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The IHG One Rewards program has more than 6,000 properties worldwide. Although it's not nearly as large a hotel group as Marriott or Wyndham, you've likely stayed at an IHG property once or twice. Although you might not get as much value per point from IHG One Rewards as you do from competitors like World of Hyatt, these points are easy to earn and redeem.
The elite status program has four tiers — Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Silver Elite, the base tier, doesn't come with too many benefits, but it's incredibly easy to earn through credit cards or stays. Here's everything you need to know about IHG Silver Elite benefits.
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IHG Silver Elite Benefits
It's hard to even call IHG Silver Elite status a true “elite status” when there are so few benefits associated with this tier. IHG One members without status already enjoy many exclusive benefits including member rates and promotions, free internet, and a complimentary late checkout of 2:00 pm, subject to availability.
Earn bonus points
As an IHG Silver Elite member, you will earn 20% bonus base points on each stay. This is higher than the comparable benefit offered to Marriott Silver Elites, who only earn 10% bonus points on stays, but the same bonus that those with Hilton Silver status receive.
Points don't expire
As long as you maintain your Silver Elite status, your points will not expire. IHG One Rewards points earned by non-elite members expire after 12 months of inactivity. So, this benefit gives you a buffer if you have a year where you don't travel as much as normal.
Related: Current IHG Promotions
How to Earn IHG Silver Elite
Although IHG Silver Elite status doesn't come with too many benefits, it's easy to earn, and is your first step toward a higher tier of elite status.
Earning IHG Silver Elite through stays
To earn IHG Silver Elite status through stays, you'll need to earn 10 qualifying nights per year. An elite qualifying night is a night you spend at an IHG property as long as it is booked directly through IHG. In other words, don't book through a third-party booking platform like Expedia or your credit card travel portal, as these nights may not apply.
Related: IHG Status Match Tips: What Are Your Options?
Get IHG Silver Elite through credit cards
You will automatically receive IHG Silver Elite status as a perk when you are a cardholder of the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Given that it has a $0 annual fee, this is a fantastic perk. It also offers an impressive earning potential: up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel, 3 points on purchases on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants, and 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Points
- 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, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 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)
If you want a higher tier of status, you don't have look too far. You can apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which has an annual fee of just $99, but offers complimentary IHG Platinum Elite Status.
- 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)
- 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)
Is it Worth Earning IHG Silver Elite Status?
It's worth earning IHG Silver Elite status in the sense that you can earn it simply by holding a no-annual-fee credit card. In other words, you can earn status without paying a penny out of pocket. On the other hand, it hardly comes with any benefits, so it shouldn't be at the top of your to-do list to earn enough qualifying nights to reach this tier of status. Plus, you can easily earn a much higher tier of status with a sub-$100 annual fee credit card.
Final Thoughts
The benefits you receive as an IHG Silver Elite might be the same you would receive by just being a member of a competitors loyalty program. However, 20% bonus points on stays is certainly nothing to scoff at. Plus, your rewards won't expire as long as you're an elite member. Non-elites have to worry about points expiring after 12 months of inactivity, which is a tight timeline. While you might not be actively working toward Silver Elite status, it's a starting point for higher tiers.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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