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IHG and Revolut Launch New UK Debit Cards
IHG has returned to the UK payment card market with two new Revolut-powered debit cards, including a free option. Both cards have welcome bonuses available for sign-ups until 25th August 2026.
Launching on 30th June 2026, the Essential and Elite cards come with IHG status, bonus points, Elite Night Credits and more:
| Essential | Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free | £18 |
| IHG One Rewards status | Silver Elite | Platinum Elite |
| Elite Night Credits | 5 per year | 15 per year |
| Earning Rate at IHG Hotels | 1 point per £1 | Up to 6 points per £1
Until 31st October 2026, this is increased to 9 points per £1 at selected international properties and 4 points per £1 in the UK and EEA |
| UK & EEA spending | 0.5 points per £1 | 1.5 points per £1 |
| International spending | 0.5 points per £1 | 3 points per £1 |
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 points after spending £1,000 in 3 months (up from 5,000) | 30,000 points after spending £3,000 in 3 months (up from 20,000) |
| Extra Benefits | 1 Elite Night Credit for every £4,000 spent up to 8 (£32,000 spend) | 1 Elite Night Credit for every £4,000 spent up to 8 (£32,000 spend)
£10,000 spend = 1 x Choice Reward £15,000 spend = 1x Reward Night Certificate £25,000 spend = 1x Choice Reward £35,000 = Diamond Elite status |
Each Cardmember Choice Reward can be redeemed for 5,000 bonus points, two food-and-beverage credits or one Confirmable Suite Upgrade.
If you had one of the discontinued IHG Credit Cards by Creation when the programme ended, there’s a Welcome Back promotion. You’ll receive extra benefits on top of the usual sign-up offers, including Gold status for Essential and an extra Choice Benefit when spending £3,000 in the first 3 months with the Elite card.
These cards look great for earning Choice Rewards and IHG status, given that fast-track options for IHG status are limited. With the Elite Night Credits, you can fast-track your progress even more without spending dozens of nights at IHG properties.
Read the full terms on the Revolut site here
British Airways Invests £17 Million in Customer Service Centre
British Airways has completed a £17 million refurbishment of its Newcastle contact centre. The project has been several years in the making, following three years of planning and a 10-month refurbishment programme.
The Bamburgh Court site, which first opened in 1992, is BA’s largest UK-based contact centre and employs around 700 people. It handles a variety of tasks that require direct interaction with customers, including BA Holidays, sales, accessibility, customer relations, social media and digital support.
The investment underlines BA’s commitment to the North East. It supports the expansion of career and apprenticeship development programmes, as well as further investment in leadership, data, and AI training for existing colleagues. There’s also a new Learning Academy that provides immersive training using real-world customer scenarios to improve consistency and service across every stage of the customer journey.
The investment also comes several years after British Airways considered outsourcing its UK contact centre operations but ultimately decided to keep its Newcastle and Manchester centres in-house and invest in them instead.
Hopefully, improved training will help support more consistent customer service over time.
Hilton’s First Cave Hotel is Now Open
Hilton’s new Cave Suites in Ortahisar, Cappadocia, are now open. The 36-suite property is part of the Curio Collection, a portfolio of hotels that each has its own unique character and a true sense of place.
The Suites are built within thoughtfully restored historic cave dwellings. Each room has its own character, with selected suites having private pools, traditional Turkish hammams, and hot tubs.
Dining is rooted in the culinary heritage of Cappadocian and Anatolian cuisine. At Colastre, you’ll find locally sourced time-honoured recipes with a contemporary touch.
Other facilities include an outdoor pool and a spa inspired by the local landscape. The spa has a hammam, a steam room, two treatment rooms, a sauna and a rain shower.
Pricing seems very reasonable with King Superior rooms starting at £74 per night or 34,000 points. Rooms with whirlpool baths start at £163 or 93,000 points, or a pool suite for £348 or 198,000 points.
David Kelly, senior vice president, Continental Europe, Hilton, said,
“For 70 years, Hilton has been welcoming guests across Türkiye. The opening of Elika Cave Suites Cappadocia, Curio Collection by Hilton, builds on that commitment and reflects the strong momentum behind our lifestyle growth. In Türkiye, one in five hotels in our pipeline is a lifestyle property, with 14 lifestyle hotels trading and pipeline. Curio Collection enables us to offer destination-rooted stays – brought to life here through Cappadocia’s setting, cave-led architecture and locally inspired design. We look forward to introducing guests to this exceptional new hotel and to building on Hilton’s next chapter of growth in Türkiye.”
