IHG on Friday announced plans to bring together its two loyalty programs – IHG Rewards Club and Kimpton Karma Rewards. In early 2018, Kimpton Karma Rewards, the loyalty program of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, will become a part of IHG Rewards Club and offer all members one program with a single reward point system.
Kimpton Karma members will be automatically enrolled in IHG Rewards Club. In turn, IHG Rewards Club members will now be able to earn reward points and redeem Reward Nights at more than 60 Kimpton hotels.
All Kimpton Karma earned reward nights will be honored. Karma member tier levels will map to IHG Rewards Club membership levels, and activity accrued toward an earned night will be converted into IHG Rewards Club points. Karma InnerCircle will continue to exist at Kimpton hotels and will be grandfathered into the program in 2018.
While the Kimpton program name will be sunseted, Kimpton Chief Commercial Officer Kathleen Reidenbach said the Kimpton Karma might be used in marketing materials and “audience engagement tools.”
When asked about owner reactions/concerns, Reidenbach added, “Our owners were looking to understand how the shift from Kimpton Karma to IHG Rewards Club will impact their properties from a guest experience perspective, culture perspective and from a profitability perspective.
“We had close collaboration with them to ensure that they understand that the culture of Kimpton will remain and the guest experience we are delivering will be amplified by IHG Rewards Club as we are now able to introduce our brand to a whole new world of customers. In talking to our owners, they are looking at the benefits that all this can provide their properties. But they are excited that the culture of Kimpton and the spirit in which we deliver guest experience will continue to remain as well as our much beloved perks like Raid the Bar.”