Good news from IHG Rewards Club: No devaluations for 2014

If you’re still reeling from today’s US Airways/American Airlines devaluation debacle, there are some good news on the horizon. Next week, IHG will be announcing changes to its award chart. I’m told over 100 IHG properties will be going down in category, requiring 5,000 fewer points per night.

The program changes will go into effect on April 15. Here are some of the properties on the list:

• InterContinental Hotel Shanghai-Puxi, China – 35,000 to 30,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Crowne Plaza Geneva, Switzerland – 35,000 to 30,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Hotel Indigo Fort Myers Downtown River District, Florida, U.S. –  30,000 to 25,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Holiday Inn Resort PhuketMai Khao Beach Resort, Phuket, Thailand – 20,000 to 15,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Staybridge Suites – San Antonio-Stone Oak, Texas, U.S. – 20,000 to 15,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Holiday Inn Ciudad De Mexico- Trade Center, Mexico – 15,000 to 10,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Holiday Inn Express Frankfurt-Messe, Germany –  25,000 to 20,000 IHG Rewards Club points
• Candlewood Suites Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. –  25,000 to 20,000 IHG Rewards Club points

IHG has also announced that the program will not be “making any increases to our Reward Night pricing during 2014.” So you can breathe easy, knowing there is one less loyalty program funeral to attend this year.

The only down side is that the IHG Rewards Club Redemption Series may be affected by the changes. I don’t expect a major impact, but will hold off on publishing Categories 7-10 until after the changes have gone into effect.

What are your thoughts on this announcement from IHG?