IHG Rewards elite status requirements lowered for 2020

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If you’re targeting IHG Rewards status this year and have been wondering how you’re going hit the necessary targets with all the travel restrictions that are being put in place (I suspect more are on the way) there’s good news for you – IHG has announced that it is reducing its elite status targets for 2020.

The newly reduced criteria for IHG Rewards Club status look like this…

a chart with text overlay…and apply to all IHG Rewards members worldwide (they’re not limited to members in specific countries).

It would be remiss of me not to point out two important things:

  1. IHG Rewards status isn’t exactly the most rewarding status in the world so you should make sure you know what it offers (here) before you make (or continue to make) any concerted effort to reach one of the tiers.
  2. If you have access to US credit cards, the card_name gives all cardholders Platinum status for as long as they hold the card so, if Platinum is the status you’re aiming for, an annual_fees/year credit card (which is currently offering a nice welcome bonus) may be the more economical path to status.

Don’t forget that IHG is also running a promotion offering up to 4x points on stays made through 15 May as well as a promotion offering a free night on stays of 4 nights or more at select properties so, if you’re still planning to book some stays, these promotions may be of use.

Bottom line

It’s nice to see IHG Rewards recognize the fact that with all that’s going on in the world right now a lot of people will probably be finding it tough to meet the existing targets for status – a lowering of the targets is a good move.

With a ban on travel to/from select European counties about to take effect and with reports that domestic travel is slowing dramatically, I suspect that IHG Rewards won’t be the only loyalty program to make temporary changes to its elite status requirements – standby to see others (like Hilton) dropping their status requirement levels too.

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