IHG status match until 26th July 2019

Until the 26th July if you’re luckily enough to live in the UK or USA you can get an IHG status match by matching your status from select hotel loyalty programs. After you’re upgraded to your new status, complete your stays at any IHG Hotels and Resorts properties and keep your status through 2020.

IHG have 5,000 Spire Elite status matches available if you are top tier in another hotel’s loyalty programme and unlimited matches available to Platinum Elite or Gold Elite if you are mid tier in another hotel’s loyalty programme.

Is it worth it?

Potentially, if you have a few IHG stays coming up I would go for it but unlike other loyalty programmes most of the benefits, even if you are an IHG Spire Elite aren’t guaranteed. They all have a clause that says Subject to availability which gives hotels a lot of wiggle room to not give anything! A huge turn off for me is the lack of a free breakfast which you can get with Hilton Gold & Marriott Platinum Elite.

Ultimately it can’t hurt to have the status if it’s free, although I wouldn’t bother to do a mattress run for any of the statuses. To view all the benefits of the status you want to match to see here – https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/content/gb/en/enjoy-rewards

How do I get my IHG status match?

1. Go to the IHG status match website here – https://www.ihg.com/trip-extras/gb/en/statusmatch?
2. Upload a picture of your proof of status with another chain. Listed chains are:
   
   Accor (Le Club AccorHotels)
   Best Western (Best Western Rewards)
   Caesars Entertainment (Caesars Rewards)
   Choice (Choice Privileges)
   Hilton (Hilton Honors)
   Hyatt (World of Hyatt)
   Marriott (Marriott Bonvoy)
   NH Hotel Group (NH Rewards)
   Radisson (Radisson Rewards)
   Wyndham (Wyndham Rewards)
   
   Fill in the rest of the form then within 14 business you should have your shiny new status for 90 days!
3. To keep your status until 31st December 2020 you must have 2 Qualifying nights to maintain Gold Elite, 5 Qualifying nights to maintain Platinum Elite, and 10 Qualifying nights to maintain Spire Elite. If you do not meet the criteria for the status you were matched to, you will keep the status of whichever qualifying nights criteria you met (if any.)

Alternatively…

You can keep Platinum Elite status for as long as you hold the £99 IHG Rewards Club Premium Mastercard. It comes with 20,000 IHG Rewards Club bonus points when you spend £200 in the first 3 months of opening your account.

or

You can keep Gold Elite status for as long as you hold the Free IHG Rewards Club Mastercard. It comes with a 10,000 IHG Rewards Club bonus points when you spend £200 in the first 3 months of opening your account.