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Typically, you have to stay many nights or spend massive amounts of money to earn higher levels of elite status with hotel brands. However, sometimes you can find shortcuts like status matches or fast-tracks that can help you achieve your desired elite tier without meeting the published requirements.
If earning elite status with IHG One Rewards is one of your goals, here's how to speed up the process.
Basics of the IHG One Rewards Program
In 2022, IHG revamped the IHG One Rewards program, adding a new Silver Elite status tier, changing the name of its top-tier status from “Spire Elite” to Diamond Elite, adding new perks, and increasing points qualification requirements.
IHG also added “Milestone Rewards” that you earn as you accumulate elite nights. Members are rewarded for every 10 nights stayed, starting at 20 nights. These include extra perks like food and beverage vouchers, a hotel lounge membership, and suite upgrades, among other benefits.
Status is earned through qualifying nights or points. Status earned in a calendar year is valid until the end of the following year. Here are the requirements for each level:
- Silver Elite: 10 qualifying nights
- Gold Elite: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying points
- Platinum Elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points
- Diamond Elite: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points
Perks of each status level range from earning bonus IHG points to space-available room upgrades and welcome amenities, which includes complimentary breakfast.
| Benefit | Club Member | Silver Elite | Gold Elite | Platinum Elite | Diamond Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free internet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonus points | N/A | 20% | 40% | 60% | 100% |
| Points don't expire | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rollover nights for next year's status | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Rewards night promotional discounts | Yes | Yes | |||
| Guaranteed room availability | Yes | Yes | |||
| Complimentary upgrades, based on availability at check-in | Yes | Yes | |||
| Welcome amenity at check-in | Yes | Yes | |||
| Early check-in, based on availability | Yes | Yes | |||
| Late checkout, based on availability | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2 p.m. |
| Dedicated Diamond support line | Yes | ||||
| Hertz Five Star status match | Yes |
Does IHG Offer a Status Match?
Unlike other hotel groups, IHG does not offer an ongoing status match from other hotels' elite programs. However, it sometimes provides a fast track to status for its members. This usually requires registering for the promotion and staying a certain number of nights. After this, you'll receive status for a set amount of time.
What To Know About the IHG Status Match
If you catch a fast-track option, there are some important things to know:
- You must register for the promotion before any qualifying nights can be counted.
- You have a limited amount of time to complete the qualifying stays.
- Not all stays count. Qualifying stays must be above a certain dollar amount per night (usually $30), excluding taxes, fees, and other charges.
- Award nights do not usually count.
- Bookings made through online travel agencies or other reservation sites like booking.com or expedia.com are not eligible.
Other Ways To Get IHG Elite Status
If you aren't able to earn status through qualifying nights or points and are not able to jump on a status match offer, don't worry, you're not out of luck. You can still earn status in a few other ways.
Credit cards
The quickest and easiest way to earn status is through IHG credit cards. All three of IHG's co-branded cards offer some level of elite status, with the option to spend your way to even higher tiers. Take a look at your options:
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Get complimentary IHG Silver Elite status with membership. Spend $20,000 in a calendar year to earn Gold Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Get complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status. Spend $40,000 in a calendar year to earn Diamond Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Get complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status. Spend $40,000 in a calendar year to earn Diamond Elite status.
Related: Which IHG One Rewards credit card is right for you?
- Earn up to 17X points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and at gas stations
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 5X points for being a IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Cardmember
- Earn up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
- Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member
- Earn up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
- Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on travel, dining, social media search engine advertising, and at office supply stores and gas stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X base points for being an IHG® One Rewards Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
The recently revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve® and its newly released business equivalent — the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ — both include IHG Platinum Elite status too, with the option to upgrade to Diamond Elite.
- Sapphire Reserve: Platinum Elite included, upgrade to Diamond Elite (and earn other benefits) with $75,000 in spend during a single calendar year.
- Sapphire Reserve Business: Platinum Elite included, upgrade to Diamond Elite (and earn other benefits) with $120,000 in spend over a single calendar year.
Related: 4 Ways to Earn Top-Tier IHG Diamond Elite Status With Credit Card Spending
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
InterContinental Ambassador
One final option for earning IHG status is to buy into the InterContinental Ambassador Program. This unique status program is only available by purchasing a 12-month membership for $225 or 45,000 points. InterContinental Ambassador program members immediately receive Platinum Elite status, which includes benefits like bonus points, discounts, late checkout, room upgrades, and welcome amenities.
In addition, InterContinental Ambassador program members also receive these valuable benefits:
- Guaranteed one-category room upgrade
- Guaranteed extended 4 p.m. checkout
- Complimentary weekend night
- Restaurants & bars credit of up to $20 for every stay
- Complimentary mineral water
- Complimentary internet
- Dedicated check-in area
- Single room rate for double occupancy
- Mainland China only: Complimentary breakfast for the member each night of stay
Final Thoughts
If you don't already have Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards and you'd like to change that, you have options. If you catch it right, you can join a fast-track promotion for a quick upgrade. Otherwise, since IHG status matching is not an ongoing option, you can open a participating credit card or join the InterContinental Ambassador program. No matter your choice, you're bound to find something that works for you to get IHG status quickly.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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