Get IHG Platinum Elite Status When You Stay Five Nights

IHG has relaunched its fast-track to elite status offer for members that want to boost their status level with IHG. You will need to complete 2 nights for IHG Gold Elite status (before 23 December 2022) or 5 nights for IHG Platinum Elite status (before 31 December 2022), any status achieved will last until December 2023.

What do I need to do to get elite status?

2 nights before 23 December 2022 will give you IHG Gold Elite status & 5 nights (3 additional nights) before 31 December 2022 will give you IHG Platinum Elite status. In both cases, your status would be valid until December 2023.

These need to be CASH nights, unfortunately, reward nights will not count. Any stays booked prior to registration will count.

What benefits will IHG Gold Elite / IHG Platinum Elite Status get me?

If you stay 2 nights after you’ve enrolled before 23 December 2022 you will get IHG Gold Elite status. This unfortunately despite normally requiring 20 nights in IHG hotels doesn’t have any real benefits other than earning extra bonus points on your room rate.

If you manage another 3 nights (5 in total) before 31 December 2022 you will get Platinum Elite status which comes with a few more ‘real’ benefits. This includes Reward Night Discounts, Complimentary Upgrades (subject to availability), and a Welcome Amenity at Check-in (points or snack.)

In both instances, you will keep your status until December 2023.

You can read all the benefits of IHG Elite Status here – https://www.ihg.com/onerewards/content/gb/en/tier-benefits

Anything to be aware of?

You can read the T&Cs of the offer here – https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/deals/b2b/fasttracktoplatinum – but some of the key things to be aware of are…

1. The status challenge T&Cs do not cover what happens if you already have IHG elite status. I would imagine if you have Gold Elite status or below you could do this offer to get Platinum Elite status but it’s unlikely a current Platinum Elite status member could extend their status this way.
2. For a night to count your room rate must exceed $30 (not particularly challenging!)
3. Only paid stays count, stays booked with points (or any reward stays) do not.
4. You have to complete 2 nights before 23 December 2022 for Gold Elite Status or 5 nights before 31 December 2022 For Platinum Elite Status.

How do I register to fast-track myself to IHG Gold Elite / IHG Platinum Elite Status?

You can register on the IHG website here – https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/deals/b2b/fasttracktoplatinum – if you aren’t already an IHG member you can also register there too.

Is it worth doing?

Maybe… but only for Platinum Elite and only if you needed 5 nights in a hotel somewhere anyway. You can pay $200 for InterContinental Ambassador and get Platinum status in IHG One Rewards as a benefit so there is no point doing a mattress run for status, particularly when the benefits are weak.

If you don’t have status anywhere else this may give you a leg-up to do a status match with another hotel brand such as Hilton. Their status match will give you full status benefits e.g. free breakfast, upgrade (with potential lounge access) & late checkout, etc. straight away. If you complete 7 nights in 90 days you’ll keep the aforementioned benefits until March 2024.