nights. However, that's not an option this time around.
Platinum Elite status with IHG isn't quite in the same ballpark as some competitor's mid-tier statuses when it comes to benefits. For example, Hilton Gold members receive free breakfast, but IHG Platinum Elites aren't guaranteed breakfast. In addition to Gold Elite bennies, Platinum Elites get 50% bonus points on stays, complimentary upgrades, and guaranteed room availability.
Other Ways to Get IHG Elite Status
This fast-track promotion is almost as easy as it gets. But shockingly, there is an even easier way to earn IHG elite status. Chase issues two variations of consumer IHG credit cards. And, you can get elite status through either.
You can also earn Platinum Elite status with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Right now, the sign-up offer is 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card comes with IHG Silver Elite status, plus you can earn Gold Elite status after spending $20,000 in a year. This $0-annual fee card currently offers 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening .
Status Matching
One benefit which could justify mattress running for status is that IHG Rewards members can use their Gold or Platinum status to match to other loyalty programs like:
- Hilton Diamond
- Choice Privileges Platinum
- Wyndham Diamond
- Radisson Gold
- Sonesta Travel Pass Elite
Gold Elites can match to:
- Radisson Rewards Gold
- Hilton Gold
- Sonesta Travel Pass Preferred
Final Thoughts
With just 5 nights for Platinum Elite, this fast-track offer seems kind of ridiculous — in a good way. But unless you have stays already planned with IHG, it's probably not worth going out of your way to try and qualify.
And even then, if you do stay at IHGs often and qualify under Chase's 5/24 rule, you'd probably be better off just getting one of the Chase IHG credit cards with their complimentary status.
Then again, it's only 5 nights.
What do you think? Is this a mattress-run-worthy cause?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Heya! I understand this is sort of off-topic however I needed to ask.
Does running a well-established website like yours require a massive
amount work? I am brand new to blogging but I do write in my journal
every day. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and thoughts online.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions or tips for new aspiring bloggers.
Thankyou!
Running AwardWallet does require a lot of work. We have three of us currently working nearly full-time, plus plenty of writers and a support team. However, that’s mostly due to the nature of our business. There’s a lot of credit card compliance and updates required to keep the information on the site up-to-date. Other blogs can be a lot easier to run and maintain.
Was told by support that this is targeted?
There’s nothing at all in the terms that says “select members” or “targeted”. There’s a public landing page here – https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/deals/b2b/fasttracktoplatinum?promoCode=36326&_PMID=99634986&cm_mmc=CJ-_-4152654-_-7304739-_-Book+Now+Logo-Holiday+Inn,+an+IHG+Hotel-_-fa47a56f879d11eb831000590a1c0e10&glat=AFFI&setPMCookies=true&cjevent=fa47a56f879d11eb831000590a1c0e10
I think that the only reason to qualify Gold with IHG is to ask for a status match with HHnors.
The gold status with IHG has almost no advantages while the gold status with Hilton has some nice benefits.
That’s quite an aggressive move by IHG for elite status. It’s pretty much a status challenge for all its members. Valuable in time for 2022 if things open up more!
Platinum is pretty easy to get from credit cards. Do they usually do Spire challenges at some point too?
I recall a Spire challenge back a couple of years ago, but I’m not sure if they have done anything recently. I think status matches are a possibility too. I’d recommend reaching out to IHG to see if they have any current or upcoming opportunities you qualify for.
IHG has the best rewards program for earning points quickly as you move up the levels of status. IHG also allows points to be used for 4 all-inclusive resorts as well. We have stayed at the IHG Montego Bay, Jamaica on points and had a wonderful stay and great time. Keep using these offers to get there!
I’m glad I saw this post because I have a 3 night Kimpton stay coming up so that will get me to gold status.
Woohoo! Glad it helps!
Nice opportunity to get status!
This is a very generous fast track offer. I prefer Hilton, but use IHG as a back up. Whilst the benefits of IHG status are minimal, I have always been treated very well as an IHG Platinum member – I’ve been given nice rooms and late check outs. Being able to use the fast track IHG status to status match to other hotels makes it even better. IHG Gold matching to Hilton Gold seems very generous indeed.
This sort of devalues a status with almost zero value to start with, good one IHG…
2 nights seems pretty to obtain but yes I agree its probably not worth going out of your way to qualify!
Generous offer from IHG, I’ve always fared well with upgrades as a Spire Elite however appreciate others have a different experience
IHG has horrible customer service. I have status with them and the customer service is still crap.
With complimentary Gold status at Hilton and Marriott through Amex Plat, I prefer to book any non-Marriott and non-Hilton stays through Alaska Airlines because they seem to usually have the highest level of bonus hotel booking points (I prefer airline and transferrable credit card points since my points goal is free biz class travel). Last couple times I stayed at IHG properties I got free breakfast anyway, and the standard checkout time makes sure I get up and on with the day! So I see minimal benefit to IHG’s (or anyone else’s) elite status beyond those two I have now.
I already had IHG platinum elite from stays but just got the Chase IHG card with automatic platinum elite (does that mean I’m double platinum elite, hmmm). I plan on using some of these IHG points/benefits for reasonable point night rooms in Rome next spring. Give me an HIX room anytime; I only sleep in it so don’t need anything fancy…
Same here. HIX is all I need for some stays. I generally end up earning Platinum from stays and have both the Select and Premier card. So, I guess I’m triple-Platinum 😀
The fast track offer sounds great. Look forward to getting this in the future.
Nice program! IHG always giving more!
I think it is a membership drive move.
I am an IHG spire & Hilton Diamond member (without any status match), but didn’t realize it can be matched to Raddison Gold, thanks for the info, I will give it a try.
Because the pandemic’s nowhere near over, I wish IHG would again extend the deadline for using the free annivesary nights.
They have done so a couple of times. Certs should be good through 12/31/2021 now. And hopefully IHG will further extend certs for those that can’t travel by then.
IHG still has the most offers and they are not so ridiculous to attain. One of the reasons, I will keep using them.
Feels like a low-effort and low-reward promo. Guess not worth to do a mattress run just for IHG status.
I have Platinum status through the credit card and the extra earning is nice but other than that, elite status gets you nothing with IHG. Definitely not worth diverting any nights from another brand.
as a Spire Elite I really like upgrade for every staying. this fast track is not bad at all.
Have status via the Chase credit cards.
This is nice for the status match at the very least. Thanks for flagging!
I’ve enjoyed having IHG Platinum Elite status through a Chase credit card for several years now. IMHO it’s still worth it despite the limitations on which properties accept the free nights. Looking forward to spending my next annual free night award.
My husband and I have enjoyed IHG elite status. The free nights that accompany the credit card are now limited to their lower end properties, but we’ve found them useful in two situations. 1) More remote areas in Europe where you want to go with a name brand hotel (Holiday Inn Express for eg). 2) If you are staying at a hotel for a very short amount of time (night before transatlantic flight) and just need a no stress place to spend the night.
I choose IHG due the loyalty program and the points, I have been Spire Elite member for several years and with this COVID situation I stopped traveling for almost a year (Home office) getting a down grade of my status level, this offer is very good to continue with the track of points and recovering the advantages of being a member of the IHG program.
I find that I am not interested in trying to get status with IHG because of what you laid out with the benefits. I don’t find it worth it really. Often hotels don’t give you the benefits anyway. It’s nice when they do and nice to earn points fasters though.
That is mostly my experience too. When I used to have status, I had several times when the status was not acknowledged.
Certainly not worth changing stays from anywhere else but if you have the stays planned anyway, it’s a no brainer. I have had Platinum status for years with IHG through the credit card. I don’t think it has ever resulted in a better room or anything other than more points. However, you may as well earn as many nights as possible with your stays as the free nights can be very worthwhile . Even if it is just at an airport hotel because you have an early flight in the morning.
Hopefully my fall trip will happen, I definitively will be considering an IHG hotel.
I would tend to agree with your analysis. While there are IHG properties around the World that would be interesting places to stay, I doubt I would have a chance to explore them with either status before the end of the year. Especially since, I will need to work hard to keep the status’ I currently have with both Hilton and Marriott.
Yes, with a another year of at best reduced travel, I find myself having to pick a program or two to prioritize and just focus on protecting status there.