Booking a suite at a Six Senses resort or an InterContinental flagship? There's a good chance you can get breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, an upgrade and late checkout thrown in — without paying a cent more than the standard flexible rate. The catch is that most people have never heard of the programme that unlocks them: IHG Destined.
Destined is IHG Hotels & Resorts' invitation-only preferred partner scheme, the successor to its old Luxury & Lifestyle programme. It sits alongside Hyatt Privé, Marriott STARS and Hilton for Luxury as one of the big hotel groups' luxury booking channels, but only works through approved travel advisors or authorised booking platforms — you can't find these rates on IHG.com.
Here's what makes it interesting for anyone loyal to IHG. Unlike many third-party luxury rates, Destined bookings still earn IHG One Rewards points and elite night credit, and your status benefits apply as normal. In other words, you get the perks of booking direct plus the extras. Perks typically include daily breakfast for two, a $100 hotel or resort credit per stay, a complimentary upgrade when available, early check-in and late checkout, a welcome amenity and VIP recognition on arrival.
The maths is simple. On a three-night stay, breakfast, credit, an upgrade and a late checkout can add up to $250–$500 in value — on a rate that usually matches the hotel's Best Flexible Rate. IHG also claims Destined guests get priority over Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings at its own properties, which matters when a hotel is nearly full and upgrades are scarce.
Which hotels take part? Selected properties across IHG's luxury and lifestyle brands: Six Senses (wellness-led resorts), Regent (ultra-luxury), InterContinental (city and resort flagships), Kimpton (boutiques), Vignette Collection and some Hotel Indigo properties. Think Six Senses Fiji, Regent Hong Kong or the InterContinental Bora Bora.
The old assumption that booking direct is always best doesn't hold here. A Destined rate is treated almost like a direct booking from a loyalty perspective, while stacking extras on top. If you hold IHG elite status, that combination is hard to beat.
Who should care? Anyone planning a holiday at a high-end IHG property — especially longer stays or resort trips where breakfast and credits add up fast. The practical step is booking through an authorised Destined advisor, or via a self-booking platform that carries the rates (filter for Destined after searching your destination). One honest caveat: benefits like upgrades and early check-in are always subject to availability, so don't count on them as guarantees — treat them as a bonus on a rate you'd be happy paying anyway.