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IHG has quietly released a PDF announcing changes to the categories of nearly 700 of its hotels. It will come as no surprise to any points and miles aficionado that there was no announcement by IHG, and that the bulk of the changes are negative, with most of the properties increasing in price. The revaluation affects nearly 15% of IHG properties and will take effect on January 25, 2019.
Summary Of Changes
Globally, the following changes are happening:
- Total hotels changing category: 694
- Total hotels increasing in price: 547
- Total hotels decreasing in price: 147
U.S.-based IHG properties will be hit especially hard with 448 properties changing category. Only 61 hotels are decreasing in price, while 387 will increase in price.
Effect On The IHG Credit Card Free Night Certificate
Until early 2018, the free-night certificate earned through IHG co-branded credit cards was valid at any property. When Chase released the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, the annual free-night certificate was limited to properties costing 40,000 or fewer points per night.
Sadly, the full list of ineligible hotels has 38 new members with this latest devaluation, as these properties will now cost more than 40,000 points per night. Only 1 hotel has come down in price, from 45,000 to 40,000 points, and is now eligible for award stays using the IHG free night certificate.
Our Take
We are never happy to see a devaluation—especially when it hits the U.S. so heavily. Although it’s disappointing to see that fewer hotels will be eligible for the free night certificate, the loss of 38 properties out of more than 5,400 isn’t likely to impact nearly as many travel plans as 547 hotels becoming more expensive.
There is limited time to act before this takes effect. Fortunately, IHG allows you to cancel award reservations at most properties up to 24 hours before checking in. (Learn more in our Guide to Award Night Change and Cancellation Policies.) If you know you’ll be visiting a property that will be more expensive on January 25th, you might consider locking in a reservation now, and using the free cancellation if plans change. Just be sure to double-check the cancellation policy for the specific property before you book.
Editors note: We do our best to publish news that affects the value of your points as early as possible. Unfortunately, we didn't see any official news about this from IHG, and we didn't publish a story as early as we would have liked. There are still a few days left to make bookings at the current prices, so hopefully, you can book upcoming travel before the price increase.
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*Rewards member since 2004*
Reward points system is now inverted. Just tried to book a hotel in Salt Lake City, $94 room would cost me $187 in points I just paid for. Points plus cash option would cost me $97 in points plus $105 cash….WTF??? A call to customer service only left me fuming.
Walking away dissapointed and dejected.
Disappointing! Another devaluation from another hotel group. Hopefully next PointBreaks will have something worthwhile before I lose faith in IHG. Sigh!
The IHG rewards club used to be a great program….
I cant say that I am surprised as they have done this every year for the past few years but at some points its going to make it irrelevant collecting points with less and less benefits the hotels offer.
This devaluation is quite bad for me as I have not use my IHG card anniversary free night yet.
Another sign that the economy in general is improving. If there wasn’t so much money around these companies would still be crying out for our custom. Devaluation is the current trend. I can’t wait for the next downturn!!
Still haven’t received any official communication from IHG, poor form.
I hate to see another devaluation.
This is rather unfortunate. I was considering switching over to IHG for my hotel stays. Now, not so sure…
Not happy but have come to expect this!
Sigh, it’s getting harder and harder to stay loya to IHG. I gave up on airline loyalty a few years ago so I guess hotels are next.
IHG is also one of the best for awarding points, especially to travel agents that are travelling on leisure rates so I am not worried too much.
It is a shame that these are all devalued. It would seem more reasonable to readjust if many went up and many went down. Ahh the good ole days! It hardly seems worth it these days to manage all these points.
Hope to see some good offer in next PointBreaks round!
That would be great
Thank you for letting me know. Not happy with IHG
It is like an inflation…. but steep one.
tough news
Changes always changes and rarely for the better, that’s too bad. Thanks for the update
The only constant in this “game” is points will always be devalued.
Thanks to you I booked some before they went up!
Sigh. Another devaluation. Thanks for sharing though.
good old devlautation!!! That’s the name of 2019!!!
That’s bad for those who would like to vacation in Australia.
How long did this take to go into effect? Seems like it was a very quick turnaround. Seems disingenuous.
I recall past devaluations at least having a little more time to book before the devaluation took effect.
Was going to book a stay this weekend and use up my certificate and some points for a trip to Bay area – that will teach me to check in here more often. Low move on IHG’s part to do this with basically no notice.
Thanks for the post. One of the properties that I was looking at seems to have gone up. I should have booked earlier.
It’s hard to keep up!
Oh no …time to switch to another hotel chain. But most of them are the same. Maybe it is time to just book based on cost rather than loyalty.
I would go with Hilton
You could also try Hyatt. Depending on where you travel, I have heard a lot of good things on Hyatt places especially if you go to Mexico.
So from today new increased points for redemption in many IHG hotels.
I only hope they will increase the number of hotels in the PointBreaks promo.
I tried to book several hotels in South Florida where the number of points required are increasing. For February 2019 none of them had award nights available for the dates I want to book, I guess I am out of luck!
Too late to do anything about it now, especially when notice is given after the devaluation.
(I have to imagine) Many of us still possess Chase Free Night Certs issued later in 2018 that are not yet subject to the 40k points /night limitation.
Thanks for the reminder! Better to book ahead!
These constant devaluations are making impossible long-term plans
I feel like IHG is one of the worst offenders for no-notice devaluations. How convenient for them 86% of US hotels are increasing…
Not happy with IHG
What a bad trend!
Not something pleasant to learn.
Who has IHG as their main frequent stay program?
Ouch, and with that brand not having any new properties in our area (just run-down ones) things are not improving
Hi Thanks for the reminder . I need to book a Hotel in Cape Town .
I wonder whether the big credit card sign up bonuses are to blame for the rapid devaluation across programs.
How much more can IHG customers take? I estimate the value of IHG points has fallen by at least 30% (or maybe nearer 40%) in the last 3-4 years.
Make travel plans before the changes.
This is quite a limited time to act! Thanks for the heads up thou.
Such a shame to see a hit this significant.
I’m really amazed how much more valuable IHG points were when I started collecting them.
Thank you for posting the list. Not happy to see the devaluations as nearly all that I would be using this year have increased in price, but I have often wished for a list just like this when planning trips and didn’t know they were available. It is really helpful!
Thanks for the update. Its sad.
I’m sure they will keep devaluing in future depending on the response from consumers.
I’m sorry to hear this!
Thank you for the information.
sad to see the devaluation.
Bad for us, as usual …
Australia is hard hit by this devaluation, more than 1 in 3 properties have changed, 16 have increased and only 1 has gone down.
Category creep is definitely not a surprise. Still, an important note: there are still many of us with Chase Free Night Certs that can be used at *any* IHG property. Mine was issued in September, and still fell under the ‘one more go for good will’ which Chase gave both new and existing cardholders after announcing the limit. (FWIW: I double checked and it appears I can still redeem my CFNC at properties costing 70,000 points/night, for instance).
Devaluation is never a good thing.
Oh sad news. I saw this pop up as a message that there was a new post and just frowned. Never good news and I thought this would be a few years away for more devaluation but I guess not.
Are there any tells when a hotel company is going to increase price? That way I don’t have to scramble to book something I was planning for.
This is a huge devaluation.
They don’t have any more lot of hotels for which they can require less points.
Next devaluation will be even worse, increase of the maximum points required and very few hotels decreasing the price in points!
IHG is feeling the pressure. This sucks, their points value were one of the best before and now it is going downhill fast.
I’m not happy with this nor am I shocked.
I expect more chains to follow suit
Thank you for sharing this! I was looking at IHG properties tonight and of course my preferred hotels are on the list to be devalued. I’ll be booking sooner rather than later.
Well that sucks
Worth locking in at current prices before the changes.
Earn and burn, I guess only a recession will slow down all these devaluations.
Another day, another deval …..
These devaluations prove you can’t have too many points or miles.
This might explain the generous 5,000 points IHG were giving away through social media in December!
Devaluations happen so earn and burn. It is really too bad that this has happened, but it is a fact of this points and miles game. Thanks for the notice about this change.
Devaluations are always bad news, but this one seems fairly commonplace and not too harsh.
Sigh. Nature of the “game” I guess. And a good reminder not to hoard points for no reason if you don’t have to.
Yes, earn and burn!
HFP (Head For Points) announced this a couple of weeks ago.
Crying into my pint.
If I had to visit Mexico I would be less worried – that seems to be where most of the reductions are !!!!!
There are not many reductions at all.
bummer on the devaluation. Thanks for the advance notice!!
With the devaluation of the free night certificate that comes with the “new” credit card and this massive category increase, I see no reason to remain loyal to IHG because they sure aren’t loyal to their customers.
And, that right there is what this dance is all about. They want to offer as little as possible to get your loyalty. And, they all are always testing the lowest limit. And, then watch for any great exodus.
I still have a bitter taste in my mouth after IHG/Chase decided to make the annual free night cert useless. (40K points cap is just too low IMHO, making the cert useless)
It feels like all I read as of late is of devaluation and cc tightening restrictions…. I hope for a resurgence soon….
That seems to be the recent trend lol.
I wonder if IHG loyalty members started writing in to complain about the lack of notice and the changes if it would have any effect?