IHG Rewards is adding a new hotel in the Maldives
IHG has confirmed that an existing Maldivian resort will be coming under the wing of one of its brands by the end of the year and if the images and online reviews are to be believed, this could be a very nice addition to IHG Rewards.
Two IHG deals for stays in the Middle East, Africa, India & South Asia
Alongside the resorts sale that we wrote about yesterday, IHG is also running two further deals, and these are for stays across the Middle East, Africa, India and South Asia.
IHG sale: Breakfast + up to 20% off at resorts in the Maldives &...
IHG has launched a new sale in which it's offering guests complimentary breakfast and up to 20% off on bookings at select resorts across Asia, Oceania and the Pacific for stays made deep into next year.
Texas has got a new upscale hotel – the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk
With the opening of the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk on 1 August 2024, Texas finds itself with a new high-end property at which miles & points enthusiasts can put their elite status to good use (especially if they hold Ambassador status) and where they can use their hard-earned points.
IHG will soon offer EV charging at all its properties in the US &...
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The IHG European spring sale is now live (up to 20% off)
The IHG spring sale (for bookings at the chain's participating European properties) is now live and runs through to 5 March for stays into 2025. The sale is in two parts. For most IHG properties the sale is offering IHG One Rewards members up to 20% off a property's best flexible rate, while the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts have their own deal with savings of up to 15%.
Deal: Earn 10 Amex points/dollar (or 10% cash back) on IHG bookings
Rakuten is back with another good cash back offer with which you can earn 10% cash back or 10 Amex Membership Rewards Points per dollar on most IHG (InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, etc...) bookings. It's not clear how long this offer will last for so don't wait too long if you have an IHG stay that you need to book.
A look at seven of the major hotel best rate guarantees (what they say...
The rules of the various best rate guarantees offered by the major hotel chains and the compensation these guarantees offers can vary significantly, so what you'll find in this article is a look at each of the key guarantees currently published and some of my thoughts on what they offer.
A look inside the refurbished Intercontinental Bangkok (classic room, spa, pool + more)
In May of 2022, the InterContinental Bangkok closed for a much needed refurbishment and a little over a year later, in June 2023, the property reopened with renovated rooms and public areas as well as a refreshed Club Lounge. On our recent visit to the Thai capital, I stopped by the InterContinental Bangkok (not to be confused with the new InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit) to see what effect the refurbishment has had, and you can see the results of the refurbishment below.
The new InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit (our first look)
The InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit is IHG's the newest luxury property in Bangkok and following a soft opening that started on 1 December, the property will be celebrating its official grand opening tomorrow, 23 January 2024. Over the weekend, TFM was shown around the latest addition to the InterContinental brand, so this is where I'm going to share the pictures that were taken on the tour.
InterContinental London – The O2 (a mini review)
Towards the end of December, I had a one night stay at the InterContinental London O2, and while that one night wasn't quite long enough for full review of the property, what follows should give you a good idea of what you can expect when you stay.
Booking an IHG stay? Get up to 12% cash back with these offers
The dawn of a new year usually sees a rise in the number of people planning and booking travel, and with IHG currently running a winter sale for stays in Europe, there's a good chance that quite a few people are considering an IHG property for their next trip. What a lot of these people may not know is that they can currently get up to 12% cash back on their new booking.
The InterContinental Carlton Cannes will reopen as the Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, on...
The final months of 2022 brought bad news for members of the InterContinental Ambassador program. In November, IHG confirmed that Ambassador benefits will no longer be offered at Regent Hotels & Resorts and that the programs free weekend night certificate will no longer be useable at Kimpton properties. And in December, we were told that the InterContinental Carlton Cannes would be reflagged as the Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, following refurbishment works.
Booking IHG reward nights? Beware the hidden junk fees!
When you make an award booking with Hilton or Hyatt you don't have to worry about resort/destination/amenity fees because those chains waive their junk fees on award bookings. You don't even have to hold elite status with Hilton or Hyatt to avoid these fees because everyone gets junk fees waived when booking awards with these guys. Sadly, the same is not true of award bookings with IHG or Marriott.
InterContinental Ambassador members lose an important option in Europe
The past few weeks haven't brought good news for members of the InterContinental Ambassador program. Back in November, IHG confirmed that Ambassador benefits soon won't be offered at Regent Hotels & Resorts and that the programs free weekend night certificate will no longer be useable at Kimpton properties, and now we're told that a major InterContinental property in Europe is being reflagged.
IHG is adding up to 70 all-inclusive properties to its portfolio
IHG is the latest of the big hotel groups to decide that it needs to increase its foothold in the all-inclusive market so in a move that will see up to 70 new properties coming under the IHG umbrella, it has announced a strategic partnership with Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.
IHG announces that it will open new Paris property in 2023
IHG announced the launch of the 'upscale' voco brand back in 2018 and we're told that to date, the brand has expanded at a faster pace than any other brand in the IHG stable. In 2023, that expansion is set to continue with the opening of the voco Paris Porte de Clichy.
IHG has opened a new Kimpton in the Mediterranean
IHG has announced the opening of its latest property in Spain with the Kimpton Aysla Mallorca now accepting guests. We're told that the property "emulates a sanctuary of luxury and wellness" and that it has "a strong and exclusive commitment to active leisure and local contemporary art" (no, I don't know how a hotel can have an "exclusive commitment to active leisure either).
Review: The InterContinental London Park Lane
Recently, I found myself back in London and in need of a centrally located hotel that was an easy walk from an underground station and an easy walk a number of places that I needed to visit during my very short stay. Given that I had an IHG One Rewards certificate sitting in my account that was due to expire at the end of the year, this seemed like a good opportunity to save some money and take a look at a property that I hadn't stayed it in quite a few years.
Australia Will Get A New InterContinental Property This Year
Australia is already home to seven InterContinental properties but by the end of 2021, that number will go up to eight following the announcement that the Hotel Continental on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula will reopen as the InterContinental Sorrento later this year.
Some Six Senses Resorts Are Now Bookable With IHG Rewards Points
IHG announced the purchase of Six Senses Hotels Resorts for $300m in February 2019 and IHG Rewards members shave been waiting patiently ever since to be given a chance to use their points to book these luxurious properties. Now, that wait is over (at least in part) because 6 of the Six Senses properties are now showing award night availability on IHG's website.
IHG Announces A New Kimpton For Europe
IHG's Kimpton brand has a staunchly loyal following (one that dates back well before the brand was purchased by IHG) but it has long been a brand with a very US-centric portfolio. In recent years, however, Kimpton has been expanding outside of the United States and the latest property to be announced is a second new Kimpton for Spain.
Kimpton’s New Secret Password Has Been Revealed
Kimpton is the boutique hotel brand that has built itself up into a position in which it generates a great deal of loyalty and affection from its more frequent guests, and its the boutique hotel brand which has somehow pulled off the trick of maintaining this relationship despite being engulfed by the behemoth that is IHG.
IHG Adds 400 Mr & Mrs Smith Properties (More Coming)
A little over a year ago, IHG announced a new partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith (a boutique hotel "travel club") and, earlier this month, a trickle of Mr & Mrs Smith properties started appearing on the IHG website. Now that trickle has turned into a flow with IHG confirming that 400 Mr & Mrs Smith properties are now bookable on its site.
IHG Is Starting To Add Mr & Mrs Smith Properties To IHG Rewards
On 23 September 2019 IHG announced that it was entering into a partnership with "Mr & Mrs Smith" which would allow IHG Rewards Club members to earn and burn points at 500+ more properties around the world. With Mr & Mrs Smith offering a significant number of upscale boutique hotels this was huge news for fans of IHG Rewards but up until now, there have been no further updates from IHG.
Warning: IHG & Marriott Flexible Cancellation Policies Are Ending
IHG and Marriott are the first major hotel chains to confirm that they're ending their flexible cancellation policies which have been available on all bookings since the beginning of the current crisis. At the time of writing, Hilton, Hyatt, and Radisson have not yet followed suit, but with their current policies expiring at the same time as the Marriott and IHG policies expire, there's scope for these three chains to go down the same path.
Incredible: IHG Is Set To Lose Over 100 Properties In North America
The next time you're searching IHG.com for accommodation in North America you may find that a number of properties you've been used to seeing in the past are no longer there. This isn't a glitch or a temporary system error, it's because IHG has just lost over 100 of it's North American properties to a considerably smaller operator.
IHG Is Opening An InterContinental Property In Rome
IHG has announced that it will be reintroducing the InterContinental brand to Rome 6 years after the last property to carry the InterContinental name in the Italian capital (the InterContinental De La Ville) was reflagged as a Rocco Forte property.
How IHG Has Gone From Hero To Zero Very Quickly
It was way back on 12 March that IHG Rewards was the first major loyalty program (from the hotel or airline industry) to take measures to make it easier for its members to earn/retain status this year but that appears to have been the end of the program's interest in looking after its members and guests.
IHG Rewards Adds 500+ Properties To Its Portfolio In One Go!
IHG Rewards has just announced a partnership with "Mr & Mrs Smith" which will see IHG Rewards members able to earn and burn their points at over 500 new properties across the world.
Review: The InterContinental Sydney
There are two InterContinental properties in Sydney but with the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay being the less central of the two properties, it was a straightforward decision to choose the InterContinental Sydney as our second hotel on this visit to the city (the first was the Sydney Harbour Marriott).
IHG Adds Three Luxury Properties To The InterContinental Alliance
InterContinental Alliance Resorts are properties that aren't actually part of the IHG portfolio (like hotels branded as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, etc...) but which have an agreement with IHG to participate in the IHG Rewards program and, to a degree, the InterContinental Ambassador program.
IHG Launches Atwell Suites – A New All-Suites Brand
IHG has just unveiled the latest brand it is introducing into its portfolio at a conference in Las Vegas and, with it, the hotelier says it's looking to target an estimated $18bn industry segment focusing on all-suite properties in the upper-midscale sector of the market.
RIP OFF ALERT: Now The InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Is Charging A ‘Facility Fee’
A few weeks ago I noticed that the Andaz West Hollywood has started charging a 'Destination Fee' of $23.10 to all guests other that Hyatt's top-tier elites and now, not to be outdone by an upstart in West Hollywood, the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown has added a 'Facility Fee' of its own.
IHG Buys Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas For $300m
IHG has announced the purchase of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas for the sum of $300m. The purchase covers all the Six Senses brand and operating companies but dies not include any physical real estate assets.
IHG Confirms A Big Expansion Of Its Kimpton Brand
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Do You Know About Kimpton’s Last Minute Deals?
One of the things I love most about writing this blog is that the research I have to do means that I'm constantly learning new things about the travel industry and constantly discovering ways I can save cash when I travel.
While I'm a big fan of making airline bookings way in advance I'm beginning to hold off from making any hotel/accommodation bookings until much closer to my actual trips - I'm finding that I'm getting better deals that way and, by delaying the reservations I make, I'm finding myself in a better position to make the most of any hotel promotions that come around.
IHG Adds Tesla Charging Stations To All Crown Plaza Properties In Australasia
Tesla is the only electric car manufacturer that has succeeded in making serious inroads into the motor industry (you can't move for Tesla Model S vehicles in LA) and, as more and more people jump on the Tesla bandwagon, it's becoming increasingly important for hotels to provide guests with somewhere the can charge their vehicle overnight.
The InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Is Now Open…And It Looks Good!
IHG has announced the opening of the 5-star InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown which forms part of the Wilshire Grand Center. That puts the property a 5 minute Uber ride or, if you're feeling adventurous, a 15 - 20 minute walk away from the Staples Center and LA Live.
Quick Look: Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel – Single Room
This is the second "quick look" post I've done of Holiday Inn properties at Heathrow (the first was the Holiday Inn Heathrow T5) and, once again, my visit was purely as a result of the IHG Summer Accelerate promotion I discussed earlier this week.
Just like with the Holiday Inn Heathrow T5 I spent enough time at the property to get a good look around (as hopefully the pictures will show) but I didn't stay the night so you should bear that in mind when forming any opinions from what I post here.
Quick Look: Holiday Inn Heathrow Terminal 5
I visited the Holiday Inn Heathrow Terminal 5 as part of my plan to earn some quick IHG rewards points before the summer Accelerate promotion ended. I spent a little bit of time at the property but I didn’t end up spending the night (that is something you need to bear in mind when drawing any of your own conclusions from this post).
I may not have spent the night but I knew I was going to be writing this post so I made sure to take a few pictures to show you what the property offers.
Review: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa – Overwater Bungalow
Joanna and I recently visited the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort - one of the most aspirational properties you can book with IHG Rewards points - and this is part 2 of the review of the resort. In part 1 of the review I looked at the location of the resort, the arrivals process, our check-in and the first impressions we got as we explored the resort's grounds. In this part I'll take a look at the accommodation we booked.
Review: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa – Arrival & The Resort
There is simply too much to say about the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa to fit into one blog post so I'm going to split this review up into more manageable sizes.
In this section of the review I'm going to focus on the transfer from the airport to the resort, the check-in process and our first look around the resort grounds and its amenities. Other blog posts will cover the accommodation, the dining and how we paid for the stay in the first place.
UK To Get The First “Next-Generation” Holiday Inn Express Properties
An idea for a new concept in hotel room design, that was discussed towards the beginning of 2015, has been put into action by...
Review: InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam
Towards the middle of last month Joanna and I took a quick 3-night trip to Amsterdam courtesy of an IHG Rewards promotion. Aside from really wanting...