IHG One Rewards offering Diamond fast-track for downgraded members

IHG One Rewards’ top-tier Diamond Elite status requires 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points (equivalent to US$12,000 of spend) in a calendar year. If you fell short of that threshold in 2024, your status will have been downgraded to Platinum Elite in mid-January 2025.

However, IHG is giving downgraded members a second bite at the cherry with a special offer that allows them to regain their previous status.

IHG One Rewards Diamond fast track

IHG is sending out emails to members who dropped from Diamond to Platinum, offering a boost back to Diamond with eight qualifying nights stayed by 20 March 2025. 

I can’t say for sure whether every downgraded member will get this offer, or only those who were close to requalification but narrowly missed the mark. Either way, you can try your luck here. If you’re ineligible, you’ll get an error message. 

The eight qualifying nights:

• Must be booked directly with IHG, or on the hotels’ official websites
• Must have a minimum nightly room rate of US$30 (or local equivalent)
• Must be paid rates; nights redeemed with points, or points & cash, do not qualify

If you’re booking more than one room at the same hotel, you’ll only receive credit for one room per night regardless.

We’ve seen similar offers like this in the past, and perhaps it’s not that surprising. At 70 nights per year, IHG Diamond status has a higher qualification threshold than Hilton Honors Diamond (60), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (50) or World of Hyatt Globalist (60). It would be silly to send members with 50-60 nights per year to other chains, just because they lost their elite perks.

What benefits do Diamond Elites receive?

The key benefits that IHG Diamond members can look forward to include:

• Complimentary breakfast for two adults
• 100% IHG bonus points
• Room upgrades up to standard suites (subject to availability)
• Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)

The detailed list of benefits can be found below.

Complimentary breakfast alone can make status worthwhile, especially since it covers a full breakfast, and not just a lacklustre continental equivalent. If there’s a buffet, you get the full buffet. If it’s an a la carte menu, you get one main item with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. 

The room upgrades perk, however, can be hit or miss because it’s “subject to availability” and hotels have been known to play games with inventory. 

Another perk that IHG One Rewards members can look forward to are Milestone Rewards, which includes bonus perks like club lounge access, and confirmable suite upgrades (each valid for a stay of up to five nights).

Conclusion

IHG Diamond members who missed out on requalification in 2025 are being offered a second chance at regaining their status by staying eight nights by 20 March 2025.

You will have to do those eight nights as a Platinum — unlike other fast track offers, there’s no upfront status offered — but assuming you complete the challenge, your status will run all the way till 31 December 2025.

Do remember that all nights must be paid, so you won’t be able to redeem nights or book cash + points rates. You have roughly six weeks to take advantage of this, so I’d start planning my stays now if you’re planning to take up the offer. 

(HT: Loyalty Lobby)