• by Tanya Gazdik , October 22, 2017

InterContinental Hotels Group, which acquired Kimpton in 2015, is now rolling the boutique chain’s loyalty program into its own.

Kimpton Karma Rewards members were notified Oct. 20 that the program will go away in early 2018 but that “all the special magic of Kimpton Karma will remain, which means you’ll continue to experience the personalized recognition and perks you love when you check into a Kimpton hotel.”

The two brands have been working together “to determine the best way to bring Kimpton Karma Rewards and IHG Rewards Club together, while continuing to provide the unique style and spirit that define the Kimpton experience,” Maggie Lang, senior director, guest experience and loyalty, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, writes in an email to members.

The “special magic” of Kimpton Karma will continue to live on with Kimpton exclusive offers, invitations to private Kimpton events and customized perks, she says. “In short, the personalized recognition that is the heart of the Kimpton experience remains unchanged,” Lang says

With the merger into the IHG program, members will now have access to a full range of IHG Rewards Club benefits, like redeeming points at more than 5,200 hotels and partners and other perks like online reward redemption, no blackout dates on Reward Nights and international destinations. 

Members will now have access to the award-winning IHG App, providing an easy way to search, book, redeem and manage membership details.

Every valid Kimpton Karma Reward Night will convert into IHG Rewards Club Reward Nights in a new account and may be redeemed at any IHG property worldwide. Progress on Karma Reward Night accruals will be converted into IHG Rewards Club points.

An IHG Rewards Club account will automatically be created replacing existing Kimpton Karma Rewards account. If members already have an IHG Rewards Club account, IHG will merge the Karma Rewards account with it.

Changes include the retiring of the “raid the bar” benefit for lower tier members. Raid the Bar provides one $10 credit ($15 in NYC) to spend at either the in-house restaurant or bar or the in-room honor bar during each eligible stays. The Kimpton Journey Reward is also retiring. That perk gave members who stayed at 10 different Kimpton hotels during the calendar year two complimentary nights. If they stayed at 15 different hotels they got another free night, and another free night if they hit 20.

The company has set up a dedicated website to explain the changes. 

“On top of all the good stuff Kimpton offers like hosted wine hour, pets stay for free, bikes available to borrow, and free WIFI, we’ll also continue to offer Kimpton Karma exclusives and invitations to private events,” Lang writes to Kimpton Karma members. “You’ll still get to enjoy all of it and a bag of chips, with the added benefits of the IHG Rewards Club.”