EDITION
insider A publication about the upcoming transition to IHG Rewards Club速
VOL. 01 NO. 01
May 2013 www.ihgrewardsclub.com
FREE INTERNET. Marvelous or Myth? Lifting the veil on this new exciting benefit.
On 1 July, Priority Club Rewards becomes IHG Rewards Club速 INSIDE THIS ISSUE... xx Benefit Spotlight xx Free Internet for all, not really xx Highlighting the FAQ and more...
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IHG REWARDS CLUB® insider
Benefit Spotlight
FREE INTERNET.
MARVELOUS OR MYTH?
Free Internet, yes you heard that correctly, Free Internet. Why are we making free internet one of the benefits of IHG Rewards Club®? Our members told us staying connected was important to them. When it comes to staying connected, online connectivity is a key consideration when planning hotel stays. • A Frequent Business Traveller survey found that seven in ten respondents (73%) indicated that complimentary Wi-Fi influenced their choice of hotel. • Our own global survey of 8,000 revealed that 45% would choose not to stay in a hotel if it didn’t offer free internet. • 21% said that free internet was the most important amenity when staying in a hotel, compared to 9% who chose room service. So it’s clear a high quality internet experience is fast becoming a basic requirement for our guests. This approach, making free guest and visitor internet standard for IHG Rewards Club Elite members followed by all members in 2014.
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ree internet, it’s not a myth anymore. Customers who travel frequently have spoken with their voices loud and clear to say, “internet, why should I pay?” Starbucks and McDonalds provides free wi-fi internet access in most of its establishments to the delight of its customers. More and more consumers have come to expect the same benefits when traveling by airplane or staying in hotels. When customers speak, the world’s best companies listen and respond back demonstrating their attentiveness in serving their customers needs. IHG is on a journey to become one of the world’s great companies by having a foundation of strong brands, delivered consistently by great people who all share a common goal of creating Great Hotels, Guests Love. IHG has taken this approach with our loyalty brand soon to be rebranded as IHG Rewards Club®. IHG has listened to its members and in the same innovative foresight that brought about previous landmark benefits such as electronic rewards nights as well as the Any Hotel, Anywhere prepaid lodging card, IHG has done it again now being the first hotel group to offer Free Internet Access to all members of IHG Rewards Club. This means that all members from Club level to Platinum Elite will receive free internet access at more that 4,600 hotels across the globe. Furthermore, our guests will be able to stay connected even if they are not a guest in one of our hotel’s. Members passing through will be able to receive free ‘visitor’ access provided by the front desk as long as they can identify themselves as members. IHG hopes this added component will lead our members to increasingly consider our hotels’ food and beverage outlets even outside of an actual hotel stay; perhaps even get our members thinking about planning a future stay in one of our many brands. IHG will be working with all our hotel partners to get this ground breaking benefit in place beginning with Elite Level members on 1 July 2013. Just think about never having to worry about staying connected to your friends and family whenever and wherever your travels may take you. How about being able to connect even if you are not a guest in the hotel. So again, we ask ourselves, “free internet, myth or marvelous?” To our 71 million members it is no longer a myth and without a doubt, absolutely marvelous indeed.
IHG REWARDS CLUB® insider 3
Free Internet for all, not really
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nroll, enroll, enroll. Your team managers have drilled this into your heads about a million times over by now. Enrolling new guests as members gives us the great opportunity to start a life-long relation-
ship with that customer, one might even say, ‘a love affair’ with our brands.
Building guest one member a love, t a time...
As our members travel for business or leisure, exploring the world and creating new memories why shouldn’t they get more out of their hotel stay? IHG Rewards Club® membership allows you to offer them exactly that—more than just a hotel stay. A free program offering hotel level benefits, points that never expire and now free internet access* to all members beginning in 2014. Don’t forget though, free internet is only extended to IHG Rewards Club® members. Don’t leave your guests out in the cold, continue to offer enrollment and let’s start building the love to a new generation of travelers. *Free internet access or other new benefits should not be mentioned or offered prior to the transition to IHG Rewards Club® on 1 July 2013.
HIGHLIGHTING THE
IHG REWARDS CLUB FAQ
Q: Will new cards be issued to support the change to IHG Rewards Club®? A: As the transformation to IHG Rewards Club® will not be official until 1 July 2013 member card requests will continue to be fulfilled using the current card. A fulfillment mailing will take place on or around the 1 July 2013 and it will be continue through early fall (Sept/Oct 2013). A sample of the new card design is pictured below. Q: I stayed in an IHG hotel recently and they were already providing free internet. What’s new? A: Some of our IHG hotels already offer free internet access at no additional cost, however this announcement means that free internet is being extended globally to all IHG Rewards Club members across all of our hotels. **It is important to recognize that although free internet may have been offered at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in North America, a usage charge still prevailed in all other regions. Giving our members free internet is a huge benefit for them and drives preference towards our brands as they travel the globe. Q: Is free internet available throughout the hotel? A: Yes, Internet access will be available to all IHG Rewards Club Elite members on their own devices in all public areas and guest rooms from 1 July 2013 and all members from 2014. Meeting room charges and increased data speeds above the standard being provided may incur an additional charge as determined by each individual hotel.
Still have questions yet to be answered? Ask us! Submit them using the ‘Submit A Question’ function located on the top right hand corner of PASSPORT Central.
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IHG REWARDS CLUB® insider
IN CONTEXT- THE INTERNET AGE
IHG REWARDS CLUB® insider 5
The winds of change are coming soon.
On 1 July 2013, Priority Club Rewards will become IHG Rewards Club®. Thirty years ago, we introduced the world to the very first hotel loyalty programme of it’s kind. Today, we continue a legacy of innovation by providing our members more ways to earn, redeem, and enjoy points at over 4,600 hotels across the globe. We firmly believe that IHG Rewards Club® is destined to become another great brand our guests will love.