IHG cardholders: Get 15% off award stays of 3 nights or less

Editor’s note: We’ve updated this story with the new 15% off promotion for IHG cardholders.

IHG One Rewards’ award discount is back, offering select members 15% off award stays of three nights or less. Eligible members must book by April 5 and check in by May 12 to get this discount.

Currently, IHG One Rewards members with a Chase IHG Rewards credit card can enjoy early access to the sale. But on April 3, Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members should also get access to this sale.

On March 30, IHG members with a Chase IHG Rewards credit card got an email about this promotion (mine was titled “Just for you: 15% off Reward Nights”).

IHG award discount promotion — EMAIL FROM IHG ONE REWARDS

When I log in to my account, do an eligible award search and select a hotel, I see a message stating, “As a cardmember, you are eligible for a 15% discount on Reward Nights.”

Booking a discounted IHG award — IHG.COM

Eligible IHG cardholders can get a 15% discount on reward nights when booking stays of three consecutive nights or less by April 5. Eligible cardholders must log into their IHG One Rewards account, book award stays at participating hotels and start their stay by May 12 to be eligible for the discount.

IHG is also discounting the cash portion of points and cash awards.

Skeptics may note that IHG uses dynamic pricing and could raise award prices due to this promotion. So, I checked that IHG is applying a discount by searching for the above award at the Hotel Indigo: Atlanta Downtown in Georgia when logged out of my IHG One Rewards account (which is linked to an eligible IHG cobranded card account). Here are the award prices I found when logged out of my account:

As you can see, IHG discounts both the points and the points and cash rate when I’m logged in. You don’t need to register for the promotion or do anything special to get the discount if you’re an eligible member — just log in to your IHG account and search for award nights as you usually would.

Based on my searches, even Six Senses properties you can book with IHG points are discounted during this promotion — like this example at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives.

Since this promotion is only for award stays of three nights or less, it isn’t stackable with the fourth-night reward offered as a benefit on the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

If you’re eligible for this promotion, check award rates and consider rebooking if you have IHG award stays booked during the stay period.

Bottom line

If you have a stay of three nights or less coming up with IHG and are eligible for this sale, check if this 15% discount changes your calculations on whether you should book a paid stay or redeem IHG points.

If you need to earn more IHG One Rewards points, remember that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points to IHG. But, depending on how you value these currencies, you may be better off buying the IHG points you need.