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Offers for the IHG®
Here, we'll cover how to earn IHG One Rewards points, along with a rundown on the pros and cons of the program.
How To Join IHG Rewards
IHG One Rewards is completely free to join. Head to ihg.com and click the “Join for free” button.
Once you're logged in, you can manage your upcoming reservations, edit your account information, and view your member benefits.
Related: 10 Reasons Six Senses Laamu Is (Still) My Favorite Resort in the World
How to track IHG One Rewards with AwardWallet
You can track your points, awards, and expiration dates by adding your IHG Rewards account to AwardWallet using this link. AwardWallet can also alert you when points or free night awards are nearing expiration.
AwardWallet can track over 700 loyalty programs via a web browser or the AwardWallet app (iOS, Android). Consider taking advantage of all the features offered by AwardWallet Plus, as well.
Don't have an AwardWallet account yet? Sign up for free and track unlimited rewards programs and travel plans.
IHG One Rewards Hotels: Brands and Properties
IHG's portfolio ranges from luxury brands like InterContinental, Regent, and Six Senses to familiar options like Holiday Inn Express. You'll also find extended-stay brands such as Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites, plus lifestyle and upscale options like EVEN, voco, Hotel Indigo, and Kimpton.
Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express make up much of IHG's portfolio, so the program is skewed toward midscale hotels. However, there are plenty of upscale and luxury options, too.
| Brand | Hotels | Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Atwell Suites | 10 | 1,096 |
| avid hotels | 87 | 7,677 |
| Candlewood Suites | 428 | 38,016 |
| Crowne Plaza | 429 | 114,536 |
| EVEN Hotels | 47 | 7,059 |
| Garner | 101 | 9,832 |
| Holiday Inn | 1,244 | 226,465 |
| Holiday Inn Club Vacations | 24 | 8,415 |
| Holiday Inn Express | 3,304 | 353,031 |
| Hotel Indigo | 195 | 26,241 |
| HUALUXE | 27 | 7,155 |
| Iberostar | 62 | 21,000 |
| InterContinental | 241 | 76,422 |
| Noted collection | 0 | 0 |
| Regent | 11 | 3,212 |
| Ruby | 18 | 3,138 |
| Six Senses | 27 | 2,120 |
| Staybridge Suites | 352 | 38,504 |
| Vignette | 34 | 8,708 |
| voco | 137 | 37,913 |
| Total | 7,014 | 1,035,589 |
Related: The Best IHG Hotels Redemptions for Luxury Stays
Best Ways To Earn IHG One Rewards Points
The most straightforward way to earn IHG points is through paid stays. Members earn 10 points per dollar spent before taxes at most IHG brands, while Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites earn 5 points per dollar.
If you have elite status with IHG, you'll receive a bonus on the number of points earned, including a 60% bonus for Platinum Elite members and a 100% bonus for Diamond Elite members. You can also earn points through IHG Business Rewards, IHG credit cards, promotions, and other partners.
Related: How Many IHG Rewards Points Can I Earn on Hotel Stays?
Use an IHG One Rewards credit card
One of the fastest ways to accumulate IHG points is with an IHG credit card. IHG has three co-branded Chase cards currently available to new applicants, plus the legacy IHG Select Card:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
- IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card (no longer available to new applicants)
Related: Which IHG One Rewards Credit Card Is Right for You?
IHG One Rewards Premier Card
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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, Hotel Indigo® & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- 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
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card earns up to 10X points on IHG purchases and offers automatic Platinum Elite status, a fourth night free on award stays, and an anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points.
In my opinion, it offers the most long-term value of the two personal IHG cards, especially since the anniversary free night can easily offset the annual fee.
Related: IHG One Rewards Premier Card review
IHG One Rewards Traveler Card
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Hotel Indigo® & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- 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)
The no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Card earns up to 5X points on IHG purchases and includes perks such as a fourth night free on award stays and automatic Silver Elite status.
Related: IHG One Rewards Traveler Card review
IHG Business Card
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 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 and Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business 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 such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Hotel Indigo® 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 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 IHG Business Card offers many of the same perks as the Premier Card, including up to 10X points on IHG purchases, automatic Platinum Elite status, a fourth night free on award stays, and an anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points.
Related: IHG Business Card review
Get IHG points by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards
IHG One Rewards is one of the 14 Chase transfer partners, and Ultimate Rewards points transfer to IHG at a 1:1 ratio. To transfer points to travel partners, however, you'll need an eligible Ultimate Rewards-earning card with an annual fee.
Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to IHG Rewards is not a good deal in most cases. There are many more valuable ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Plus, Ultimate Rewards points can generally be redeemed for 1 cent per point for a statement credit. During an IHG buy points sale, you can effectively buy IHG points at half a cent per point. So, you can essentially buy 2 IHG points for every 1 Chase point redeemed.
IHG One Rewards travel and dining partners
If you need a rental car, IHG One Rewards has a partnership with Hertz. Members can earn 1,500 IHG points on every Hertz rental, plus additional points each day, with the potential to earn up to 10 points per dollar. Gold and Platinum Elite members can receive complimentary Hertz Five Star status, while Diamond Elite members can receive complimentary Hertz President's Circle status.
You can also earn extra points through the IHG Rewards dining program by enrolling, registering a credit card, and using that card at participating restaurants. Members can earn up to 8 IHG points per dollar, depending on their membership level.
IHG also partners with OpenTable. You can earn up to 500 bonus IHG points using their service.
Related: Beginners Guide To Using Dining Programs for Easy Points and Miles
Buying and transferring IHG points
It's possible to buy IHG points. The rate starts at $13.50 per 1,000 points, but the rate drops to $10 per 1,000 points on purchases over 25,000 points.
IHG also sometimes offers bonus-point packages when booking a stay. These can be worth considering because some purchased bonus points count toward elite status.
Another option is the “back door” method: Make a Points & Cash booking, then cancel it. You'll receive the full amount back as points. Typical rates using this method are $30–$35 per 5,000 points. This can be better than the standard rate, but gauge it against any promotions to see if this is the best option at present.
You can transfer IHG points to another member for $5 per 1,000 points. Diamond Elite members and IHG Business Rewards members with qualifying activity can transfer points for free. You can transfer up to 100,000 IHG points per calendar year and receive up to 500,000 points.
Since you can book award stays for others using your own points, transferring points is rarely necessary unless you’re combining points for a specific redemption.
Earn IHG One Rewards points with paid stays
While credit cards are an easy way to earn IHG points, hotel stays combined with promotions are how I've earned a significant number of points. One of the best parts of holding the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is the “stacking” on the earning rate.
On a paid stay, you can potentially earn:
- 10X base points per $1 as an IHG Rewards member*
- A bonus based on your IHG elite status
- Additional points from an IHG promotion
- Up to 10X points by paying with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card
*Note that extended-stay properties like Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites earn only 5X base points.
Best Ways To Redeem IHG Points
While IHG One Rewards redemptions have devalued in recent years, there's still great potential in the program. Award nights can start at 10,000 points, while some luxury properties can cost as much as 250,000 points per night. That's not common, fortunately.
The value you get depends on the cash rate compared with the award cost. I generally try not to redeem IHG points for less than 0.6 cent each and prefer to get closer to 0.8 to 1.0 cent per point when possible. AwardWallet users typically redeem their IHG points at 0.69¢ apiece.
Redeeming points for hotel stays
Redeeming IHG points for hotel stays is the best way to use them — it's not even up for discussion. Other redemption options exist, but hotel stays generally provide the strongest value.
For example, the InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay often prices around 50,000 points per night. Depending on the cash rate, that can work out to around 0.6 cent per point. You also may be able to use a free night certificate and top it off with additional points.
Maximizing free night certificates with IHG One Rewards
The annual IHG free night certificate that comes with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, IHG Business Card, and the legacy IHG Select Card is one of the best perks of holding a co-branded IHG credit card.
These certificates are valid for award nights costing up to 40,000 points. With the IHG One Rewards Premier Card and IHG Business Card, you can add points to book a property that costs more than 40,000 points. The legacy IHG Select Card certificate is capped at 40,000 points.
Dynamic pricing in IHG One Rewards
IHG uses dynamic award pricing, so the number of points required varies based on the property and date. The typical value you’ll get is roughly 0.6 cent per point, though award rates can be lower when cash prices are low.
The downside is that it’s become much harder to get outsized value when cash rates are high. You can check out our rundown on IHG's dynamic pricing for more details.
Related: How To Use the IHG Calendar Search To Find the Best Award and Cash Rates
Dynamic pricing also means some nights of your vacation might cost more. The cool part is that the fourth-night-free perk of the IHG Rewards co-branded cards is applied to the cost of the fourth night, rather than an average cost per night. If the fourth night is the most expensive, you enjoy the most savings.
Here is an example cost breakdown for the Hotel Indigo London — 1 Leicester Square, including how to maximize the fourth-night-free benefit:
IHG Points & Cash bookings
IHG routinely offers Points & Cash as a booking option, letting you book an award stay for fewer IHG points and pay cash for the remaining points at checkout.
The cash price varies by property and by how many points you're buying, so compare the available options before booking. In some cases, Points & Cash can be a good way to stretch your balance if you don't mind paying a little cash.
Cancellation policy
The IHG cancellation policy for award stays varies by hotel, but many properties offer free cancellation on award stays until 24 or 48 hours before scheduled arrival. This offers a high level of flexibility. At popular luxury resorts, more advance notice may be required to receive your points back.
IHG Best Price Guarantee
The IHG Best Price Guarantee promises the lowest available price when booking directly with IHG. If you find a lower eligible price through a third-party booking channel within 24 hours of booking, IHG will match the lower rate and provide 5X IHG One Rewards points on the room rate for the stay, up to 40,000 points.
Make sure to review the Best Price Guarantee terms and conditions.
How To Achieve IHG Elite Status
IHG One Rewards offers four elite tiers, along with Milestone Rewards for every 10 nights stayed — starting at 20 nights.
IHG One Rewards elite tiers
You can earn IHG elite status through qualifying nights or qualifying points in a calendar year, except Silver Elite, which is based only on qualifying nights. Status earned in a calendar year is valid through the end of the following year.
- 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
Qualifying nights include most paid rates as well as award nights. Qualifying points include base points earned on hotel stays, bonus-point packages, spending with IHG Business Rewards, and spending on IHG credit cards from the U.K. and greater China. Unfortunately, spending on IHG co-branded cards from the U.S. isn't a status-qualifying activity.
U.S. cardholders can receive automatic Platinum Elite status with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card or IHG Business Card.
Elite status benefits
IHG One Rewards elite benefits range from bonus points to room upgrades and welcome amenities. Diamond Elite members can also choose free breakfast as a welcome amenity.
| 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 | 72 hours | 72 hours | |||
| 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 Gold Plus Rewards® Status | Five Star | Five Star | President's Circle |
Terms, conditions, and review
Check out the IHG elite status terms and conditions for more details. IHG still offers invitation-only Kimpton Inner Circle membership to frequent Kimpton guests. At Kimpton hotels, IHG One Rewards Platinum and Diamond Elite members can choose “Raid the Bar” as their welcome amenity ($10 credit for Platinum, $20 credit for Diamond).
Overall, I find IHG's elite benefits weaker than competitor programs like
Platinum Elite status is easily obtainable through the IHG One Rewards Premier Card and IHG Business Card, making it rarely worth pursuing through paid stays alone.
Milestone Rewards
IHG One Rewards members earn Milestone Rewards every 10 qualifying nights, starting at 20 nights and continuing through 100 nights. At each milestone, you can choose from a selection of rewards.
| Nights Stayed | Milestone Reward Options |
|---|---|
| 20 | Choose one: |
| 30 | Choose one: |
| 40 | Choose two: |
| 50 | Choose one: |
| 60 | Choose one: |
| 70 | Choose two: |
| 80 | Choose one: |
| 90 | Choose one: |
| 100 | Choose one: |
Options can include Food and Beverage rewards, annual club lounge membership, and Confirmable Suite Upgrades.
Food and Beverage rewards are worth up to $20 each and are valid for one year. Annual club lounge membership provides access to participating hotel lounges.
Confirmable Suite Upgrades are one of the more valuable Milestone Rewards options. They can be used for an upgrade to an entry-level suite or premium room for stays of up to five consecutive nights and can be applied to eligible paid and reward stays within 14 days of arrival.
InterContinental Ambassador Program
IHG also offers the InterContinental Ambassador program. Rather than providing perks at all IHG properties, IHG InterContinental Ambassadors receive benefits only at luxury InterContinental locations. This is rather specific, but it could be well worth it, depending on your travel plans.
Membership costs $225 or 45,000 IHG points per year and includes perks such as:
- A guaranteed one-category room upgrade
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- An Ambassador Weekend Night
- A restaurant and bar credit of up to $20 per stay
- Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards
The weekend night perk alone may make IHG InterContinental Ambassador worth the cost, depending on where you use it. You'll need to book an eligible two-night weekend stay to receive the free night, and the qualifying rate isn't always the cheapest available. You also might get bonus points for renewing your membership, based on past offers we've seen.
IHG also offers invitation-only Royal Ambassador status with additional benefits for frequent guests at its luxury brands.
IHG status match opportunities
IHG rarely offers a status match from other programs, but there's no standing status match opportunity.
Previous status match offers allowed you to match up to IHG's top tier. This would require comparable top-tier status in another program. Bookmark our resource on hotel status match opportunities to know about future offers.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, IHG One Rewards is a strong program for earning and redeeming points. Plus, it offers an excellent array of co-branded credit cards. While its elite status benefits aren't as strong as some competitor programs, Platinum Elite status from the IHG One Rewards Premier Card or IHG Business Card can still provide solid value.
The program also has some unique features, including Milestone Rewards and the InterContinental Ambassador program, that may be worth exploring depending on your travel habits.
IHG One Rewards FAQ
Do IHG Rewards points expire?
Yes, for non-elite members, IHG points expire. Full details are in our post about IHG point expiration.
Can you book IHG stays for friends and family?
Yes, you can use your IHG points and free nights for friends, family, and others. You will need to call IHG at (888) 695-4678 to make the reservation in their name.
Do you still receive elite benefits when booking through a third party?
No, you typically do not receive any elite benefits when booking a stay at an IHG property through a third party. This includes booking sites like Orbitz, Hotels.com, or Expedia.
How do I find my IHG One Rewards membership number?
Your membership number will be provided in the welcome email when you sign up. Also, you can find your membership number by logging into your IHG account and heading to the account management page. Finally, you can view your IHG One Rewards membership number by logging into your account through the mobile app.
What is the IHG One Rewards phone number?
Here's the IHG One Rewards phone number for each region:
United States and Canada: 1-888-211-9874
Mexico: 001 800-272-9273
Central and South America: +1 801-975-3063 (English) +1 801-975-3013 (Spanish)
Universal International Freephone Number: +800 2222 7172
Middle East: +973 6 500 9 296
All other Europe, Middle East and Africa countries/regions: +44 1950 499004
Hong Kong: 800 965 222
Macau: 0800 728
Taiwan: 0801 863 366
All other Asia Pacific Countries/Regions: +632 8857 8788
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 Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
