One of the most impressive properties inside both Kimpton and, thusly IHG, is the Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman. I have been excited to try it from the moment it was announced that IHG Rewards Club points could...
Kimpton Makes IHG a Better Brand
I heap loads of criticism on IHG for their poor treatment of elites respective to their peers, but IHG’s purchase of Kimpton and their subsequent investment in the brand is one of the best decisions the brand has made....
IHG Finally Has Hotels Worth Booking
Following a few acquisitions, IHG has improved the value of their points by improving the quantity of their top-end properties. Is it enough to justify loyalty to IHG? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Sneak Peek: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh
Kimpton Hotels are stylish and contemporary in the heart of major cities. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh fits the mold, but some of their design choices weren’t for me. I’ve included the photos, you decide. If you are considering booking...
Mid-Year Status Update – Surprising Results
For the first time since I became a serious frequent flyer, I am carefully tracking all of my traveling metrics for elite status. Every flight and hotel stay is logged and I am sharing my results – my expectations didn’t...
Where Are My Rollover Nights, IHG?
As a road warrior, hotel status is very important to my travel experience and day-to-day business operations. Some programs like Intercontinental Hotels Group Rewards Club (IHG) allow guests who have over-qualified for their status to rollover excess nights to...
Why Doesn’t IHG Treat Elites Better?
As a top-tier elite with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) it’s become clear, IHG doesn’t treat their elites well. But why? The hotel chain has more than 4,700 hotels worldwide, they are highly profitable but...
Review: InterContinental Hotel Shanghai Ruijin
Traveling to Shanghai, the opportunities for amazing hotels are endless. Previously I had stayed at most Hyatt hotels in Shanghai proper but none of the other brands (see Matthew’s review of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai). This visit I found...
Why Are Status Hotel Upgrades Tough?
Some hotel chains offer room upgrades of varying levels to their elite guests. These are typically listed as “if available upon checkin” but often moving up from a double queen room to a coveted suite seems like hard work....
Review: Holiday Inn Resort Aruba – Families and Couples
Continuing our stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, see the previous post here. This property segments the property so that it can be a family or couples resort or a mixture of both. If you are considering booking travel or signing...
Several Surprises in Aruba
This year for my 30th birthday my amazing husband, The Trip Sherpa, surprised me with a long weekend away to Aruba. I was excited to check off my second of the “ABC Islands”(Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) and have a nice...
Matthew is Wrong – Hyatt Buying Starwood Benefits Customers
Earlier today I posted about Hyatt potentially buying Starwood hotels as reported by CNBC. Then Matthew from Live and Let’s Fly here on Upgrd wrote this post. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both...
Hyatt in Advance Talks to Buy Starwood Hotels
It was reported that Hyatt was in advance talks to purchase Starwood Hotels (SPG). Hyatt ultimately did not complete the sale, Marriott did in 2016. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support...