New Top-tier Membership Level on IHG Rewards Club - Spire Elite

I have gotten pretty decent benefits by being an IHG Platinum Member last year but I was not able to justify driving so many eligible room nights to the program (especially since I do not generally travel for business). While the Platinum Status was the highest membership tier you could achieve then, IHG has introduced a brand new Spire Elite tier (above Platinum) to reward its most loyal members. That being said, it is important to recognise that the IHG manages the IHG Rewards Club and Ambassador memberships separately. 

Click HERE to find out more about the different elite statuses!

Spire Elite Membership | Photo Credit: InterContinental Hotels Group

Spire Elite can be attained by spending 75 qualifying nights over the course of a calendar year (that's almost one in four nights!) or by obtaining 75,000 qualifying reward points (so you get there faster if you splurge on suites instead of regular rooms). Apart from the Platinum benefits that you will get, you will also receive the following by attaining this new status:

• 100% bonus points on all qualifying stay (instead of 50% from Platinum)
• A choice between either 25,000 bonus points or gift Platinum Elite status to a friend or family member for a year

Membership Benefits

It is interesting to see the option to give away a year's worth of Platinum Elite status. This is rather similar to some airlines (e.g. Qantas) where you will be able to give away a year's worth of elite status upon obtaining top-tier status.