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IHG brings back its generous Accelerate hotel promotion for the summer

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UPDATE – APRIL 2025:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly summary of the top hotel bonus point offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ menu above.

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IHG Rewards Club, the Holiday Inn, HI Express, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental etc loyalty scheme, has announced its Summer 2016 promotion – IHG Accelerate.  Yes, it is repeating the Autumn and Spring offer!

To be honest, IHG is the only major hotel chain offering a global promotion this Summer which offer genuine value.  Everyone has their own personal target but, for most of us, the challenge is pretty straightforward.

Here are the headline details:

IHG Accelerate (Version 3) covers stays from 1st June to 31st August

All hotels are participating

Your bonus is personalised – you need to log in here to discover yours 

This was my target for 55,000 points maximum, comprising:

  • 6,000 points on my next stay
  • 5,000 points for a stay in June
  • 10,000 points for staying five nights
  • 3,500 points for booking three stays via the IHG app
  • 6,400 points for booking 2 x 2-night weekend stays
  • 2,000 points for booking a Bonus Points Package
  • 1,000 points for purchasing IHG Rewards Club points
  • 21,100 points for completing five of the six targets above, excluding the June bonus

This isn’t bad.  Let’s ignore the ‘two weekend stays of two nights’ one as I doubt I will do that.

I will receive 48,600 bonus points – plus the base points – for completing five nights, as long as those nights involve at least three stays (booked on the app) and one is for a Bonus Points Package.  This is worth – assuming 0.4p per point of value – £200 of free future stays.

I could earn 13,000 bonus points from just one stay, as long as it is in June and is a Bonus Points Package.  I will do my best to hit that if nothing else.

My wife got an even easier one for 55,000 points:

  • 5,000 points on her next stay
  • 5,000 points for a stay in June
  • 10,000 points for staying five nights
  • 4,800 points for booking two stays via the IHG app
  • 3,000 points for booking a Bonus Points Package
  • 27,200 points for completing three of the four targets above excluding the June bonus

All she needs to do is book two one-night stays via the app as she can skip the ‘five nights’ one.  Job done, 45,000 points banked!  That is £180 of bonus points, plus base points, which should be possible fairly cheaply.

Note: if you have a target saying that you must spend $x on food and drink, be aware that this is EXCLUDING VAT.  Ensure you spend ‘x + 20%’ and then add on a bit more because IHG will probably use a duff exchange rate!

Conclusion

As long as your target is sensible, this is highly likely to be the most generous hotel promotion you are likely to see this Summer.

Log in to the Accelerate website here and see what your target is.


IHG One Rewards news

IHG One Rewards update – April 2025:

Get bonus points: IHG is not currently running a global promotion.

New to IHG One Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Comments (141)

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  • Londonred says:

    Blimey, my last few accelerates have got harder and harder, 4 nights, 7 nights, 9 nights, I assumed I’d have to sit the next one out and enjoy new Hilton diamond status for a while as 9 nights is pretty much my limit without going out of my way. But 2 nights for the bonus this time!

  • John says:

    Oooh, I have a pretty good offer this time.

    11000 for a stay in June
    10000 for 5 nights
    12000 per country stayed outside the UK!!!
    17200 for achieving all 3

    Also 4800 for using the app twice.

    • Boris says:

      Time for a Holiday Inn Express Tour of EU not-capitals !

      • John says:

        Funnily enough, that’s exactly my plan. Since I now work for myself, I’ll be taking Tuesdays and Wednesdays off to maximise BA RFS offpeak 🙂

  • Lady London says:

    They want me to do 7 nights plus spend in a couple of categories I wouldn’t normally spend in.

    Currently using my Hilton Gold that was matched to do 2 nights for the Miles & More offer. Miles & More being harder to earn in from the UK, that got my attention. So for summer I think Hilton’s got my loyalty.

    I’ll be giving this one a miss I think.

  • Noqueueing says:

    Mine will not be doable but I’m not complaining, as I have enough points for the time being.

    Complete all of your Accelerate offers and earn 170,100 total bonus points.
    6,000 for one stay
    54,000 for 27 nights
    18,000 bonus points when you download, sign in and book 10 stay(s) with the IHG® App.
    7,200 for 2 weekend(s), including a Saturday night and another night
    26,400 for staying at 3 IHG hotel(s) outside of your country of residence
    6,000 for a single stay of four or more consecutive nights
    10,500 for $760 spend on food or beverages at IHG
    37,000 for achieving 6 out of 7
    and an additional:
    5000 bonus points for a single stay in June

  • Adam says:

    I assume that if I start my stay in May, and complete my stay in June, that will still count as a qualifying stay?

    The terms and conditions say:
    “Number of bonus points listed above will be awarded after your Qualifying Stay at any IHG brand hotels which must be completed between 1 June 2016 and 30 June 2016 (both dates inclusive) at InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVENTM or HUALUXETM hotels worldwide.”

    Anyone any views / direct experience of this from previous Accelerate promotions?

  • Rob says:

    I think, last time, some people got additional bonus targets which appeared later on. Or IHG is screwy. I would assume you just get the June one.

  • daz says:

    To say I’m a little deflated is being nice. I will only be doing a a few easy targets.

    Earn 69,700 total bonus points.

    6,000 Stay Once Get 6,000
    Thank you for being a loyal IHG® Rewards Club member. Stay once and earn 6,000 bonus points.

    10,000 Stay More, Earn More
    Get closer to the rewards you want when you stay 5 night(s) and earn 10,000 bonus points.

    2,600 Travel with the IHG® App
    Book 2 stay(s) with the IHG® App and earn 2,600 bonus points.

    6,400 Saturday Stays Bonus
    Stay 2 weekend(s), including a Saturday night and another night, and earn 6,400 bonus points.

    12,800 Globetrotter Bonus
    Earn 12,800 bonus points for staying at 2 IHG hotel(s) outside of your country of residence. You’ll earn for one hotel stay per country.

    2,000 Earn More, Faster
    Earn 2,000 bonus points when you book 1 Bonus Points Package stay(s) and get to your next reward faster.

    6,900 Eat, Drink, and Earn
    Spend $720 on food or beverages at IHG hotels and earn 6,900 bonus points.

    18,000 Your Achievement Bonus
    Complete 6 of the 7 offers above and earn (an additional) 18,000 bonus points.

    5,000 June Bonus Offer
    Stay once in June and get 5,000 bonus points.

  • Dominik says:

    Mine is super easy, just two nights to bank 50k+. Even though one of them needs to be abroad it’ll be a cakewalk as I have been planning to do so anyways (thank you MasterCard rate!). My wife’s conditions are twice as difficult: 4 nights, and with our cheap holiday bookings I think we’ll pass on that one as the points to be gained present no added value here. Still, thanks a lot, IHG.

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