IHG One Rewards availability officially launches at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
All-inclusive resort getaways are even more attainable for IHG One Rewards members starting this month.
IHG officially rolled out details of its integrated loyalty points structure at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, a popular all-inclusive resort brand the hotel conglomerate first partnered with late last year. Full awards integration arrived in phases, with the ability to earn IHG points and enjoy on-property loyalty benefits arriving earlier this year.
The final piece of the loyalty puzzle — award redemptions — is now live, and you can earn and redeem points at more than 40 Iberostar resorts around the world.
There are no blackout dates for IHG One Rewards award redemptions, but reward nights and free nights are subject to resort availability. Reward and free nights at Iberostar properties can be booked via IHG.com, through the IHG One Rewards app or by calling IHG Customer Care at 1-877-424-2449.
You can find the full list of participating Iberostar properties in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco and Spain on the Iberostar-IHG website.
How are the redemptions?
TPG readers began pinging us late last week regarding award availability showing up at Iberostar properties, but they also noted the redemption rates were well below the 0.5 cents per point that TPG currently values IHG One Rewards points.
A one-night stay later this month at the Iberostar Tucan in Mexico goes for $318 or 110,000 IHG One Rewards points per night for a premium guest room. The award redemption equates to 0.29 cents per point, which is not the best use of your IHG One Rewards points.
A spring break getaway in early April to Iberostar Grand Rose Hall in Jamaica costs $896 or 206,000 IHG One Rewards points per night for an oceanfront butler suite. The award redemption equates to 0.43 cents per point. That's a better redemption than a winter visit to Iberostar Tucan, but it's still not at our estimated value of IHG's points.
While we'll still be waiting for better redemption values before we book ourselves, TPG's Katie Genter did confirm you can use your fourth-night-free reward (where you pay zero points every fourth night when redeeming points on an award stay) as an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card holder.
Related: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review
What else do you get as an IHG elite at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts?
Along with opening the gates for award night redemptions, IHG is reminding loyalty members of the benefits they can enjoy when staying at each Iberostar property:
- Early check-in for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members (subject to availability)
- Late checkout for all members, up to 2 p.m. (subject to availability)
- Complimentary upgrades for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members (subject to availability)
- Guaranteed room availability for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members
- Welcome amenity at check-in for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members (either 600 IHG One Rewards points or a $15 hotel credit for Platinum Elite members or 600 IHG One Rewards points or a $20 hotel credit for Diamond Elite members)
- Free internet for all members
- Priority check-in at participating hotels
- Access to a lounge or Star Prestige facility for themselves and a guest (where available) for members who have selected the IHG One Rewards annual lounge membership as a Milestone Reward (Star Prestige guest rooms at participating Iberostar Beachfront Resorts are excluded)
Related: The best IHG all-inclusive resorts, from Jamaica to Mexico
Bottom line
Award rate redemptions may not be a steal at the moment, but it's still good to see IHG integrating the Iberostar all-inclusive network into its loyalty platform.
In the meantime, the fourth-night-free award redemption perk from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card might be your best value.
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