IHG Rewards Club is offering a status match opportunity to people who have similar elite status with a competing hotel loyalty program. This includes matches to Gold, Platinum, and Spire Elite. Personally, I find Platinum Elite to be good enough in most cases and easy to obtain anyway with a credit card, but Spire Elite is where the real benefits kick in like room upgrades and early check-in.
You might find Spire Elite to be more valuable when staying a nicer chains like Kimpton or Crowne Plaza. If you’re at the Holiday Inn, you’ll get treated pretty well even as a Platinum member.
You must register for the promotion between now and June 30, 2019, and provide the supporting documentation requested. According to the landing page:
For a limited time, IHG® Rewards Club will match your status from select hotel loyalty programs. After you’re upgraded to your new status, complete your stays at any IHG Hotels and Resorts properties and keep your status through 2020.
The status granted will initially last for just 90 days. Each tier has specific requirements to maintain the status after the match. If you achieve these goals, you’ll be able to keep the status through December 31, 2020. After that normal elite qualification requirements will apply for future years.
Buried in the fine print is a notice that only 2,500 matches to Spire Elite will be honored. However, there are no caps on matches to Platinum or Gold Elite.