A ‘Great Rates’ Plan

Holiday Inns has added a weekend discount program to its Great Rates plan.

You can get 50% off rack room rates at about 760 participating U.S. and Canadian properties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights until March 29, 1987.

Meanwhile, the chain is continuing its regular program of offering at least a 20% discount at participating U.S. hotels, with more than 1,000 hotels extending discounts that vary from property to property. Rooms under this aspect of the program can include weekdays or weekends. There is no cutoff point.

Some properties may be participating in both programs. Find out what discounts are available when making your reservation. Rooms under both parts of the program are limited and on a capacity-controlled basis.

However, under the weekend program you can make reservations any time before check-in. With the regular program you have to make your reservations at least a week in advance, and guarantee it by a credit card. Canceling or changing your reservation within 72 hours of your arrival date means a $25 cancellation charge against your credit card.

Use of a credit card isn’t mandatory with the weekend program.

Holiday Inns also has a $29 a night weekend program at about 160 properties in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, with this discount program ending Dec. 14.

Contact travel agents, Holiday Inns at 800-HOLIDAY, or individual hotels.

Inter-Continental Hotels has replaced its U.S.A. Plus program with a new awards program. With this plan you can earn more than 100 types of awards including free stays at more than 60 Inter-Continental and Forum hotels in the United States and abroad, free or discounted flights on Pan Am or American, and cruises on Cunard.

The program works by what you spend at any of the participating hotels, with one point given for each $1 spent on room rates, food and beverages, etc. You get 500 points upon enrollment, and a membership card that has to be presented at check-in. There is no fee for participation, with applications available from the individual hotels or by calling (713) 999-1010.

Awards start at the 2,000-point level when you can get one free weekend night at a participating hotel or a 25% discount on one Pan Am coach round-trip ticket within the United States. The awards go up from that level. The points can be earned until March 31, 1988, and the various awards may be redeemed through March 31, 1989.

As not all Inter-Continental/Forum properties are participating, check in advance on this score.