New IHG Anniversary Award Night List of Excluded Properties
Earlier today I wrote about the (horrific) changes coming to the IHG credit card anniversary award night. There is no delicate way to dance around what happens to the IHG anniversary night beginning with those issued on May 1, 2018, and onwards...the value of the award nights is being decimated based on the letter mailed to existing cardmembers. The IHG credit card anniversary award night will go from being a nearly unrestricted certificate you can use at any IHG (or Kimpton) property around the world, to only being worth a stay at a property that costs up to 40,000 IHG points per night. The IHG award chart currently goes as high as 70,000 points per night, so that means there are many nicer properties in aspirational locations that cost between 40,000 and 70,000 points per night that will no longer be on the table when using this award night.
IHG Anniversary Award Night List of Excluded Properties
When I first shared that information, I didn't yet have a link to a list of excluded properties, but you can access a list of IHG properties where you cannot use the anniversary award nights here.
What is very confusing about this excluded list is that while it says the properties as a result of requiring more than 40,000 points per night, that is not actually always the case. For example, the Intercontinental Prague and Intercontinental Kansas City are both on the list of excluded properties, and yet both cost right at 40,000 points per night.
I have tweeted and emailed IHG to understand if this is intentional, and a property can indeed be excluded from the credit card anniversary night despite being at or below the stated 40,000 points per night threshold.
To be clear, it may still be worth holding onto the IHG card with a $49 annual fee since many 40,000 points per night hotels cost much more than that with cash, but the value of this anniversary award night will be nowhere close to what it used to be - especially if IHG properties can be excluded despite being at or below the 40,000 point threshold.
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