PriorityClub Reward Nights devalued and 2 months grace period

A few hours ago I blogged about the PriorityClub Reward Nights valuations being readjusted. However, at that time, Priority Club seemed to have forgotten to put up the award charts on the table. They did do that shortly after and here is how the new chart looks like:

IHG has usually followed a hotel brand based redemption level, and in this latest round, they’ve just added more tiers in the redemption tables. I’d have assumed this would have happened after the points they minted away in last year’s promos. Here are the key changes, which are going to affect about 25% of the hotels:

  • Candlewoods at 20K (New 20K tier added)
  • Intercontinentals at 50K (New 50K tier added)
  • Holiday Inns at 20K (New 20K tier between 15K and 25K)
  • Indigos at 25K (New 25K tier added)
  • CrownePlaza at 35K (New 35K tier added)

Now, I see more devaluations on this chart than value additions, but as customers, you and me should only expect to be squeezed and be at the short end of the stick, right? But if you plan to burn your points in Bangkok, the InterContinental Bangkok will go down to 30K instead of 40K PC points at present…

A 2 month grace period, anyone?

According to USA Today’s travel columnist, Priority Club does not want to be in for a massive backlash after it weaned HHonors members with the Luckiest Loser promo in 2010. So, if you want to be booking at the old rate, you just gotta call the PC line, and through March, you should be conveniently book with the old rates. This information, apparently, will not be put out on the record in a press release by IHG executives, but they gave it away to the Media anyways!

More details will come in shortly, I hope. Watch this space for more…

About Ajay

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge (LFAL), a pioneering digital platform renowned for publishing news and views about aviation, hotels, passenger experience, loyalty programs, travel trends and frequent travel tips for the Global Indian. He is considered the Indian authority on business travel, luxury travel, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credit cards and travel for Indians around the globe. Ajay is a frequent contributor and commentator on the media as well, including ET Now, BBC, CNBC TV18, NDTV, Conde Nast Traveller and many other outlets.

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Comments

  1. More updates. The reps said the extension will be automatic if we ask for it when we BOOK. Also, the reps have had NO info on this yet. They will have training on the new facts in 3 hrs. Ugg….

    • I’d guess IHG would tie up the loose ends before actually effecting the reward point changes from 18th January 2012

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