Several times since Jan. 2022, IHG has offered 15% or 20% off award stays of three nights or less. Now, the sale is back, and IHG One Rewards members with a Chase IHG Rewards credit card can get 20% off select award stays.
IHG members with a Chase IHG Rewards credit card got an email about this promotion (mine was titled “Hey Kathryn, enjoy 20% off Reward Nights through 3/10”) on Jan. 9, but Loyalty Lobby noted the 20% discount before the emails were sent.
When I log-in to my account and do an eligible award search, I see a message stating, “As a cardmember, you are eligible for a 20% discount on Reward Nights.”
Eligible IHG cardholders can get a 20% discount on reward nights when booking stays of three consecutive nights or less by Jan. 20. Eligible members must log into their IHG One Rewards account, book award stays at participating hotels and start their stay by March 10, 2023, to be eligible for the discount.
IHG is also discounting the cash portion of points and cash awards.
Skeptics may note that IHG uses dynamic pricing and could raise award prices due to this promotion. So, I checked that IHG is applying a discount by searching for the above award at the Holiday Inn Express: Los Angeles – LAX Airport in California, twice: once when logged into my IHG One Rewards account (which is linked to an eligible IHG cobranded card account) and once when logged out.
The best flexible rate with the same cancellation policy as the reward night shown in the above screenshot is $237.34. So for this booking, you’d get:
- 0.899 cents per point if you redeem 26,400 points.
- 0.969 cents per point if you redeem 21,400 points plus $30.
- 1.075 cents per point if you redeem 16,400 points plus $61.
- 1.310 cents per point if you redeem 11,400 points plus $88.
- 1.958 cents per point if you redeem 6,400 points plus $112.
- 7.310 cents per point if you redeem 1,400 points plus $135.
Here are the award prices I found for this same stay when logged out of my account:
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As you can see, IHG discounts both the points and the points and cash rate when I’m logged in. You don’t need to register for the promotion or do anything special to get the discount if you’re an eligible cardholder — just log in to your IHG account and search for award nights as you usually would.
Based on my searches, even Six Senses properties that you can book with IHG points are discounted during this promotion — like this example at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives.
Since this promotion is only for award stays of three nights or less, it isn’t stackable with the fourth-night reward offered as a benefit on the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
If you’re eligible for this promotion, check award rates and consider rebooking if you have IHG award stays booked during the stay period.
If you don’t have an eligible IHG credit card, check back in the coming days. After all, IHG opened similar promotions in the past to select elite members after the first few days.
Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption
Bottom line
If you have a stay of three nights or less coming up with IHG and are eligible, check if this 20% discount changes your calculations on whether you should book a paid stay or redeem IHG points.
If you need to earn more IHG One Rewards points, remember that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points to IHG. But, depending on how you value these currencies, you may be better off buying the IHG points you need.
Related: Should you buy IHG points or transfer points from Chase?
Source: thepointsguy.com