Marty reports that several Priority Club hotels have gone up in redemption price over the past few weeks.
I booked an award room at HI Rochester Airport, NY a few weeks ago and it was 10K points. Now it is 15K points.
Also, I noticed that IC Monterey, CA is now 40K – use to be 30K
Other changes that I’ve noticed:
Huntsville, Ontario HIX 15K -> 25K
Calgary (YYC) Airport HIX (45 HOPEWELL WAY ) 15K -> 25K
Grove City, PA HIX 15K -> 25K
Salt Lake City Airport East HIX 15K-25K
I haven’t seen any communication from Priority Club about increasing the points cost of (some) hotels at all, and don’t have any sort of comprehensive list of changes. I’ve asked Priority Club for clarification, we’ll see if any is forthcoming.
Last Oct. and Nov., many HI, HIX properties in China went up to 15K from 10K.
I also asked same question to both hotel sales manager and PCR.
Both didn’t answer clearly, but just told me it can be change anytime, usually depends on average sales and occupancy.
Another recent change is the new disclaimer for Entertainment Rate rates. I’ve checked several different properties and they all state: “Priority Club Reward Points do not apply to this offer.”
I presume that means now no points will be awarded for any Ent rate booking?
iirc, in the past sometimes points wouldn’t be awarded if the discount was substantial. Now even a very minimal savings ($3 in some instances) results in a points loss
This new language is on my upcoming reservation detail but not on the rate description emailed to me at the time of booking last month.
I wonder whether I have a fight in my future?
Entertainment rates have never earned points.
Priority Club reward night rates are difficult to track since the website provides no master list for the tiered levels of Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and InterContinental Hotels.
Here is a list of April 2010 reward levels froma U.K. site. These can be used to compare current rates to 2010 rates.
InterContinental Hotels – http://www.chonetsao.co.uk/iccensor.html
HI/HIX 10,000 points hotels –
http://www.chonetsao.co.uk/ihg1015k.html
HI/HIX 25,000 points hotels
http://www.chonetsao.co.uk/ihg25k.html
Too often, we look at one side of the equation. Points/miles required for a redemption are just half of the picture. What it costs to acquire the currency is the other. Priority Club points are acquired for peanuts. I have tens of thousands in several family accounts, all earned at little to no cost via promotions. In contrast, I’m rarely able to secure freebie points for Starwood. Therefore, if IHG requires three times as many points per night versus SPG but IHG points are four times as cheap/easy to earn, I end up ahead. Food for thought.
They are devaluing a lot of things. Take this new “scratch-off” promotion coming to a Holiday Inn Express near you. You get a scratch card, and they different cards for whatever is your membership level. I am platinum so they gave me a “platinum scratch ticket.” I was so excited…I was hoping to win the 10,000 Priority Club points……then – Lo and behold!! …The water and the bag of chips that I used to get for FREE – I have just won via the scratch off!!!! Yipeeeeeeeeeee!! I won!!!
@Gene – fwiw, I’ve always received points for Entertainment Club rates.
I also noticed that a couple properties have DECREASED as well. Holiday Inn Christchurch on Avon in New Zealand went from 25k to 15k. I also checked all the local properties here in Northwest Arkansas. None of the 8 or so properties went up, but both a Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express decreased from 25k to 15k. So this might be a case of tweaking rather than an across the board devaluation, much like what Starwood just did.