IHG Announces Award Category Changes at 400 Locations
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card
Last year, IHG announced significant changes to its loyalty program, including a new top tier elite level and points expiration policy. Then the brand announced it would be changing the award night requirements for 450 properties, raising redemptions by 5,000 or 10,000 points at 300 locations and lowering redemptions by 5,000 points at 150 locations. Today, IHG is issuing yet another round of new award night requirements.
Here's what you need to know: Award night redemptions will either increase or decrease by 5,000 or 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points at approximately 400 of their more than 5,000 hotels worldwide. All reward night reservations made prior to February 17 will be honored by the brand at the current point requirement levels.
In the last round of IHG's award night requirement increases, notable properties included the InterContinental Hong Kong, InterContinental Presidente Cozumel Resort Spa and the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, among others. However, if this award night redemption increase has you feeling discouraged, IHG announced its latest list of PointBreaks hotels earlier this week. PointBreaks properties offer customers stays for just 5,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night at more than 150 select properties in its global portfolio — a pretty good deal for some properties that are normally as much as 30,000 points per night.
Specific Hotel Changes
Although approximately 400 hotels will be changing the cost of their award nights, many are just roadside or small town properties that probably won't impact most travelers' plans — you can check out the full list on IHG's website — however, there were a few properties that could potentially encourage or discourage travelers from choosing to stay at a specific property.
InterContinental Hong Kong
Rated as one of the best hotels in the city, the InterContinental Hong Kong is equipped with exceptional views of the surrounding cityscape. The incredible property's award night redemption was increased during last year's changes from 45,000 to 50,000 — this year the increase expanded from 50,000 points per night to 60,000.
InterContinental Carlton Cannes
The luxurious InterContinental Carlton Cannes overlooks the picturesque Bay of Cannes in southern France. The property also has its own exclusive beach restaurant and pier. Rewards nights will soon require 60,000 points per night, up from the current 50,000.
Holiday Inn Express Shangdi Beijing
The Holiday Inn Express Shangdi Beijing is located in the heart of the Zhongguancun Shangdi Information Industry Base, making it a popular location for business travelers. This property is increasing its redemption awards from 10,000 to 20,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night.
However, with all the negative changes mentioned, there are some sweet spots in the mix. IHG decreased the number of points required for award stays for a few notable properties, including the InterContinental Sao Paulo (from 40,000 points per night to 35,000), the Crowne Plaza Nanjing Jiangning in China (from 30,000 points per night to 25,000), the Crowne Plaza Padova in Italy (from 30,000 points per night to 25,000) and the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Tampa N — Busch Gardens Area (from 20,000 points per night to 15,000).
You can sign up for the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, which comes with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. It also comes with an annual free night each year of membership. One thing IHG has going for itself is sheer size as there are more than 5,000 properties worldwide. And while many of them are unexceptional, there are some nice properties worth the award night redemptions.
Which properties on the list caught your eye?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees