IHG–Chase refresh: Premier card drops to Gold, new Premier Select arrives
IHG's Chase co-brand lineup changes, and the headline is a devaluation of status. The Premier card's annual fee rises to $150 and the card now grants Gold elite status instead of Platinum. Its annual free night rises to 50K points. A new Premier Select card launches, and the fee-free card unlocks a fourth-night-free benefit from 2027.
Sign-up bonuses of 125K–200K points run through Nov 18. For advisors, the point is to check which card IHG-loyal clients hold before the changes apply. The higher free-night cap may help some, but the status downgrade matters for clients who relied on Platinum perks.
Accor Plus and Hilton–Turkish promos come with conditions
Two partner promotions are live, and each has a catch.
ALL Accor+ Explorer: 3,000 bonus ALL points for sign-ups through Oct 31. Accor Plus pricing has also risen slightly. For clients who stay at Accor properties in APAC or the Middle East, the 2-4-1 vouchers and 30 bonus elite nights can offset the membership cost.
Hilton Honors x Turkish Airlines: up to 6,000 bonus Miles&Smiles for stays Oct 1–Dec 31. Clients must register by Nov 30 and select Turkish as the preferred partner. The stay must be booked through Hilton direct channels, so advisor-booked stays may not qualify. Flag that before booking.
Shangri-La and Pan Pacific line up Southeast Asia growth
Shangri-La and SM Prime will build a 90-key eco-luxury resort, Santelmo Cove, in Batangas, with about 40 villas and 50 rooms. It is set to open in 2031, so it is a pipeline signal rather than near-term inventory. It would add a luxury option near Manila.
Closer in, Pan Pacific Hotels Group has 10 new-build and renovation projects planned across Southeast Asia in 2027. They bring the flagship Pan Pacific brand to Bangkok and Phnom Penh and renovate several Parkroyal properties, including Parkroyal Collection Pickering in Singapore. Advisors selling the region should expect new and refreshed inventory next year.
Mandarin Oriental's brand at a Boca condo is in question
The Palm Beach Post reports that a Mandarin Oriental-branded condo in Boca Raton is rebuffing its lender, raising the question of whether the hotel brand will remain. Detail is limited, so treat it as a risk signal for branded-residence and hotel inventory in South Florida rather than a confirmed departure. Advisors with Mandarin Oriental clients in the area should watch for developments.
Watch list: Royal Caribbean–Sandals talks and a Kempinski CFO change
Skift's GMH Hotels podcast references a report that Royal Caribbean is in talks for a 50% stake in Sandals Resorts. It is a report of talks, not a confirmed deal. If it proceeds, it could affect Caribbean resort distribution, packaging and commission or cross-sell dynamics for an all-inclusive brand advisors sell heavily.
Separately, Kempinski Group has appointed a new Chief Financial Officer. The source gives no detail, so it is a watch item for any shift in strategy or ownership.