or a while now, luxury hotel brands have created special benefits programs for their travel advisors. These programs provide travel advisors with the ability to give their clients exclusive benefits for hotel stays. Hilton has Impresario, Hyatt has Hyatt Prive, Marriott has Stars and Luminous and IHG now has the Luxury Collection & Lifestyle Collection.
There have been big developments for the Luxury & Lifestyle program recently. As of Spring 2020, The chain have reconfigured their pre-existing program into two exciting new collections, IHG Luxury Collection and IHG Lifestyle Collection. Each collection offers a tailored service and a variety of exclusive benefits. The collections house a reshuffle of the brands that you associate with IHG Luxury & Lifestyle, with Regent, InterContinental, Kimpton (outside US) all now being apart of the Luxury Collection and Kimpton (US-only) and Indigo being apart of the new Lifestyle Collection. In addition to the new benefits, both collections remove the 2-night minimum requirement and host a myriad of new hotels.
Here is an overview of the 2 new programs:
What is the IHG Luxury Collection?
The IHG Luxury Collection is specially designed for Regent, Intercontinental and Kimpton Hotels (mainly non-US with a few exceptions), containing different types of benefits to its Lifestyle counterpart.
What are the IHG Luxury Collection benefits?
The IHG Luxury Collection now offers a $100 worth of hotel services (determined by the hotel, this could be $100 for the restaurnat or a massage in the SPA), breakfast for 2 in the hotel restaurant (daily) and a guaranteed 2pm late check-out. You’ll also be able to receive a room upgrade to the next category upon arrival (if available), have access to complimentary Wi-Fi for an unlimited number of devices and receive a personalised, handwritten welcome card in your room as you arrive. There will also be a bottle of water, fresh fruit / snacks in your room, a turn down service and VIP status for your stay.
- $100 hotel services (to be determined by the hotel)
- Breakfast for 2 in the hotel restaurant daily
- Guaranteed 2pm late check-out
- Upgrade to next category upon arrival, if available
- Complimentary Wi-Fi for unlimited number of devices
- Handwritten, personalised welcome card
- Bottled water, fresh fruit / snacks in room upon arrival
- Turn down service
- VIP status
Which hotels participate in the IHG Luxury Collection?
In total there are 5 Regent, 90 InterContinental and 12 Kimpton Hotels. To explore these hotels in more detail we recommend using our easy search function here: https://www.qxtravel.io/special-programs/ihg-luxury-lifestyle#main-hotel-search
What is the IHG Lifestyle Collection?
The IHG Lifestyle Collection is specially designed for Kimpton and Indigo Hotels, for Kimpton this includes hotels in the US. The Lifestyle Collection contains different types of benefits to its Luxury counterpart, we’ve provided a full list so you can compare the two.
What are the IHG Lifestyle Collection benefits?
Your exclusive benefits at IHG’s Lifestyle Collection hotels start with $50 hotel credit (exact benefits is determined by the hotel), an upgrade to the next room category upon arrival (if available) and access to complimentary Wi-Fi for an unlimited number of devices. You’ll also receive a handwritten, personalised welcome card in your room, along with fresh fruit / snacks and bottled water. Your stay will also include a turn-down service, VIP status and a 2pm late check-out (if available).
- $50 hotel services (to be determined by the hotel)
- Upgrade to next category upon arrival, if available
- Complimentary Wi-Fi for unlimited number of devices
- Handwritten, personalised welcome card
- Bottled water, fresh fruit / snacks in room upon arrival
- Turn down service
- VIP status
- 2pm late check-out, if available
Which hotels participate in the IHG Lifestyle Collection?
In total there are 14 Indigo and 38 Kimpton Hotels. To explore these hotels in more detail we recommend using our easy search function here:
https://www.qxtravel.io/special-programs/ihg-lifestyle-collection#main-hotel-search
How to book the new Luxury & Lifestyle hotels?
Booking is simple, either use our search to select a hotel you’d like to stay at and hit the “Unlock Benefits” button or simply send a request here. We will usually get back to you within 30 minutes, up to a maximum of 6 hours. When booking your stay with us, we will contact the hotel to inform them of your upcoming stay and to mark your reservation as a VIP booking. We’re available any time via email, phone & whatsapp, leading up to and during your stay, giving you security and accessibility, In the event that you want to share something with the hotel or cancel your booking.
FAQ
Are these Luxury & Lifestyle Collection rates more expensive?
The IHG Luxury & Lifestyle Collection benefits apply for the flexible / best available rate and not for membership rates or special promotions. Depending on the benefits, we will let you know what is the best deal for you.
Can I book the rates online?
No, these exclusive rates can only be booked via an IHG travel agent partner.
Is there an extra fee?
QX Travel charges no fee for booking hotels. You will pay the hotel directly during your stay. We only need a credit card to confirm the reservation.
Does it work with the IHG Rewards program?
Yes, you will receive all your membership benefits and collect points and nights. Once you’ve booked a stay, it will show up like any other booking in your IHG account/app.
Final thoughts
It’s really encouraging to see IHG update their VIP program with more hotels and especially their removal of the 2-night minimum stay. Both the Luxury Collection and Lifestyle Collection now offer competitive benefits to other hotel programs, so it’s great to see IHG modernise and elevate this aspect of their VIP program.
While the largest drawback of the Lifestyle collection is the lack of breakfast, you can however use the $50 credit towards it in most hotels. The program will evolve over time and include more hotels so we look forward to this new stage in IHG’s VIP programs.
Feel free to get in touch with a message, call or chat to see if the benefits are worth it for your stay. You can find all IHG hotels that offer special benefits including Six Senses here: https://www.qxtravel.io/hotel-chain/ihg#main-hotel-search
