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Earn 175,000 Points With the IHG Premier Card’s Huge New Welcome Offer

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Stella Shon
Updated: 
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Ben Neighbors-Giles
Earn 175,000 Points With the IHG Premier Card’s Huge New Welcome Offer
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Hotel credit cards with modest annual fees don’t often feature massive welcome offers, making this new opportunity with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card especially compelling.

The 175,000-point bonus offer ranks among the best we’ve seen on the IHG Premier card, coming in at 35,000 points more than its standard welcome offer.

For a $99 annual fee, the IHG Premier card delivers exceptional value every year. This includes the annual free night certificate, automatic Platinum Elite status, and up to 26x points on IHG purchases.

Is this the right hotel card for you and your upcoming travels? Let’s take a closer look at what’s on the table.

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Limited-Time Welcome Offer: Earn 175K Points

Right now, eligible new applicants on the IHG Premier card can earn an elevated 175,000-point welcome offer after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

On average, we estimate IHG One Rewards points to be worth roughly 0.5 cents apiece. In other words, this welcome bonus offer is worth approximately $875 toward hotel stays across the massive IHG One Rewards portfolio.

As you’ll see below, though, there are plenty of instances where you can find even more value than that from your points.

Kimpton Surfcomber King Bed
A guest room at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel. Image Credit: Juan Ruiz

IHG One Rewards houses some of the most popular hotel brands out there, including Six Senses, InterContinental, Kimpton, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. Whether you’re aiming for high-end redemptions or maximizing award nights at budget-friendly hotels, it’s easy to unlock extraordinary value from a card with just a $99 annual fee.

Bottom Line:

The 175,000 bonus points are a notable boost from the standard welcome offer of 140,000 points. The tradeoff, though, is a higher minimum spending requirement: $5,000 instead of $3,000 in the first 3 months. As long as you have a plan to meet the spending requirement within the initial timeframe, it shouldn’t be hard to justify the extra effort.

Is the IHG Premier Card Worth It?

IHG One Rewards keeps its lineup simple, offering just 2 consumer credit cards. (The no-annual-fee option, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, is also featuring an elevated welcome offer of up to 120,000 bonus points right now.)

That said, the IHG Premier card is the way to go for most travelers. Beyond its larger welcome bonus offer, it offers a far more compelling suite of ongoing benefits that deliver strong value when you stay at IHG properties.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.
Earn 140,000 175,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
140,000 175,000 Bonus Points
$875
$99
19.24% - 27.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
  • 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
  • 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $99 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable points
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Card Highlights
  • Limited Time Offer! Earn 175,000 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
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Chief among them is the anniversary free night award, which provides meaningful year-after-year value. Each cardmember anniversary, after paying the $99 annual fee, you receive a free night certificate worth up to 40,000 IHG points. (These free night awards are easy to use, too, since you can top them off with extra points for hotels charging more than 40,000 points.)

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping Swimming Pool
Pool views from the InterContinental Chiang Mai in Thailand. Image Credit: Ranjan Sahu

Not only that, but the earning rate is strong across IHG purchases and everyday purchases:

  • Up to 26x points on IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • 5x points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
  • 3x points on all other eligible purchases

The card grants you Platinum Elite status, which typically requires 40 elite nights earned to unlock this level. Platinum Elite members get access to perks like space-available room upgrades and a welcome amenity upon arrival, and include the ability to score your fourth night free on award stays. That means you’d only use points for 3 nights but get 4 consecutive nights at the same hotel — an incredible perk that helps you get even more value from your points.

Plus, it’s a Mastercard, and it waives foreign transaction fees. The IHG Premier card also includes a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 in a calendar year, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers.

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Best Ways To Maximize 175,000 IHG One Rewards Points

The real sweet spot is booking a 4-night award stay using points, which will display a discounted total on IHG’s website. In fact, there are plenty of destinations worldwide where a single welcome offer can make that possible.

If the thought of an all-inclusive resort appeals to you — with meals and drinks included alongside your guest room — you could book the Iberostar Waves Paraíso del Mar for 54,250 points per night. The property features 3 oversized pools and direct beach access, giving you plenty of areas to rest and relax.

Iberostar Redemption IHG
Image Credit: IHG

Thanks to IHG’s fourth-night-free benefit, a 4-night stay would cost roughly 163,000 IHG One Rewards points — saving you over $1,000 of the cash cost. With the IHG Premier card alone, you could book the entire stay using the 175,000-point welcome offer and even have a few thousand points left over.

As another example, the Kimpton Aertson Hotel, in the heart of Nashville, costs just 45,000 points per night this summer.

Kimpton Nashville Redemption

A consecutive 4-night stay could be booked for 135,000 points, which would normally cost 180,000 points, saving you around $1,200 in cash that you could put toward other travel expenses.

Final Thoughts

With its elevated 175,000-point welcome offer, the IHG Premier card is easily one of the most compelling hotel credit cards to consider right now. This card offers a meaningful way to build your points balance and score hotel perks for all of your 2026 travels.

Featured Image Credit: Creation by HK via Adobe Stock, modified by Upgraded Points LLC
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About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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