How to get IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite for free
Score more points, room upgrades and free drinks with this limited-time promotion.
Here's a handy trick to get your hotel status upgraded if you're staying at an IHG Hotels & Resorts property.
IHG's most recognisable brands include Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental.
Like many hotel chains, IHG's loyalty scheme, IHG One Rewards, offers extra benefits for higher-tier members.
And right now you can upgrade from a free regular membership to its Platinum Elite tier at no cost.
The key benefits of Platinum Elite status are:
- 60% bonus points earned for each stay
- Complimentary room upgrades (when rooms available)
- Option of either a welcome drink or welcome points bonus
You can register for the promotion and score the upgrade up until 31 July 2022, whether you're an existing or new member.
You'll have that upgraded status for 120 days from when you first register.
If you complete 5 qualifying stays at IHG properties during that 120 days, you'll retain Platinum Elite until 31 December 2022. (15 nights in the same period gets you to Diamond Elite, but that's more travel than most people are likely to manage.)
If you have an existing single visit booked at an IHG property between July and November this year, it's worth registering just to get those extra perks.
And if you're planning a holiday during the second half of the year, that upgrade might put IHG locations on your radar where they hadn't been previously.
Booking 5 nights purely to extend your status is probably overkill for most people, but it's worth exploring your options.
One catch to remember: If you book a stay through an aggregator like Hotels.com or Bookings.com, your stay won't count towards qualification.
As I've noted before, my own main hotel loyalty scheme is Accor Live Limitless, because Accor has so many properties in Australia.
But I have signed up for this promotion, and booked a couple of stays in IHG properties while I'll get the extra perks.
Want to keep your frequent flyer points balance growing? Check out the latest credit card sign-up deals.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more.
Pictures: IHG
