IHG is revamping its Rewards Club loyalty programme with the addition of a new VIP tier called Spire Elite, as well as new benchmarks for Gold and Platinum members.

Spire Elite will be the highest membership level in the Rewards Club programme, above the current highest, Platinum. To earn Spire Elite membership, guests must spend 75 nights a year at any qualifying hotels, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brand properties, or earn 75,000 qualifying points over a year.

Members who attain the Spire Elite status will earn double points on all qualifying stays. To put this in perspective, Platinum members currently earn 50% bonuses. Another benefit: members will be able to choose between earning 25,000 bonus points on qualifying for Spire Elite status or nominating a friend for Platinum status.

Gold and Platinum status is becoming easier to gain, with Gold now requiring just 10 nights’ stay over a year – or 10,000 qualifying points; Platinum status requires 40 nights or 40,000 points over a year. This is down from the previous 15 nights/20,000 points for Gold and 50 nights/60,000 points for Platinum.

From May 2016, IHG Rewards Club points will also expire if the membership has not been active over the previous 12 months.

“These enhancements are just the start of a number of exciting new improvements we will be making to the programme in the coming months,” said IHG senior vice president of customer loyalty marketing, Susanna Freer Epstein. www.ihg.com