| Update: This offer now seems to be dead. For all those who managed to get their account upgraded, I’d hold off on booking any non-refundable stays in expectation of being able to use the benefits. Let’s give this a few days and see whether the status sticks |
Earlier this year, IHG launched IHG One Rewards, its revamped loyalty programme with new elite benefits such as complimentary breakfast and lounge access.
While the jury’s still out as to how good hotels are with honouring the new benefits, what’s clear is that IHG wants as many people as possible to take a test drive. After offering instant Platinum status for 120 days to literally anyone in May, it’s going one step further by offering instant Diamond status till the end of 2022.
Enjoy instant IHG One Diamond status
 |
| Register Here |
In order to enjoy instant IHG Diamond status, all you need to do is visit this page and enter your registered email address (if prompted for a promotion code, enter 70027). That’s it. Your account will be instantly upgraded to Diamond till 31 December 2022, no questions asked.
By staying at least 10 nights between now and 31 December 2022, you can extend your Diamond status until 31 December 2023 (for perspective, IHG Diamond normally requires 70 nights in a calendar year).
The offer really seems too good to be true, but I’ve tried it on my account and everything went through like clockwork. The only possible catch, as Ben from OMAAT has pointed out, is that if this turns out to be a targeted promotion then IHG reserves the right to revoke any status awarded. Given how fast this opportunity is proliferating throughout the interwebs, we’ll have to see…
As an IHG Diamond member, you’ll enjoy benefits such as:
- Complimentary breakfast
- 100% IHG bonus points
- Room upgrades up to standard suites (subject to availability)
- Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
- Dedicated customer support
The detailed list of benefits can be found below.
Since upgrades will be more competitive than ever before, what with everyone being a Diamond member, the real benefit for me is the free breakfast.
IHG Diamond members enjoy a hot breakfast for two guests. Alcoholic beverages or speciality coffees may be excluded by hotels (even if they’re offered to all other breakfast-paying guests), but at least the wording means we shouldn’t see any continental breakfast shenanigans.
Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, InterContinental Alliance properties (in Las Vegas and Macau) and Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties are excluded from the breakfast benefit.
Do note that club lounge access is not an automatic benefit of IHG Diamond status. Instead, this needs to be earned through the Milestone Rewards programme. As a reminder, here’s the current list of Milestone Rewards; you’ll need at least 40 elite nights to earn a lounge pass.
| Milestone | Rewards |
| 20 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 30 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 40 nights |
(Pick two) |
| 50 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 60 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 70 nights |
(Pick two) |
| 80 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 90 nights |
(Pick one) |
| 100 nights |
(Pick one) |
Conclusion
IHG One Rewards is currently offering instant Diamond status till the end of 2022 to anyone who registers, with the option to retain it for the rest of 2023 with just 10 nights.
All I can surmise is they want to allow as many people as possible to test drive the benefits of Diamond, although I can’t imagine the hotels will be too happy at the sudden influx of elites. It also means that the upgrade pool will be more competitive than ever before, but if nothing else, free breakfast is a genuinely useful perk to look forward to.
(HT: Loyalty Lobby)
Where can we find the T&C for this, especially for the 10 nights?
I didn’t see any on the landing page. But usually ihg says that qualifying nights must be Min usd30
If booked on points, but spent 30 usd on f&b, does it count as qualified stay/night from your experience or knowledge?
room rate must be US$30 min.
Does that include taxes and fees?
Hi Aaron, if I’ve a room reservation, would the Diamond status apply to it? Or only for new bookings? Thank you!
Am I right to presume the membership benefits such as late check-outs or free breakfast only applies to hotel bookings made directly through the hotel’s website, and not via 3rd party sites such as Agoda/Expedia?
As always
Hi Aaron, I was required to key in a promo code but I can’t find it anywhere. Thanks.
Think this is required for those accessing it on mobile browser. Key in 70027 for the promo code, it shld work
Access Denied 😞
Managed to register. Thanks!
How did u manage to register? It still says code is invalid.
Yeah, it says code is invalid for me
how do we check if the hotel has lounge?
I already had achieved a renewal of Platinum status for next year, will this promotion jeopardize my achieved status should I fail to meet the extra 10 nights by year end?
Hi Aaron, have you ever considered reviewing the The InterContinental Ambassador program (Paid membership)? Was wondering if this would be a viable option after 2022 IHG promotions expire
yeah it’s on the to-do list, along with a lot of other things…
i’m sure some of the US bloggers have reviewed it, so if you don’t mind an america-centric take then that would work in a pinch
You shouldn’t now, it’s just not worth it, if you have diamond status you get free breakfast anyways and the guaranteed room upgrade for the ambassador program often aren’t an upgrade(Barclay have 6 types of standard rooms just for this purpose).
I’ve been an Ambassador since 2017 and I think it’s a decent program if you’re already going to stay at Intercontinentals a couple of times a year anyway (and keep your expectations in check).
For the price or points of approximately one night, you’d get a free weekend night stay voucher which I personally value at ~1/2 a night due to all the conditions, and guaranteed 4pm checkout. I absolutely adore this second perk and find it worth the price of admission: no more “subject to availability” conditions of most other membership programs and no need for a whole song and dance during check-in at reception.
“Your mileage may vary” for the other benefits. Upgrades are very hit and miss. There was once I got upgraded from a lead-in room to a club room with full lounge benefits in Athens, but then there are places that provide the bare minimum. On a whole I do feel the median upgrade is probably one or two “real” categories, but it’s hard to suss out exactly how much of it would have happened anyway due to availability and underlying status, and how much happened due to the Ambassador program.
The recent addition of 20USD bar/restaurant credit (or free breakfast in China) is a nice but not game-changing addition. And the Platinum status seems like it’s getting diluted with recent promotions.
This didn’t work for me. Even after I entered the promo code. What a bummer.
I got on the phone with IHG about this as it wasn’t working for me. Just to be clear this offer DOES NOT APPLY to anyone living in Greater China. So if you’re in HK and reading this, you won’t receive this offer. If it works for anyone in HK please let me know. Thanks!
Are they nights per room or per booking? Meaning if I book 2 rooms x 2 nights does it constitute as 4 nights? Thanks sir.
you can only earn credit on 1 room per night. so your example is 2 nights.
I’m still 2 nights away from completing the 15 nights status to diamond.
Do you think if I upgrade to diamond now, will it affect my previous offers challenge?
Will diamond status be still applicable for my stay in 2023 if i were to book now?
Hi Aaron, is the free breakfast offered for all guests staying in the same room or only for the single member who is a Diamond member?
Promo not working for me. Tried two browsers on laptop and on mobile with no luck. Bummed!
It works for me on Thursday 10pm. I think i am super lucky!!
In Singapore. Didn’t work on desktop or mobile. Tried 2 membership numbers (one newly created).
As stated on the sign up page:
“Many offers are only available to IHG One Rewards Club members who receive a specific, targeted communication from IHG. Successful registration does not guarantee that you will receive the points or miles offered when the offer requirements are met if you are not eligible per the offer terms and conditions…”
Looks like an overzealous person shared the link and code and it spread like wildfire.
I managed to register last night on the browser when there was no need for a code. I’m now hesitant to book even though my Diamond status is reflected, given the above statement from IHG.
It really makes no sense for IHG to open their highest tier to everyone but they’ll have to take it on the chin for not putting up restrictions on their promotion.
Just took my new diamond status for a spin at InterCon KL. Seems like the staff are not aware of the benefits and had to confirm with Manager on free breakfast and did not offer any upgrade. Then the staff slip and acknowledged my previous ambassador status.
I suspect IHG is aware of this fluke and footnote our previous status.
Anyway I’m targeting the 10 nights to keep Diamond as I have another stay in Hanoi. Both KL and Hanoi prices are pretty good and works well for a mattress run.
Does booking with points or points + cash count towards the 10 elite qualifying nights?
Has anyone achieved 10 nights? I will be achieving by end of this week
Did your Diamond status automatically get extended for another year after completing the 10 nights?
Yes i got it!! It wasnt immediate. My 10th night was checked out on 25th dec and i got it ard 10th jan
Yes i got it!! It wasnt immediate. My 10th night was checked out on 25th dec and i got it ard 10th jan