I Won Big, But Don't Think I'll Play Again

One of the biggest promotions of the end of 2013 was IHG's The Big Win. I wrote here about how my planned travel worked with this promotion and how I was going to "win."

Shortly after returning from my trip to Buenos Aires, I got an email stating that I "Won Big"

By winning, I earned 107,700 points off the promotion. However, I earned alot more points than 107,700. Alot more:

As a wrote here, I earned 22,917 points with my first stay. While that was my highest earn, I did pretty good with my other four stays:

2nd - 14,675
3rd - 7,275
4th - 5,248
5th - 5.085

My five stays earn me about 55,200 points.

Add that into the 107,700 points from the promotion, I earned 162,900. Amazing haul for 5 stays!

The good news is that The Big Win is back for Quarter 1 of 2014.

So after earning 162,900 last time, I don't think that I am going to participate this time. Why you might ask?

First, my possible win total is 20% less than last time, at only 86,100.

Second, my travel schedule does not work with this promotion. At the moment, I have very few planned hotel stays and those I do have aren't at IHG hotels. In addition, my tasks aren't easy:

Here are my tasks to win again:

1) Stay a total of 5 nights

2) Stay at 3 different brands

3) Book 1 stay through the Best Flexible Rate with Breakfast

4) Book 3 separate stays directly with IHG.com

5) Stay 2 Saturday Nights

6) Stay at 2 Holiday Inn hotels

7) Take a survey

Therefore, I would need to make 4 stays (3 different brands + Holiday Inn again) and pay for 5 nights. What I am not positive of is if Holiday Inn Express would count for # 6"Stay at 2 Holiday Inn Hotels." If it does, they I only need 3 stays, which could be done. 

At the moment, I have one trip that I could stay at a Holiday Inn, but it wouldn't be convenient.  Even if I did that one stay, I would still have complete mattress runs.

For these reasons, I think I am going to pass this round. I had fun IHG, but I am think I am going to sit out this dance.


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I Pulled The Trigger

Last month, I asked the question, "should I pay for ambassador status?" Overall, the response that I received was a resounding yes!

For the next six weeks, I sat on making the decision. I wasn't positive that I wanted to pull the trigger. Paying 32,000 points or $200 is a lot for status that I might use infrequently.

Last weekend, I pulled the trigger and spent 32,000 points on the Ambassador status. My decision to use points rather than cash was easy decision. Due to the IHG's The Big Win Promotion, I have a good stash of points.

Four days after I applied, I received this email:

My status with IHG already reflects the ambassador status:

My first stay at an Intercontinental Hotel is next week. I am excited to see what the status gets me . . .
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IHG's The Big Win: Status Update

IHG's The Big Win Promotion is a little less than half way over, so I thought that a status update was due.

Since the beginning of the promotion, I have made 3 stays at IHG hotels:

Crowne Plaza - National Airport

Candlewood Suites - Hampton, VA

Holiday Inn Express - Riverwood, IL

Those three stays have accomplished about 75% of the requirements of the promotion.

All that I have left is 2 more stays, one of which needs to be on Saturday. There is still 68,000 points available for me to earn. How do I know this?

IHG has been sending me emails letting me know that I have completed a task. Every time I completed a task, I got an email with the heading "Nice Work. You Just Earned Another Win." 

IHG should be applauded for there proactive notifications. One of the biggest gripes of our community is the lack of notification during contests. During the no defunct US Airway's Grandslam, one of the biggest complaint was that you never knew what tasks you completed. You had to have blind faith in US Airways. That isn't the case with this IHG promotion.

If the emails were not enough, the promotion has its own webpage tracking your progress. 

The webpage has a section for each promotion requirements:

Overall, this is a great promotion. It requires strategy, offers a big reward and provides a tracking system. I wish all promotions were like this one.

How are you doing with the promotion?

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Recap of Q3 and Rest of Year

One of the reasons I am writing this blog is to keep a journal of my crazy doings in my late twenties.

Here is a little update on what has happened in Q3 and what I have on deck for the rest of the year:

Quarter 3

• I have earned 601,000 points YTD
• My goal was 500,000 this year
• New goal is 750,000
• Tried Carpe Doughnuts (more here)
• Completed the Chase Hyatt Card Summer Bonus
• Tried to cancel my US Airways Credit Card, read more here
• Got Chase Ink Bold Credit Cards
• Blog Turns 1
• Anniversary Giveaway

Quarter 4

• Complete Hyatt 6,000 Fall Bonus  & Southwest 3,000 Bonus, read more here
• Complete US Airways Mastercard Retention and Holiday Bonus, read more here.
• Complete IHG's The Big Win promotion, more here
• Cancel United and American Airlines Credit Cards
• What credit cards for next application? 
• Decided My End of the Year Trip

Upcoming Travel 

• Columbus Day Weekend - Norfolk, VA
• October - Will Travel for College Football: NorthWestern
• October - Omaha Mileage Run
• November - Memphis Mileage Run 
• November - 10 Year High School Reunion
• December - Buenos Aires with Mom
• December - Will travel for College Football: D3 Championship???
• December - End of Year Trip

Things I am Working On For The Blog

• A stand along website - almost done!
• Blog Logo
• Anatomy of a Mileage Run
• Maybe Another 31 Ways to Earn
• Some other things....

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