IHG changes its award pricing caps, impacting points redemption

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IHG changes its award pricing caps, impacting points redemption

Research

Gene Sloan Cruise team lead | The Points Guy

By Sky Industry News

Apr 7, 2025

Over the past few years, IHG has utilized dynamic award pricing, resulting in fluctuations in award rates at their properties. This approach, initiated in 2020, aligns award rates with the varying paid rates. Recent reports from FlyerTalk users and LoyaltyLobby indicate that IHG has apparently increased some of its award pricing caps as of April 4.

Particularly affected by these changes are nonresort properties, which previously did not exceed 120,000 points per night. Now, they appear to have higher caps or potentially no cap at all. A notable instance is the InterContinental Paris — Champs-Elysees Etoile in France, where rates have surged to 149,000 points per night.

Additionally, a night at the InterContinental Osaka recently required 192,000 points, translating to a value of 0.43 cents per point when compared to a paid rate of $827.06. This scenario may not provide the best value for those redeeming IHG points, given the new pricing structure.

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For travelers interested in redeeming IHG points for luxurious accommodations, this increase in award pricing caps poses a challenge, potentially limiting their ability to secure high-value redemptions. However, IHG’s cap for aspirational resort properties remains at 250,000 points.

The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort illustrates the substantial increase in point requirements, with award costs now peaking at 250,000 points compared to 100,000 points in 2020. This change reflects a significant devaluation in a relatively brief period.

Despite these adjustments, some individuals may still find favorable redemption opportunities within the IHG One Rewards program. For those who refrain from redeeming more than 60,000 points per stay or leverage other loyalty programs for high-cost, aspirational stays, the new pricing structure might not be as detrimental. Yet, for those saving points for high-value hotel stays, these modifications may be concerning.

IHG continues to present benefits like the fourth-reward-night-free perk, but some customers might appreciate the transparency of programs such as World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards, which maintain published award charts for their properties.