Is IHG Rewards Club Auctions the new deal for hotel packages?

IHG Rewards Club Auctions is a new site launched in a beta-test this week with eight offers available for bidding with points. I have used auction sites for travel deals since the late 1990s. One of the most common problems with auction sites is people bid items to levels where it is questionably a deal. The initial bids for the items listed below ran up to high levels quickly on the hotel packages offered this week.

The public can see IHG Rewards Club Auctions webpages, but I think you had to be invited to bid on the items in this beta test. The official launch of IHG Rewards Club auctions is supposed to happen in May 2015.

List of 8 items in IHG Rewards Club Auctions

1. BMW Performance Center Drive package includes 2-hour drive experience for two persons in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Opening bid 1,000 points. Current bid 30,500 points. Auction closes April 15, 12 noon ET.
2. BMW One Day M School package includes driving lessons for two persons in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Opening bid 10,000 points. Current bid 142,000 points. Auction closes April 15, 12 noon ET.
3. VIP Colonial Tournament (package 1) Package includes Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Hospitality Pass for Saturday (May 23rd, 2015) and Sunday (May 24th, 2015), autographed hole marker, and Nike golf hat. Opening bid 7,500 points. Current bid 76,000 points. Auction closes April 16, 12 noon ET.
4. VIP Colonial Tournament (package 2)
5. InterContinental Miami 2 nights + Ambassador Status package includes $50 spa credit and $100 dining credit. Opening bid 2,500 points. Current bid 141,000 points. Auction closes April 21, 4pm ET.
6. InterContinental Chicago 2 nights + Ambassador Status American Girl package includes doll and breakfast for girls. Opening bid 1,000 points. Current bid 70,006 points. Auction closes April 21, 9pm ET.
7. InterContinental Alliance Resort The Venetian Spa Package 2 nights + Ambassador Status package includes $250 credit for each guest ($500) at Canyon Ranch Spa Club. Opening bid 7,500 points. Current bid 129,666 points. Auction closes April 23, 12pm ET.
8. InterContinental New York 2 nights + Ambassador Status package includes dinner for two at Ça Va and tickets to the award winning Broadway production of WICKEDfor two. Opening bid 5,000 points. Current bid 201,000 points. Auction closes April 23, 12pm ET.

IHG Rewards Club auctions are a welcome development. There should be some good deals available for some items, but don’t expect great bargains on hotel award nights since there will likely be plenty of competition for the hotel stays.

InterContinental Chicago is the only deal I see here and that auction has another 11 days of bidding among a closed set of bidders to drive the price well over 100,000 points.