In this post:
Earn 5,000 Bonus Virgin Points with Tesco Clubcard Auto-Exchange
Virgin Red has launched a limited-time offer in partnership with Tesco Clubcard, giving you the chance to earn 5,000 bonus Virgin Points when you sign up to auto-exchange your Clubcard points for Virgin Points by 4th May 2025.
This is a great offer as you would typically need to spend £2,500 at Tesco to earn 2,500 Clubcard points (equivalent to 5,000 Virgin Points). When redeemed with partners, the Tesco Clubcard points double in value (e.g. a £3 Tesco voucher becomes £6 or 600 Virgin Points).
To participate, you must have at least 250 Clubcard points in your account by 4th May. You will not be eligible if you have previously set up an auto-exchange between Tesco and Virgin.
Once you sign up, your Tesco Clubcard points will automatically convert into Virgin Points. The 5,000 bonus points will be awarded by 1st June.
The bonus of 5,000 Virgin Points could get you:
- A £25 Virgin Experience Days or Virgin Wines gift card
- £25 off train tickets with Virgin Trains Ticketing
- A boost towards reward flights (worth around £50)
Read our guide to spending Virgin Points for ideas.
Since Virgin Points never expire, you won’t need to worry about losing them.
How to Sign Up
1. Log in to your Virgin Red account and go to this page.
2. Sign in to your Tesco Clubcard account
3. Scroll down and select Clubcard Management.
4. Select Virgin Points and enter your Virgin Red ID
IHG Acquires Ruby Hotels as its 20th Brand
InterContinental Hotels Group has added another name to its growing list of brands with the acquisition of Ruby Hotels. The deal, worth €110.5 million, makes Ruby IHG’s 20th brand, with plans to expand the portfolio to over 120 hotels within the next decade and 250+ within 20 years.
At first glance, Ruby seems like a smart addition, filling a gap in IHG’s lineup for affordable, stylish city hotels. Ruby is a premium urban lifestyle brand positioned below Hotel Indigo and competing with brands such as Moxy, CitizenM, and Hyatt’s ‘me and all’.
The Ruby Hotels Lean Luxury concept focuses on offering the essentials like comfortable rooms, great showers, and stylish bars.
These hotels feature automated check-in, space-efficient layouts, and high-tech designs to keep costs low. The brand is known for converting office spaces into modern hotels, capitalising on the move towards more people working from home.
Established in 2013, Ruby Hotels currently operates 20 properties across Europe, including nine in Germany, three in Austria, two in Switzerland, and one each in Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK.
In the UK, there are currently three Ruby Hotels, which are all in London:
- Ruby Stella, Farringdon
- Ruby Zoe, Notting Hill
- Ruby Lucy, Waterloo
Ten more hotels across Europe are also in the pipeline, including a fourth UK location in Edinburgh.
Ruby Hotels will remain franchise-operated, with the current owner continuing to manage existing properties while IHG expands Ruby under new operators.
There’s no official timeline yet for integration into IHG One Rewards, but based on past acquisitions, it could take at least six months to a year. For now, you won’t be able to earn or redeem points at Ruby Hotels until the integration is complete.
Clubrooms at Heathrow Terminal 3 Opens in April – Bookings Now Available
Pre-bookings are now open for the new Clubrooms lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3, with access available from 8th April 2025.
The Clubrooms lounge is located airside after security, near Gate 10 in Lounge F, next to the No1 Lounge.
Clubrooms offer a luxurious pre-flight experience. You can expect complimentary à la carte dining with a selection of sparkling wine, classic cocktails, premium spirits, beers, and fine wines, all served directly to your table. Champagne is available for an additional fee. You can read the sample menu here.
There is also plush seating, a cosy main lounge, and The Orangery, with bright, open spaces and runway views.
Clubrooms is the most premium and expensive of the three No1 Lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3, alongside the No1 Lounge and My Lounge. Here is an example of the booking choices for 8th April:
Clubrooms are also located at Gatwick North, Gatwick South, and Birmingham.
How to Access Clubrooms
You can Pre-book online to guarantee your visit. Bookings are for 3 hours, with add-ons available. Booking direct includes delay cover, no booking fees, and flexible amendments.
Tip: Sign up for the No1 Lounges newsletter to receive a code for 10% off your first visit.
If you have a Priority Pass, DragonPass, or Lounge Key membership, you can enter with your pass for a £15 upgrade fee.
