Over 100 IHG properties to be reflagged as Sonesta hotels
Nick Ellis joined The Points Guy in 2016 as an intern and is now Reviews Editor, primarily responsible for arranging, writing (some of), editing and publishing reviews of hotels and airport lounges along with helping manage, write and edit travel content.
Aug. 27, 2020
•
2 min read
Over 100 IHG properties to be reflagged as Sonesta hotels
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A payment dispute between InterContinental Hotels Group and an investment company that owns more than 100 hotels under the IHG brand has led to a dissolution of the management and branding relationship between the two entities.
As a result, 103 hotels that currently fall under the IHG family of brands will be reflagged as Sonesta properties in the coming weeks.
According to Travel Weekly, Service Properties Trust (SVC) says that IHG did not pay over $8 million in guaranteed returns to the company's 103 owned properties in July and that it missed another $17+ million that came due Aug. 1.
The current relationship is set to expire in November of this year with all 103 properties transitioning to the Royal Sonesta, Sonesta and Sonesta ES Suites brands on or around Nov. 30.
The 100+ properties being reflagged include dozens of extended-stay and full-service hotels across six brands in the U.S., including three InterContinentals, three Holiday Inns, five Kimptons, 11 Crowne Plazas, 20 Staybridge Suites and 61 Candlewood Suites.
Notably, hotels such as the InterContinental San Juan and Kimpton hotels in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Portland and Seattle will leave IHG, eliminating some high-end options for those with IHG points to burn.
Once these hotels fall under the Sonesta family, it will increase the chain's footprint significantly in North America, bringing it to 160 properties total in the United States.
In a press release from SVC, John Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of SVC, noted that Sonesta currently manages 16 properties that were reflagged from IHG in 2012, and they've seen increases in both total annual revenue and EBITDA after their conversion. The chain believes these new-to-the-family hotels will see similar results once individual markets and the travel industry at large stabilize in the coming months and years.
Featured image by DENNIS RIVERA
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Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
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- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
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- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
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- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
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- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees