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IHG Delays Implementation of (Mostly-Negative) Category Changes Until Jan. 25

Jan. 17, 2019
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2 min read
Holiday Inn Maldives
IHG Delays Implementation of (Mostly-Negative) Category Changes Until Jan. 25
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If you procrastinated booking your upcoming IHG award stays -- or are just hearing about these category changes -- you've gotten a lucky break. Instead of making changes to its 694 hotels on Jan. 14, IHG is now making these changes on Jan. 25.

You can access the full list of changes in this leaked PDF file. Unfortunately, there's no sortable version available online, and IHG hasn't shared this document with its IHG Rewards members.

That said, I dug into the changes to find that there are 547 properties going up by 5,000 points per night. 27 properties are jumping by 50% from 10,000 points per night to 15,000 points per night with 19 of these being in the United States. Overall, there's 387 US properties increasing by 5k per night. And there's 25 properties worldwide that already cost 45,000 points per night that are going up to at least 50,000 points per night.

If you're looking for ideas about what to book before the changes, here are six properties that are increasing from 40,000 points per night to 45,000 points per night. For the rare IHG co-branded cardholder that has a capped annual free night, these are six solid properties that won't be available with the capped annual free night after these changes go into effect on Jan. 25. For everyone else, these are six of the 547 properties going up by 5,000 points per night that you might want to book before Jan. 25.

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.