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IHG One Rewards is one of the world's biggest hotel loyalty programs. It has nearly one million hotel rooms across 6,100 properties that are split among 18 brands participating in the rewards program. While IHG One Rewards members may not enjoy the same level perks and benefits offered by other programs, IHG points are easy to earn. Additionally, there are plenty of redemption options. In fact, the co-branded IHG credit cards issued by Chase are some of the better hotel credit cards on the market.
This guide will provide an overview of IHG One Rewards. We'll cover how to earn points, the best ways to redeem points, and a rundown on the pros and cons of the elite program.
Page Contents
How To Join IHG Rewards
IHG One Rewards is free to join, but you must be 18+ years of age to become a member. Head to ihg.com and click the “Join” button in the upper-right section of the top header bar. You'll be taken to a page asking for your full name, email, new account password, and full street address. Then, you can jot down your IHG Rewards login information and consider adding it to your AwardWallet account (covered below).
Logging into your IHG account will let you manage your upcoming reservations, edit your account information, and view your member benefits. In addition, you can make bookings with any free night awards you've earned from an IHG One Rewards credit card or other promotions.
How to track IHG One Rewards with AwardWallet
To track your IHG points and other account information, just add your IHG Rewards account to AwardWallet using this link. AwardWallet is the best tool for keeping track of all your account balances, awards, and expiration dates. If your free night or points are about to expire, we'll alert you so you can take action.
You'll then be asked to input your email or member number, last name, and password for your account. You'll need to give AwardWallet permission to log into your account to retrieve and routinely update your loyalty info. You can track over 700 loyalty programs with AwardWallet using a web browser or the AwardWallet app (iOS, Android).
IHG One Rewards Hotels: Brands and Properties
IHG One Rewards has a total of 19 different brands within its portfolio. This includes luxury brands InterContinental, Regent, and Six Senses properties in exotic locales. You can find ubiquitous, cookie-cutter Holiday Inn Express hotels across the United States and Canada. Other notable portfolio brands include lifestyle hotels like EVEN and Voco, plus the upscale boutique properties of Hotel Indigo and Kimpton. IHG also includes a couple of extended-stay brands: Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. One thing is certain: IHG One Rewards offers a great breadth of options.
Expanding rapidly, the program has over 6,200 IHG One Rewards properties spread across almost 100 countries around the globe. Wherever you're traveling, you're offered good coverage. Thankfully, a huge number of the properties sit in the United States and Canada. Plus, there is plenty of coverage in Europe and Asia (especially China) as well. However, the sparsest coverage is in Africa.
The hotel group is skewed toward mid-scale Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. These two brands comprise approximately 70% of the total portfolio. IHG has been making an effort to add to its luxury and upscale portfolio, however.
| Brand | Hotels | Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Atwell Suites | 2 | 186 |
| avid hotels | 61 | 5,535 |
| Candlewood Suites | 371 | 33,066 |
| Crowne Plaza | 400 | 109,495 |
| EVEN Hotels | 24 | 3,535 |
| Garner | 0 | 0 |
| Holiday Inn | 1,193 | 214,491 |
| Holiday Inn Club Vacations | 28 | 8,822 |
| Holiday Inn Express | 3,115 | 330,095 |
| Hotel Indigo | 145 | 18,916 |
| HUALUXE | 20 | 5,604 |
| Iberostar | 43 | 16,176 |
| InterContinental | 215 | 71,487 |
| Kimpton | 75 | 13,116 |
| Regent | 9 | 2,921 |
| Six Senses | 23 | 1,605 |
| Staybridge Suites | 319 | 34,791 |
| Vignette | 4 | 934 |
| voco | 52 | 14,221 |
| Total | 6,227 | 925,320 |
This isn't to say there aren't some great luxury properties. IHG has some wonderful luxury hotels and resorts in great locations.
Related: The Top 14 IHG Hotels Redemptions for Luxury Stays
Best Ways To Earn IHG One Rewards Points
The most straightforward way to earn IHG points is if you stay at an IHG property and add your IHG Rewards number to the reservation. You earn 10 IHG Rewards points per dollar spent (before taxes) at most brands. IHG's extended stay brands (Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites) are an exception. Travelers are only offered five IHG Rewards points per dollar (before taxes) on paid nights.
If you have elite status with IHG, you will receive a bonus on the number of points earned. Top-tier Diamond Elite members earn a 100% bonus on the base earning rate. Even Platinum members enjoy a healthy 60% bonus on the base earning rate. Plus, this status is obtainable by simply holding an IHG co-branded credit card.
You also can book meetings with IHG and earn points as an IHG Business Rewards member. IHG Business Rewards members can earn three points per $1 spent.
Beyond hotel stays, you can earn points with IHG One Rewards in several other ways. This guide is meant to be an overview, so I won't delve deep into each. However, let's list the various ways to earn points.
Use an IHG One Rewards Credit Card
One of the fastest and easiest ways to accumulate IHG Rewards points is to use an IHG credit card for your everyday purchases. IHG has four co-brand credit cards issued by Chase:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card (no longer available to new applicants)
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 points total 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 card member
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 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
- 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® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
The benefits of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card include:
- 10x points for every $1 spent at IHG properties
- 5x points on gas, dining, and travel
- “Fourth night free” benefit on award stays
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
- Anniversary free night (good for award nights valued at up to 40,000 points)
- $50 United Travel Bank cash per year when you link with your United MileagePlus account
- 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after making $20,000 in purchases (and then making one additional purchase) each calendar year
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99 annual fee
- Earn 80,000 bonus points
- No Annual Fee
- Earn up to 17 points total 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, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- 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 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn 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 benefits of the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card include:
- 5x points for every $1 spent at IHG properties
- Fourth night free on award stays
- Automatic Silver Elite status
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases each calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
In my opinion, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card offers the most long-term value of the two personal cards that are open to new applicants. It has a lucrative earning rate at IHG properties and offers Platinum Elite status. In addition, you receive an anniversary free night that's easily worth more than the annual fee.
However, if you're only looking for a no-annual-fee credit card, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card offers compelling benefits like a fourth night free on awards and no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive 4-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 card member
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 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, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn 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 being a IHG One Rewards Premier Business 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® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
If you're a small business owner, the IHG One Rewards Business Card is worth a closer look. Benefits include:
- 10x points for every $1 spent at IHG properties
- Fourth night free benefit on award stays
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
- Anniversary free night (good for award nights valued at up to 40,000 points)
- Earn an additional free night certificate (worth up to 40K points) after spending $60,000 on purchases (and then making one additional purchase) each calendar year
- 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after making $20,000 in purchases each calendar year
- $50 United Travel Bank cash per year when you link with your United MileagePlus account
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99 annual fee
Get IHG Points by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards
IHG One Rewards is one of the 14 Chase transfer partners. You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to IHG at a 1,000:1,000 ratio. However, you must have a premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to be able to transfer points. No-annual-fee cards don't have access to points transfers, unfortunately.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 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
In general, transferring Ultimate Rewards points to IHG Rewards is not a good deal. There are much more valuable ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards. However, there may be situations where transferring Chase points to IHG makes sense. An example of this would be topping off your account for a specific award when you're a bit short.
IHG One Rewards promotions
IHG promotions have long been a staple of the loyalty program. In fact, they used to be some of the best hotel promotions available. I'd argue that IHG One Rewards has departed from this trend over the past few years. However, promotions are not without value. Earning 10,000 bonus points after staying four nights is a great example of a recent promotion with excellent value. Always read the terms to make sure your stays qualify.
Note that you nearly always need to register for IHG promotions. Don't miss out on any points!
Another ongoing promotion is the ability to buy elite-qualifying points while making a reservation. These can range in value, as the cost varies. You will often be presented with options for bonus points per stay, but there are offers per night as well. The per-stay packages offer up to 5,000 bonus points. The best part of these packages is that the bonus points count toward elite status! Sometimes, these can be well worth the cost.
IHG One Rewards travel and dining partners
If you need a rental car, IHG One Rewards has a partnership with Hertz. When you rent with Hertz through IHG, you can receive up to 35% off your rental and 1,500+ IHG points, plus up to 500 additional points per day. Diamond Elite members also receive complimentary Hertz Five Star status.
The IHG Rewards dining program lets you earn extra points for eating out. To earn points this way, you need to sign up and register at least one credit card. Then, use that card to pay at a participating restaurant. Basic members earn one point per dollar, while Select members earn five IHG points per dollar. VIP members earn eight points per dollar.
To become a Select member, all you need to do is opt into marketing emails from IHG One Rewards Dining. You become a VIP member after 11 qualified dining transactions in a calendar year. Here's our beginner's guide to dining programs, explaining how this works. It features a roundup of other airline and hotel dining programs, as well.
IHG also partners with Grubhub and Open Table. You can earn 500 bonus IHG points using either service.
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 Rewards often runs buy points promotions offering up to 100% bonus points. Check out the linked post to see the historical promotion frequency.
A quick note on the “back door” method
In addition to buying points directly, there is a “back door” method to buying points through making a Points & Cash booking. If you make a Points & Cash booking and subsequently cancel, you'll receive the full amount of points back into your IHG account. Typical rates using this method are $30–35 per 5,000 points.
Also, you can buy points during a once-a-year sale called Daily Getaways, which typically runs in the first half of each year. In Daily Getaways 2023, you could buy points for half a cent apiece.
You can transfer IHG points to other members; however, there is a cost of $5 per 1,000 for this. Typically, this isn't worth the trouble, as you can book IHG stays for others using your points. The only reason to transfer points would be combining them for a particular award night.
Earn IHG One Rewards points with paid stays
While credit cards are an easy way to earn IHG points, hotel stays are how I earn a significant number of points. One of the best parts of holding the IHG One Rewards Premier Card is the “stacking” that happens when it comes to the earning rate. A few years ago, I spent one night at the Holiday Inn Express in Brentwood, California for work. The rate was $129.45 before taxes. The points earning broke down as follows:
- 10x base points per $1 as an IHG Rewards member*
- 5x bonus points as a Platinum Elite member (50% base points) (The Platinum Elite bonus was increased to 60% base points in March, 2022)
- Double base points from an IHG promotion
- 10x points from using my IHG One Rewards Premier Card for the full $142.40 after taxes
- 500 Welcome Amenity bonus points
Total earnings from the one-night stay: 5,160 points. It's not a bad haul considering that award nights start at just 10,000 points each.
*Note that extended-stay properties like Staybridge and Candlewood Suites earn only 5x base points.
Best Ways To Redeem IHG Points
While IHG One Rewards redemption values have devalued over the last few years, there is still a lot of potential within the program. Award redemption rates start at 10,000 points per night at the lowest-tier properties. While 70,000 points is common for higher-end redemptions, some luxury properties can charge a jaw-dropping 250,000 points per night. That's not common, though.
The value you can get per IHG point depends on the going rate of the property compared to the award cost. In general, I try not to use IHG points for less than 0.6 cents each. This is around the cost at which you can easily purchase them if needed. Preferably, I like to get over 1 cent per point for award stays, but you'll typically see values in the 0.4 to 0.6 cent range. AwardWallet users typically redeem their IHG points at 0.69¢ apiece.
Redeeming points for hotel stays
Redeeming IHG points directly for hotel stays is solidly the best way to use them. You can find other redemption options, but you'll get the best value for hotel stays. This is true even if it's not amazing in terms of “cents per point.” Check out this list of sweet spot properties that make for great award stays.
As an example, the InterContinental Fiji is a property that I'd love to visit. With dynamic award pricing — as we will discuss below — award nights average 40,000 points per night. This would let you use your free night certificate at a property going for $300 USD per night.
Related: The Top 14 IHG Hotels Redemptions for Luxury Stays
Maximizing free night certificates with IHG One Rewards
The annual IHG free night certificate that comes with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card and the legacy IHG Select Card is one of the best perks of holding a co-branded credit card. These free nights are usable at any IHG hotel that has rooms going for up to 40,000 points. Importantly, it's best to burn your certificate where the value is highest. Check out this post for some ideas on excellent places to burn your IHG free night certificates.
With the certificate from the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, you add additional points to book a property that costs more than 40,000 points. With the legacy IHG Select Card certificate, your selection is capped at 40,000 points.
A good number of properties previously unavailable for free night certificate usage can now be booked using a certificate under the new dynamic pricing!
Dynamic pricing in IHG One Rewards
The dynamic pricing roll-out was…dynamic. It took a while to apply globally. In general, the move to dynamic pricing has been positive — at least so far. The typical value you get per point is roughly 0.6 cent in most cases. The upside of dynamic pricing is that award rates for many properties are substantially lower when cash rates are low.
The converse is that it's harder to get outsized value for your points when cash rates are high. However, you'll come across many cases where award night prices appear to be capped, including the insanely popular New Year's Eve at Times Square in New York City. You can check out our rundown on IHG's dynamic pricing for further details.
Read more: How To Use the IHG Calendar Search to Find the Best Award, Cash Rates
Dynamic pricing also means some nights of your vacation might cost more than the others. When you go to make an award booking, you'll be presented with the breakdown by night. 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. You may want to plan around this strategically, using your points on the cheapest nights.
For example, here is an example cost breakdown for the Hotel Indigo London — 1 Leicester Square:
IHG Points & Cash bookings
IHG routinely offers points & cash as a booking option, letting you book an award stay for fewer IHG points than the going rate. You'll purchase the remaining points at the time of booking. The cash price varies by how many points you are covering and by property. Here is the InterContinental: New York Barclay, for which IHG charges $30 per 5,000 points off the award rate. Points & Cash bookings are a good way to stretch your points if you don't mind ponying up a little cash. Note the crazy high price. For the date selected at the time of writing, the hotel was going for $695 per night before taxes and fees.
Cancellation policy
The IHG cancellation policy for award stays varies by hotel, but many properties offer free cancellation on award stays until 24 hours before scheduled arrival. This offers a high level of flexibility. In the cases of popular luxury resorts, more advance notice may be required to receive your points back.
IHG Best Rate Guarantee
The IHG Best Rate Guarantee promises you'll receive the lowest available price booking online with IHG. If you find a lower total price through a third-party booking channel, you can book with IHG directly (at the higher price) and then file a best rate guarantee claim within 24 hours. This will be reviewed, and, if found to be eligible, IHG will match the lower rate and provide you with 5x the IHG One Rewards points for the stay, up to 40,000 points. Make sure to review the best rate guarantee terms and conditions.
How To Achieve IHG Elite Status
IHG revamped its elite program in 2022, adding an elite tier and adjusting both the requirements and benefits of all status tiers. The program also added “Milestone Rewards” as you earn elite nights through the year, rewarding members for every 10 nights stayed — starting at 20 nights.
Overall, the changes are an improvement to an elite program that left a lot to be desired. I'd still rate IHG's elite program as weaker than some of its competitors, but it's at least in the running now.
IHG One Rewards elite program tiers
Tiers are reached through qualifying nights or qualifying points (except for Silver Elite, which only counts qualifying nights) in a calendar year. You need one or the other to qualify for status, not both. Status earned in a given 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 cash rates as well as award nights. Qualifying points include base points earned on hotel stays, points from 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.
You can also enjoy Platinum Elite status just by holding the IHG One Rewards Premier Card.
Elite status benefits
Club Members who join the IHG One Rewards program enjoy some basic benefits. These include the ability to earn and redeem points, take advantage of promotions, and enjoy free internet access at IHG hotels.
If you qualify for an IHG One Rewards elite tier, you'll enjoy the perks of that status level. These range from bonus IHG points to room upgrades and welcome amenities, which may include free 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 |
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 elite benefits to be weaker than competitor programs like World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors. The inclusion of free breakfast as a welcome amenity option for Diamond elite members was a welcome change that was launched in 2022. The Milestone Rewards (see below) now provide a way to earn confirmable suite upgrades and the option of lounge membership. Yet even with these changes, I wouldn't choose to work toward top-tier IHG elite status over Hyatt or Hilton.
Platinum Elite status is easily obtainable through the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, meaning working toward this status may not be worth paying for hotels. Holding this card is a quicker (and likely cheaper) method. IHG One Rewards does not offer lifetime status.
Milestone Rewards
A recent addition to the IHG One Rewards program is Milestone Rewards. These are similar to the World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards. Members are rewarded for every 10 qualifying nights they stay, starting at 20 nights and capped at 100 nights. The benefits at each 10-night milestone aren't always the same. Each allows you to select one or two items from a list of three or four options. Here are the IHG Milestone 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: |
Food and Beverage rewards are vouchers good for up to $20 against applicable food and beverage charges at IHG properties. Note that each voucher can only be used once. So, if the total is less than $20, then you will forfeit the remainder of the voucher. Food and beverage rewards are valid for one year from the date of issue.
Annual club lounge membership provides access to the hotel lounge at properties that include this feature, typically Crowne Plaza and InterContinental hotels. Access to the lounge space and amenties within the lounge is included. Other amenities or services beyond the physical lounge are not part of this membership.
Information on confirmable suite upgrades
Confirmable Suite Upgrades (CSUs) can be used for one room upgrade to an entry-level suite or premium room where a suite is not available. These CSUs are valid for up to 12 months from the date you earn them. You must redeem them by contacting IHG customer care.
CSUs can be applied within 14 days of arrival, up to 24 hours before check-in. Each CSU is good for a stay of up to five consecutive nights. And as of June 2023, you can even apply these to reward nights. Lastly, CSUs are non-transferable, which means you cannot apply them to stays for friends or family.
InterContinental Ambassador Program
Oddly, IHG has two different elite programs (of sorts). The primary IHG One Rewards elite program is discussed above. But, in addition to these elite levels, IHG offers the InterContinental Ambassador program. Rather than providing perks at all IHG properties, IHG InterContinental Ambassadors receive benefits only at luxury InterContinental locations.
To become an IHG InterContinental Ambassador, all you need to do is sign up and pay the membership fee. The annual fee is either $200 or 40,000 IHG Rewards points.
The perks of IHG InterContinental Ambassador include:
- Guaranteed one category room upgrade, based on room type purchased
- A guaranteed late checkout time of 4 p.m.
- Complimentary Ambassador Weekend Night
- Free bottled water
- Dedicated check-in area
- Complimentary internet (including premium access, where available)
- Single room rate for double occupancy
- A restaurant and bar credit of up to $20, per stay, valid in select hotel restaurants, bars, and minibar (excluding in-room dining)
- Platinum elite status in IHG One Rewards and corresponding benefits (IHG InterContinental Ambassador is a way to simply purchase IHG One elite status)
- Complimentary breakfast in mainland China only: One complimentary full breakfast per day for the member, valid only in the main restaurant. Not applicable to in-room dining.
Summary
The weekend night perk alone may make IHG InterContinental Ambassador well worth it. Of course, this depends on where you use it. You do need to book a minimum two-night weekend stay to receive the free night. The catch is that the rate for the first night isn't always the cheapest available. However, just a few stays using this benefit, plus the other perks, can make the membership well worth the cost. You also might get bonus points for renewing your membership, based on past offers we've seen.
Also, IHG offers higher-tier InterContinental Royal Ambassador membership. This is an invitation-only status to existing IHG InterContinental Ambassadors, and it offers even more benefits.
IHG status match opportunities
IHG has occasionally offered the ability to match your elite status from another hotel loyalty group. There is 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.
Conclusion
Ultimately, IHG One Rewards is a strong program when it comes to earning and redeeming points. Plus, it offers excellent co-branded credit cards. While the elite status levels (and their corresponding perks) aren't as strong as some competitor programs, you still can get some worthwhile benefits from the Platinum Elite status received with the IHG One Rewards Premier Card. Some of the program intricacies, such as the InterContinental Ambassador program, warrant further investigation. Lastly, check out some of the linked posts in the above sections for more details about features of the IHG One Rewards program.
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 3rd party. This includes booking sites like Orbitz 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
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So glad my points won’t expire, but not crazy about one of my award nights’ being extended only until December this year, in the midst of the pandemic.
Will be interesting to see the award pricing for Mr & Mrs Smith properties
This is a really informative article, thank you!
Very useful and comprehensive guide
By far the best IHG guide I have ever seen, thank you
I’m eagerly waiting for the Mr and Mrs Smith integration.
Same here! Those are some incredible properties!
Thank you for the walk through of IHG. This is useful in determining whether to get a credit card with them.
Very good guidelines to know IHG rewards club! Thanks
Super comprehensive resource. Thanks for the info- will be sure to refer to it when I need to book anything related to IHG properties