AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
The
New cardmembers can earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, you can earn 10,000 bonus points after you add an authorized user within the first three months of account opening.
However, this card's value goes beyond its welcome bonus. With automatic elite status and a fourth reward night free on award stays, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card helps you get more value from every stay while enjoying elevated benefits along the way.
Although the annual fee recently increased to $150, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card includes a ton of credits that can offset that fee — and then some. In this post, we'll break down the ongoing benefits to help you decide whether the IHG One Rewards Premier Card fits your upcoming travel goals and deserves a place in your wallet.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to 24X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores (new!) and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage
Rewards - This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
- Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, 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 Card member
- Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold 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
IHG Premier Card Pros
- Complimentary IHG Gold Elite status.
- Receive an annual free night certificate on each account anniversary.
- Fourth-night-free benefit on award stays.
- Up to $100 in annual Food and Beverage Rewards at IHG Hotels
- Earn a $100 airline credit when you spend $250+ directly with airlines
- Clear path for higher elite status through automatic and earned Elite Night Credits
IHG Premier Card Cons
- IHG points aren't as valuable as some other hotel points.
- $150 annual fee, which was recently increased.
- The 30% discount on points purchases does not stack with IHG buy points promotions.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Welcome Offer
New cardholders of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card can earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Recent AwardWallet user redemptions put the value of IHG points in the middle of the hotel points pack at 0.69¢ per point, making this welcome offer worth around $1,240.
Plus, you can earn 10,000 bonus points after you add an authorized user within the first three months from account opening.
IHG Premier Card Benefits
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card comes packed with updated perks that can easily offset its annual fee for frequent travelers, from automatic elite status to a free night certificate on your card anniversary. Here's an overview of the benefits.
Anniversary free night
You can redeem the IHG One Rewards Premier Card Free Night Award at hotels costing up to 50,000 points per night. You can also top off the certificate with points from your IHG account to book stays that exceed the 50,000-point cap.
This added flexibility makes the IHG free night certificate significantly more valuable, since it can be used at a much wider range of properties across the IHG portfolio when combined with additional points.
Just keep in mind that the reward night stay must be booked and completed within 12 months of the certificate's issue date. You’re also responsible for any incidental charges, including parking fees, as well as mandatory resort fees at properties where they apply.
Automatic IHG Gold Elite status
While IHG elite status doesn't have quite the same luster as some other hotel rewards programs, IHG Gold Elite status members receive 40% bonus points on paid stays and rollover nights toward next year’s status. Plus, holding elite status ensures your IHG One Rewards points won’t expire.
Earn IHG Platinum and Diamond Elite status via spending
You can spend $15,000 in a calendar year to earn IHG Platinum Elite status. Platinum members receive a 60% bonus points on paid stays, rollover nights toward next year’s status, complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability), and a welcome amenity at check-in.
Spending $40,000 in a calendar year gets you top-tier Diamond Elite status, opening the door to premium perks like a choice of free breakfast, better upgrades, and 100% bonus points on paid stays.
Head start toward status
New cardholders will receive 15 Elite Night Credits when they open an account and again at the start of each calendar year, giving them a head start toward a Milestone Reward and their next status tier.
Likewise, earn 2 Elite Night Credits for every $5,000 spent on purchases with your IHG One Rewards Premier Card. Plus, cardholders earn five bonus Elite Night Credits after spending $15,000 on purchases each calendar year.
These bonus nights for spending on the card are nice, but remember that $15,000 of spend gets you IHG Platinum Elite status anyway, so these bonuses may not be as necessary.
Fourth night free on award stays
Cardholders of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card receive a fourth night free on all award bookings of four or more consecutive nights. What's more, IHG Fourth Night Free is included automatically at the time of booking, rather than offered as a rebate. Therefore, you'll only require enough points for three nights in your account to take advantage of this benefit.
30% discount on points purchases
Cardholders can purchase IHG One Rewards points at a 30% discount, bringing the everyday purchase rate down to as low as 0.7 cents per point. However, this benefit applies only to standard purchase pricing and can’t be combined with promotions, such as IHG’s frequent offers to buy IHG points with up to a 100% bonus.
By combining the ability to regularly purchase IHG points at a 30% discount with a fourth night free, you can easily save money on award nights, even when you're low on points.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
If you already have a card that offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, this perk may not add much value, though you can still use it to cover a family member’s application fee by charging it to your card. The IHG One Rewards Premier Card provides a statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee (up to $120 in value) every four years.
Earn 15,000 bonus points
IHG cardholders can earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on the card each year. While this card isn't one of the best everyday spending cards, this spending threshold bonus makes it more appealing to use the card.
Earn $50 United® TravelBank Cash
IHG One Rewards Premier Card holders can receive $50 in United TravelBank credit each year after registering their card with their MileagePlus account. This will be credited to your TravelBank account as $25 around January 5 and July 5 each year.
Deposits made between January 1 and June 30 will expire on July 15 of the same calendar year, regardless of deposit date. Deposits made between July 1 and December 31 will expire on January 15 of the following calendar year, regardless of deposit date.
Registration is required, but only one time.
$100 airline statement credit
Get a $100 statement credit when you spend at least $250 on flights purchased directly with the airline each calendar year through December 31, 2027.
$100 in annual food and beverage rewards at IHG Hotels
You will receive one $25 Food and Beverage Rewards voucher each calendar quarter, up to $100 per calendar year. These vouchers can be redeemed for credit against eligible food and beverage on your room bill at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Each $25 voucher will be automatically posted each quarter in your Member’s Rewards wallet.
Complimentary DashPass membership and promotion
Cardholders get a one-year complimentary DashPass membership, which provides $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. This benefit must be activated by December 31, 2027.
You also get up to $10 off monthly on non-restaurant DoorDash purchases. This goes through December 31, 2027, as long as you remain enrolled in your Chase DashPass membership.
Instacart+ Membership and benefits
Get a complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate.
Also receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your card. Both of these Instacart benefits end December 31, 2027.
Travel and purchase protections
- Baggage delay insurance: Get reimbursed up to $100 a day for three days for essentials when your bag is delayed by more than six hours.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Coverage up to $3,000 per traveler for the cost to repair or replace lost or damaged baggage.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Get reimbursed up to $5,000 per traveler and $10,000 per trip for non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short for a covered reason.
- Purchase protection: Coverage against theft or damage for up to 120 days, up to $500 per item.
Check your guide to benefits for specific information.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card Earning Rates
Factoring in card spending rates and elite bonuses, cardholders of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card will earn up to 24 total points per $1 spent when staying at an IHG hotel, which breaks down to:
- 10X points for being an IHG One Rewards member at most hotels (5X at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites)
- 4X bonus points with IHG Gold Elite Status — a benefit of having this card
- 10X points through spending on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
Cardholders also earn:
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on flights booked directly, car rentals, dining, grocery stores, and gas stations.
- Note that you will earn 5X points on all travel purchases through December 31, 2026. After that date, flights booked directly and car rentals will continue to earn 5X while other travel purchases will earn 3X points.
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earnings for spending at IHG hotels can be a bit deceiving if you're comparing head-to-head with other cards. All IHG One Rewards members earn 10X on stays. But, particularly if you don't otherwise earn IHG status, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card does actually add 14X more earnings — 10X from spending on the card and another 4X from the Gold Elite status that comes with the card.
Plus, you won't pay foreign transaction fees when you use this card abroad.
Redeeming Points With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
Reward nights
IHG One Rewards points are deposited directly into your account, making it easy to redeem points for free nights across IHG’s global portfolio of properties. The card’s fourth-night-free benefit and annual free night reward (up to 50,000 points) help stretch your points further, whether for longer stays or special trips. You can also combine points with cash if you’re a little short, and take advantage of IHG’s dynamic pricing; modifying a booking when the points rate drops lets you get points back and maximize their value.
For fancy vacations, use rewards to book nights at one of these luxury properties. Alternatively, use your IHG points for family travel at one of the thousands of Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels worldwide.
Airline partners
You won't hear many people talking about transferring IHG points to one of IHG's nearly 40 airline partners, including
Other ways to redeem IHG One Rewards
You typically won't get great value from these lesser-known redemptions, but IHG offers even more ways to use your points. Use your IHG rewards to enhance a trip through experiences or to gain exclusive VIP access at participating events. You can also shop through IHG's catalog, donate your points, purchase magazines, and more.
Application Restrictions and Strategy
Since the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is issued by Chase, there are a few rules you need to know about. First, the card is subject to the 5/24 policy, meaning you won't be approved if you've opened five or more cards in the previous 24 months, based on what's showing on your credit report.
Moreover, you'll see these terms on the application page:
This credit card is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card who received a new cardmember bonus for any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card within the last 24 months.
Therefore, if you have another IHG One Rewards credit card right now or received a welcome bonus on one in the past 24 months, you won't be eligible for this card. Also, if you've opened two
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Cardholders Who Applied Before September 30, 2026
All of the benefits and perks of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card above apply to new cardholders, so how will the changes and perks affect those who currently have the card? According to Chase, the updated annual fee will take effect on their 2027 annual fee assessment date.
Many new and enhanced benefits took effect on October 1, 2026, while some have specific timing or eligibility requirements, and cardmembers will be notified directly with details. If you previously got Platinum Elite status through the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, you will keep it through December 31, 2027. After that, you will enjoy ongoing Gold Elite status.
Cards That Compete With the IHG Premier Card
Before settling on the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, you may find it helpful to compare the card against some of its top competitors:
- If you want an IHG card with no annual fee, consider the IHG One Rewards Credit Card. You'll earn a generous welcome bonus with a lower minimum spending requirement, still enjoy the fourth-night free benefit (with a $5,000 spending requirement beginning in 2027), and won't pay an annual fee. While the IHG One Rewards Card doesn't come with an annual free night, it offers no foreign transaction fees, automatic Silver Elite status, and competitive earning rates at IHG properties.
- If you want to earn points you can use with IHG and other rewards programs, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our top picks. Transfer the Ultimate Rewards points you earn from this card to IHG, Hyatt, or Marriott, or book hotels through the Chase Travel℠ portal. You'll also get a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit, plus top-notch travel insurance and strong earning rates.
- If you want a premium hotel card with a more valuable free night and higher-end perks, consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card. This card offers an annual free night award with a redemption cap up to 60,000 points, automatic Platinum Elite status, 20 Elite Night Credits each year (enough for your first milestone reward), and enough statement credits to easily offset the $350 annual fee.
- Earn up to 17X points spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and 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 Card member
- 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)
$95Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
$350Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 28 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 6X points per $1 spent on dining and all other travel, including rideshare
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 12X points for being an IHG One Rewards Premier Select 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)
Bottom Line
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers lots of value for IHG loyalists. If you stay with IHG at least once each year, the anniversary reward night should easily cover the card's ongoing $150 annual fee. Once you factor in the fourth night free on award bookings, the complimentary elite status, and the slew of credits, it's easy to justify keeping this card long term.
Right now is an ideal time to add the IHG One Rewards Premier Card to your wallet and pick up 180,000 bonus points. That gives you plenty of time to test out the card's benefits — and lots of points to do it in style.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to 24X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores (new!) and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
- Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, 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 Card member
- Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold 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)
Page Contents
- IHG Premier Card Pros
- IHG Premier Card Cons
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Welcome Offer
- IHG Premier Card Benefits
- Anniversary free night
- Automatic IHG Gold Elite status
- Earn IHG Platinum and Diamond Elite status via spending
- Head start toward status
- Fourth night free on award stays
- 30% discount on points purchases
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
- Earn 15,000 bonus points
- Earn $50 United® TravelBank Cash
- $100 airline statement credit
- $100 in annual food and beverage rewards at IHG Hotels
- Complimentary DashPass membership and promotion
- Instacart+ Membership and benefits
- Travel and purchase protections
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card Earning Rates
- Redeeming Points With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
- Application Restrictions and Strategy
- Cardholders Who Applied Before September 30, 2026
- Cards That Compete With the IHG Premier Card
- Bottom Line
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
