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IHG One Rewards is back with a potentially lucrative 100% bonus on purchased points, allowing members to buy IHG points for as little as 0.5¢ each. This short promo — only running through May 22, 2025 — can unlock major savings on IHG properties worldwide, from Fiji to New York City.
Considering AwardWallet users average 0.68¢ per IHG point in redemptions, travelers should have some opportunities to score some solid deals. We've included some examples below to get the ideas flowing.
Just note that this promotion is potentially targeted, so make sure to check your account to see what sort of deal you're receiving.
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IHG Buy Points Offer Details
During this 100% bonus promotion, you'll only need to buy a minimum of 5,000 points to receive the 100% bonus. However, at this level, you'll only receive a value of just 0.675¢ per point. So, while this promotion offers just one bonus tier of 100%, note that the point values will differ.
Let's take a look at the bonus tiers:
- 1,000-4,000 points: No bonus (1.35¢ each)
- 5,000-10,000 points: 100% bonus (0.675¢ each)
- 11,000-25,000 points: 100% bonus (0.575¢ each)
- 26,000-200,000 points: 100% bonus (0.5¢ each)
You can see that the optimal purchase rate of 0.5¢ per point starts at 26,000 points. So you'll need to buy between 26,000 and 200,000 points to get the best rate of 0.5¢ per point.
Key terms
- This promotion runs through May 22, 2025.
- Members can receive a 100% bonus when buying IHG points (the promotion is potentially targeted and might vary by member).
- The minimum purchase amount to receive a bonus is 5,000 points.
- Members must purchase at least 26,000 points to receive the optimal purchase rate.
- Members can purchase a maximum of 200,000 IHG points during this promotion (before the bonus).
- Allow up to 72 hours for the points to be posted to your account.
- Point purchases are not refundable.
The terms and conditions say points purchases will be deposited within 72 hours. However, data points from AwardWallet users show that points purchases are processed immediately.
When Should You Buy IHG Points?
Buying points or miles doesn't always make sense. Loyalty programs typically sell points at a higher price than members can redeem them for. These sales can generate a lot of money for the program but generally provide poor customer value. However, promotions like this can shrink or even eliminate that gap.
There are two times when buying points can be a smart move. The first is when topping off your account allows you to grab a specific redemption. The second is when the price to buy points for a redemption is cheaper than paying for the same product outright.
Related: All Current Buy Miles and Buy Points Promotions
Great IHG Redemption Options
When travelers think about IHG, they may conjure up an image of a generic Holiday Inn Express off the highway. But especially over the last few years, IHG has grown a substantial global footprint of fantastic properties, many of which can offer stellar value on point redemptions.
Reward nights at IHG properties are dynamically priced and typically range between 10,000 and 120,000 points, with some exceptions at luxury IHG hotels that charge up to 250k points per night. But depending on the cash price, you may be better off buying the necessary points instead.
Fantastic Fiji
The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa is one of our favorite IHG luxury redemptions. Cash rates for a Premium Room hover around $450 per night during the spring season. We found some dates that cost $441 per night, meaning a two-night stay would cost $882.
However, at 49,000 points per night, buying the required 98,000 points for a two-night stay (at just 0.5¢ apiece) would cost just $490 — saving you almost $400 off the cash rate!
If you hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, this deal gets even sweeter. Thanks to the IHG fourth reward night free benefit, when you redeem points for any stay of four or more nights, you'll get the fourth night free. So, there's also an incentive to book a longer stay; you'll save even more.
The one thing about IHG's lack of an award chart is that award pricing varies according to demand. You (might) need to book quite far in advance to get the best rate. It all depends on the dates and seasons you want to travel, so make sure to check regularly and plan accordingly.
Related: How To Reprice Your Flights and Hotels To Save Money
Big savings in the Big Apple
We all have travel destinations we want to visit — with New York being one of the most popular destinations on those lists. Whether it's strolling through Central Park or grabbing a ticket to a Broadway show, New York City isn't short of things to do, places to see, and restaurants to eat at.
The drawback? Accommodation can be pretty expensive. For example, a four-night stay in a basic king-sized room (on a low floor) at the InterContinental Times Square in March can cost $1,576 ($394 per night).
If you hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Card or IHG One Rewards Traveler Card, it becomes a deal worth considering.
Thanks to getting the fourth night free, you'd only need 111,000 points (37,000 x 3) for this stay. Buying IHG points during this promotion would only cost $555. That drops the price to a much more reasonable $139 per night!
Wonderful Washington (D.C.)
In my humble opinion, Washington, D.C., is one of the most underrated cities in the United States. I've always preferred it to other East Coast cities such as Boston and New York. It's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly going to be easier on your wallet than somewhere like New York. With dozens of cool museums, beautiful parks, and breathtaking monuments, the capital is one city you should check out at least once.
And if you want to make the most out of your trip, it might be a good idea to stay at a hotel that is befitting of the history and class of Washington, D.C. One amazing property is the InterContinental The Willard. I mean… just take a look at the place!
But staying in a place like this is not going to come cheap. A Premium Room at this stunning hotel costs upwards of $500 per night.
If you plan your trip well enough in advance, you can grab a Premium Room for the same points rate as a Classic Room — which comes out to 61,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.
Grabbing IHG One Rewards points for 0.5¢ apiece during this 100% bonus promotion will cut the cost of the room to just $305 per night — saving you around $200 for each night you stay. And, of course, this becomes an even better deal with IHG's fourth reward night free benefit.
You will only have to drop 183,000 points (61,000 x 3) for a four-night stay, which comes out to $915 — saving you over 50% of the cash rate!
Sensational Seattle
For our next example, we're going to jump 2,327 miles from one Washington to another. Seattle is of course the gem of the great State of Washington and has produced so many amazing people such as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and of course Bill Gates. It's a funky city with a unique culture that is located in a bay surrounded by lush green — probably from all the rain it receives! But if you can look past the occasional drizzle, you can find a truly unique and special city.
For this property, we are going to take a look at the InterContinental: Bellevue at the Avenue. You're probably noticing a common theme amongst the properties we are choosing, but that simply boils down to the cost-benefit analysis of the InterContinental hotel chain — which is exactly what we're here to do for you!
This property was inspired by a European town square and contains 209 luxury rooms with design concepts consulted on by the Grand Master of Feng Shui, Huang Dao. You can access the finest retail shopping and renowned chef-driven restaurants right outside the front doors.
A King Classic room is going to be one of the best rooms you can book here, and similar to The Willard in D.C., if you choose the right dates, you can grab it for the same points rate as the most basic room in the hotel. At a points cost of $220 per night, you will be able to save over $90 for each night you book when buying points for 0.5¢ apiece.
Golf and surfing in sunny SoCal
The InterContinental San Diego is located on the historic grounds of Lane Field, which was the former baseball stadium of the San Diego Padres from 1936-1957. Fans can walk (or run) in the footsteps of former players, such as the famed Ted Williams. You can also mosey along the sidewalk, which contains glass panels commemorating the exact locations of home plate and the three bases. You're also only a short 15-minute drive from some great surfing at Sunset Cliffs Beach — which San Diego is renowned for.
Speaking of renowned, San Diego has some of the greatest public golf courses in the world. So if golf is more your thing as opposed to surfing, you'll be in heaven here. From the hotel, it will only take you 20 minutes by car to get to Torrey Pines golf course — which has hosted two U.S. Opens and the PGA Tour since 1957. Pretty cool stuff.
At $343 per night, you're receiving fairly decent value for California standards and the quality of the property. But we're not here for “fairly decent value;” we're here for the best value you can get for a lovely stay in Southern California!
One night at this property will run you 53,000 IHG One Rewards points, which comes out to $265 if you buy them during this 100% bonus promotion. That will save you over 20% on the cash rate and over 40% if you book a four-night stay and hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card.
IHG Buy Points History
We have compiled a list of previous IHG buy points promotions. As you can see, IHG has typically offered a bonus of some sort — typically between 75% and 100%. So, this 100% bonus is one of the best offers from IHG.
| Promotion Ended | Max Bonus/Discount | Min Cents per Point | Max Purchase Amount (w/ Bonus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-22 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2025-05-03 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 360,000 |
| 2025-03-29 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2025-02-28 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2025-01-31 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2025-01-15 | 30% Bonus or Discount | 0.7 | 260,000 |
| 2024-12-13 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 600,000 |
| 2024-11-16 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2024-11-01 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 270,000 |
| 2024-10-09 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2024-10-05 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2024-09-07 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2024-07-14 | 60% Bonus | 0.63 | 240,000 |
| 2024-07-03 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2024-06-29 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2024-06-08 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 450,000 |
| 2024-03-07 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 270,000 |
| 2024-02-12 | 90% Bonus | 0.53 | 285,000 |
| 2024-02-02 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2023-12-30 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2023-10-09 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2023-09-08 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 270,000 |
| 2023-09-01 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 270,000 |
| 2023-08-07 | 90% Bonus | 0.53 | 285,000 |
| 2023-07-28 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2023-06-26 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2023-06-07 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 450,000 |
| 2023-04-11 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 400,000 |
| 2023-03-21 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2022-12-30 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2022-12-29 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2022-10-21 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2022-09-10 | 75% Bonus | 0.57 | 262,500 |
| 2022-08-17 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 270,000 |
| 2022-08-08 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2022-07-15 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2022-06-10 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 450,000 |
| 2022-04-14 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2022-03-18 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2022-01-04 | 80% Bonus | 0.56 | 450,000 |
| 2021-11-08 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 100,000 |
| 2021-10-08 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 100,000 |
| 2021-09-09 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2021-08-13 | 75% Bonus | 0.57 | 262,500 |
| 2021-07-02 | 90% Bonus | 0.52 | 300,000 |
| 2021-06-30 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2021-06-10 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2021-03-16 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 300,000 |
| 2021-02-25 | 75% Bonus | 0.57 | 262,500 |
| 2020-12-31 | 75% Bonus | 0.57 | 437,500 |
| 2020-11-27 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2020-11-13 | 40% Discount | 0.6 | 250,000 |
| 2020-10-11 | 75% Bonus | 0.57 | 262,500 |
| 2020-08-14 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2020-07-31 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2020-06-20 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 2020-06-15 | 100% Bonus | 0.5 | 500,000 |
Maximizing Your IHG Points Purchase
IHG point purchases are processed by Points.com — not IHG directly. That means buying points here won't count as a travel or hotel purchase, so you'll likely want to use your best card for everyday spending, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Alternatively, any card where you're working on a sign-up bonus is also a good choice. These are the best welcome offers available now if you're looking for a new card.
Related: Which Credit Card Should You Use To Buy Points and Miles?
Other Ways To Earn IHG Points
Instead of buying IHG points, you can use two types of transferable points currencies to boost your balance for an upcoming redemption:
However, the relatively low value of IHG One Rewards points versus other transfer partners and the 1:1 base transfer rate make these non-ideal options. Why transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG points (0.68¢ average redemption rate) when you can transfer those points to World of Hyatt (2.19¢ average redemption rate)?
A better way to earn IHG points if you don't need them urgently is through co-branded IHG credit cards. You can earn welcome bonuses and points from daily spending with any of these cards:
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. ($0 annual fee)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening ($99 annual fee)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening ($99 annual fee)
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 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 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn 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)
You can also earn IHG points on stays. Plus, you may be able to earn a sizable chunk of points when maximizing current IHG promotions.
Related: Do IHG One Rewards Points Expire?
Bottom Line
This 100% bonus points promotion is the standard offer for buying IHG points — but it still ties the best rate the program has ever offered. If you can find outsized value from IHG points, consider grabbing some during this flash promotion. This promotion is set to end on May 22, 2025.
There are many times when it's cheaper to buy points than pay cash for a hotel room, and we provided some supporting examples of how you can grab a luxury property for a solid discount. Make sure to check the points price for your upcoming hotel stays. Multiply that by 0.5¢ (100% bonus) per point and see if buying the necessary points would be cheaper than paying for your hotel room with cash.
Are you going to buy IHG One Rewards points during this 100% bonus promotion?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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