First Look At The New IHG All Inclusive Holidays

Usually reserved for VIP hotel programs and luxury travel advisors, IHG® Hotels & Resorts has just launched a new all-inclusive holiday platform which includes a suite of inclusions and upgrades for IHG Rewards Members (tip: join here for free).

The aim of Handpicked Holidays by IHG is to offer guests an all-inclusive experience at selected hotels and resorts around Australia and New Zealand. The packages are designed to take care of everything and offer a value proposition that is unbeatable when you compare it to the stand-alone prices of the inclusions.

Each Handpicked Holiday is designed with flexibility in mind so members can change their booking dates when needed and not be penalised for doing so (subject to availability).

The concept of Handpicked Holidays by IHG is catered to the property participating in the promotion, this means you will see a variety of different inclusions depending on the hotel brand and category. Generally speaking, you can expect the following benefits as part of the promotion:

Handpicked Holidays by IHG Package Inclusions

• Daily breakfast
• Restaurant & Bars credit (between $50 and $100)
• Restaurant meal or a welcome amenity
• Room upgrades
• Late checkout
• Hotel specific benefits and experiences such as boat transfers, welcome drinks, a round of golf etc.

Tip: see the list below for all participating hotels and their specific member benefits on offer!

How To book Handpicked Holiday by IHG packages

Booking an IHG Handpicked Holiday can be done via this page on the IHG website. When purchasing, there are two options for some hotels; you can either book outright by selecting your specific dates, or you can purchase a voucher either as a gift or for yourself. Gift vouchers are valid for three years from the date of purchase and can be booked with 14 days notice subject to availability.

• Visit the “Handpicked Holidays by IHG landing page.”
• Explore all participating hotels and make your selection
• Check your dates to ensure the hotel is available for reservation and book your stay!

Tip: bookings can be changed as long as you give at least 24h notice. There’s no penalty for doing so, and as long as the hotel has availability, you can re-book at a later date.

Participating Hotels

The Handpicked Holidays by IHG promotion is available at participating InterContinental, Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn hotels in Australia and New Zealand. Click here to see the full list.

Summing Up – Is this a good deal?

I’m a big fan of package hotel deals, especially when there are inclusions that I would make use of anyway. Of course, it’s important you compare the package rates vs other booking sites to ensure you’re getting a deal. I did some research on the new Crowne Plaza in Sydney and booking via a third party booking portal came out at $837 for 3 nights while the Handpicked Holiday rates clocked in at $699. While that’s only a saving of $138, we still need to factor in the other benefits such as a $100 restaurant and bars credit, welcome drinks and late checkout. A total value proposition of at least $250. This means in my book; the Handpicked Holidays by IHG promotion ticks all the right boxes.

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Full Disclosure: This article was sponsored by IHG Australia.