IHG hotels acquired Kimpton 3 years ago, paying substantially more than any other bidder was willing to offer, and as far as I can tell they’ve largely bungled the deal.

You can now use IHG points to redeem for Kimpton hotels and Kimpton’s own loyalty program is no more. The new program diluted the unique attributes of Kimpton loyalty. And it was the uniqueness of the properties that attracted guests, not the sameness of midscale lodging experts IHG.

Credit: Hotel Palomar, DC

Bolstering my take that Kimpton has languished under its new owners is a new rich offer for booking Kimpton stays. Hotel occupancy and rates are at historic highs. Hotels in general aren’t having to spend much to put heads in beds, jsut look at the meager second quarter bonus from Marriott and Starwood.

If you book a two or more night pre-paid Kimpton stay by May 9 you will earn a free night at any IHG hotels property.

• Stay through September 16
  
• You pay the ‘best flexible rate’ (BAR) and with this offer it is prepaid, non-refundable
  
• You can take advantage of this promo 15 times
  
• Free night will expire March 31, 2019 and will be deposited in your account within 4 weeks of checkout

Rate availability is limited and not all Kimpton properties are participating. Here are the 21 properties that are:

• Alexandria | Old Town: Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa
  
• Baltimore | Inner Harbor: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore
  
• Boston | Downtown: Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel
  
• Chicago | Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Palomar Chicago
  
• Denver | Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
  
• Miami | Oceanfront: Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel
  
• Miami | South Beach: Kimpton Angler’s Hotel
  
• Minneapolis | Downtown: Kimpton Grand Hotel Minneapolis
  
• Phoenix | Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
  
• Portland | Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland
  
• San Diego | Downtown: Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego
  
• San Diego | Gaslamp Quarter: Kimpton Solamar Hotel
  
• San Francisco | Japantown: Kimpton Buchanan Hotel
  
• San Francisco | Union Square: Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel
  
• Santa Barbara | Goleta: Kimpton Goodland
  
• Washington | Downtown: Kimpton Donovan Hotel
  
• Washington | Downtown: Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel
  
• Washington | Dupont Circle: Kimpton Hotel Madera
  
• Washington | Dupont Circle: Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC
  
• Washington | Dupont Circle: Kimpton Rouge Hotel
  
• Washington | Dupont Circle: Kimpton Topaz Hotel

You’ll pay a bit more over the course of the 2 nights for your stay, and get a free night that should be worth several hundred dollars. It doesn’t make sense to go out and book 2 Kimpton nights you don’t need for this promo, but it does make sense to book Kimpton over another chain if you can take advantage of the promo.

(HT: MilesTalk)