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IHG elite status grants valuable benefits like bonus points and complimentary upgrades at over 6,000 worldwide InterContinental Hotels Group properties across 19 unique brands — including InterContinental, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Express. IHG offers a few ways to earn IHG status, and the perks get increasingly better as you progress upward through the IHG membership levels.
This post will cover the elite tiers, how to qualify for each, and the various benefits you’ll receive. You can learn more about this
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What is IHG Elite Status?
IHG elite status provides benefits to loyal IHG Rewards members who qualify for one of its tiers each year. The perks of IHG status include things like early check-in, late check-out, complimentary upgrades, and a welcome amenity. Benefits increase as you progress upward through its tiers. IHG now has four status tiers: Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Diamond Elite.
Earning IHG Elite Status
IHG status levels are typically earned in one of two ways: earn IHG elite status by accumulating a required number of points or by staying a specified number of qualifying nights at IHG properties each year.
How to earn IHG elite qualifying nights
To earn IHG elite status via qualifying nights, you must stay a certain number of nights at participating IHG hotels. The qualifying nights generally need to be from stays booked directly through IHG. Stays booked through third-party sites will not count toward IHG status qualification.
Here are eligible rates that count toward IHG elite status qualification:
- Stays booked directly through IHG, including most business and leisure discounted rates
- Redeeming points for IHG award stays
- Using IHG free night certificates
Here are examples of stays that will not accrue nights toward IHG status:
- Stays booked through third-party sites like Booking.com or Expedia
- Wholesale rates (e.g. tour company rates)
- Airline rates
- Seasonal worker rates
- Group rates (unless the member individually pays the hotel)
How to earn IHG elite qualifying points
You can also earn IHG elite status via qualifying points, which are awarded for eligible purchases at IHG properties. These include the nightly rate plus incidental charges like food and beverages. At most IHG hotels, you'll earn 10 base points for every $1 USD spent; however, spending at Staybridge and Candlewood Suites earns only five elite-qualifying points per $1 USD spent.
One common point of confusion is that base points (which count towards elite status) are not the same as redeemable points that you can use to book award nights. Travelers have many more ways to earn redeemable points — including by using an IHG credit card for everyday purchases and by taking advantage of IHG promotions throughout the year.
IHG Status Levels
IHG has a total of five membership tiers. The first, entry-level club membership, is attained by simply signing up for the program. Becoming a member provides a couple of basic perks, such as the ability to earn IHG points and free internet. The remaining IHG status levels are Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Diamond Elite. Each tier grants new benefits in addition to the perks provided by the tiers beneath it. Here are the qualification requirements for IHG elite status.
| Tier | Qualification Requirement |
|---|---|
| Silver Elite | 10 nights |
| Gold Elite | 20 nights OR 40,000 points |
| Platinum Elite | 40 nights OR 60,000 points |
| Diamond Elite | 70 nights OR 120,000 points |
IHG Silver Elite benefits
Silver Elite members enjoy all of the Club member benefits, plus:
- 20% bonus on base points
- Points don’t expire
- Late check-out
IHG Gold Elite benefits
Gold Elite members keep all of the Silver Elite perks, plus:
- 40% total bonus on base points
- Rollover nights toward next year’s status qualification
IHG Platinum Elite benefits
Platinum Elite members enjoy all of the Gold Elite benefits, plus:
- 60% total bonus on base points
- Rewards night discounts
- Complimentary room upgrades
- Early check-in
- Welcome amenity at check-in (points or drink/snack)
- 72-hour guaranteed room availability
IHG Diamond Elite benefits
As the top elite status tier, IHG Diamond Elite members get the highest level of benefits. Diamond Elite members enjoy all of the Platinum Elite benefits, plus:
- 100% total bonus on base points
- Exclusive dedicated support
- Welcome amenity at check-in (points, drink/snack, or breakfast)
Shortcuts to IHG Status
Does qualifying for IHG status through either nights or points sound a bit daunting? Here are a few options that let you earn IHG status far more easily.
Get automatic Platinum Elite status with IHG credit cards
The easiest way to get Platinum Elite status is through the following credit card:
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 190,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to 26X total points on stays at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, at gas stations 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.
- NEW! A $100 Airline Statement Credit each year when you spend at least $250 on flights purchased directly with the airline.
- This card offers over $750 in value your first year!
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Business cardmember. Plus, enjoy 15 Elite Night Credits annually (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 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, 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 charging your stay to your IHG Business 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)
You don't even have to spend to get status. Simply opening the card and continuing to hold it is sufficient. It's helpful that there is both a personal and a business option. Additionally, the anniversary free night offered by both cards makes paying the $200 annual fee entirely worth it. I've carried an IHG card year after year for about a decade. Another useful perk of IHG credit cards is the Fourth Night Free benefit.
If you want to earn Diamond Elite status, you can spend $40,000 on either card to do so. Given the low value of IHG points compared to other types of rewards you could earn, this isn't all that great of a strategy unless you have enough IHG stays to make the additional benefits worth it.
IHG also offers the IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees) card, which grants automatic Silver Elite status. Not bad for a card without an annual fee. You can also earn IHG Gold status by spending $15,000 per year on the card, or by getting the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, which grants automatic Gold Elite status.
- 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)
Keep in mind: IHG card spending earns redeemable, not elite-qualifying points. There is still quite a bit of inaccurate information online about this because credit card spending used to earn elite qualifying points, but that benefit ended in September 2022.
IHG status match
While the most common elite-status shortcut is holding a co-branded credit card, the program does occasionally offer a targeted IHG status match to lure valuable customers away from the competition. We typically see an opportunity like this around once a year.
These status challenges don’t grant elite status outright. Instead, they offer a fast-track path to status with fewer qualifying nights. These qualifying nights must be completed within a shorter timeframe than the normal qualification period.
Buy InterContinental Ambassador
InterContinental hotels offer their Ambassador program separate from IHG elite status. While most of the perks are limited to InterContinental and Six Senses properties, the Ambassador program grants Platinum Elite status and the corresponding benefits you can enjoy at any IHG property. Ambassador membership is available for a 12-month window at a cost of either $225 or 45,000 IHG points.
Even if you already have Platinum Elite status from an IHG card, an InterContinental Ambassador membership can still be a great deal — especially for those planning stays at InterContinental properties. Perks include room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for two, and a free weekend night. You’ll get $225 in value rather quickly.
Related: 10 Reasons Six Senses Laamu Is (Still) My Favorite Resort in the World
Other Strategies to Earn Elite Credit
IHG Rewards partnerships with brands like Hertz and Open Table occasionally offer opportunities to earn points or nights that count toward elite qualification. More often, these partner promotions offer ways to earn bonus points that you can use for stays and upgrades but which won't get you any closer to the next IHG Rewards level. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take full advantage. Extra points are great when you can earn them on purchases you'd have made anyway, but make sure to check the terms and conditions if elite status is your goal.
IHG Milestone Rewards
IHG One Rewards members can begin earning Milestone Rewards starting at 20 qualifying nights. Unlike elite status, there is no shortcut to earning Milestone Rewards. You’ll earn an award at 20 qualifying nights and at every additional 10 nights up through 100 qualifying nights. There is no option to qualify for Milestone Rewards on points.
Milestone Rewards include bonus points, confirmable suite upgrades, and food & beverage rewards. At either the 40-night or 70-night milestone, you’re also able to select a lounge membership, which provides exclusive Club Lounge access at participating hotels (typically InterContinental hotels).
| Milestone | Number of Choices You Make | Option 1: Bonus Points | Option 2: Food and Beverage Rewards | Option 3: Confirmable Suite Upgrade | Option 4: Annual Lounge Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 nights | 1 | 5,000 | 2 rewards | 1 certificate | |
| 30 nights | 1 | 5,000 | 2 rewards | ||
| 40 nights | 2 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | 1 certificate | Can choose |
| 50 nights | 1 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | ||
| 60 nights | 1 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | ||
| 70 nights | 2 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | 2 certificates | Can choose |
| 80 nights | 1 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | ||
| 90 nights | 1 | 10,000 | 5 rewards | ||
| 100 nights | 1 | 10,000 | 5 rewards |
How Does IHG Status Compare to Other Hotel Chains?
Compared to other hotel chains, the benefits provided by IHG elite status are on the weaker side. There is no free breakfast benefit unless you can make it all the way to Diamond Elite, which takes some real doing. Upgrades are not as common, at least in my personal experience at the Platinum level. These are never guaranteed and are always at the hotel's discretion. However, the Milestone Rewards launched in 2022 help offset this a bit. These provide suite upgrades, although the hotel still needs to confirm ahead of time. Also, the food and beverage rewards could really improve some stays.
If IHG is everywhere you need to travel, and you're confident you'll qualify through nights, it could be worth staying loyal to the chain. In addition to the IHG elite status benefits, you'll also earn at least six Milestone Rewards. These sweeten the pot even more. Plus, you'll earn oodles of bonus points.
However, there are some downsides. IHG doesn't have quite the same luxury hotel footprint you'll find with Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt. There are an impressive number of Holiday Inn Express hotels worldwide and others that fall into their mid-scale brands. So, if you're looking for mostly five-star stays, look elsewhere for a chain that fits that bill.
Which IHG Status Level is the Best Value?
The sweet spot with IHG seems to really be Platinum Elite obtained through either the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card. This gets you the bulk of the benefits without having to commit to true loyalty with the chain. Even if you only have a few stays per year, it's nice to earn some extra points. Plus, the IHG free night offered by either card makes up for the annual fee.
If you have a bunch of work or personal travel where you'll be paying cash for stays, it would be well worth getting an IHG credit card up front. This will get you the 60% Platinum Elite bonus on every stay and generous earning rates if you use your card to pay the bill. Even if you ultimately qualify for Diamond, earning additional points along the way is a big plus, and well worth it.
Final Thoughts
With over 6,000 hotels worldwide, being a member of IHG One Rewards is already a great idea. If you can earn elite status that provides you extra perks, even better. Members who frequently stay with the chain will earn points or nights toward the next status tier, climbing their way through the four IHG elite tiers.
The IHG status qualification requirements are in line with other chains. However, holding an IHG credit card is an easy shortcut to Platinum Elite. This status tier provides a great set of perks, although it falls short of some of the best perks offered by IHG Diamond. For a modest annual fee, though, it's hard to beat the value.
Finally, if you find yourself staying at InterContinental hotels, consider paying for IHG Ambassador status. This can get you perks specifically at luxury InterContinental properties, plus provide Platinum Elite stats which you can enjoy across the other IHG brands.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
