[Expired] How I Easily Get 5x (Or More) Value From My IHG Premier Card Every Year

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

My IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has unlocked incredible stays across the world for my family, including our go-to: all-inclusive beachfront resorts.

Over the years, I quickly realized that the IHG Premier card would enhance my stays and offer additional perks and benefits — and it definitely has. These are the main reasons I love my IHG Premier card and how I get extreme value from using it.

1. Generous Welcome Offer (175K Points)

When I originally applied for the IHG Premier card, I qualified for the standard welcome offer of 140,000 IHG One Rewards points by spending $3,000 within the first 3 months. There’s a lot you can do with 140,000 IHG One Rewards points, and I maximized my bonus offer a few years ago by staying 3 nights at the InterContinental Barcelona.

Right now, though, there’s an even better welcome offer for eligible new applicants:

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

With 175,000 bonus points, you could redeem IHG One Rewards points at certain Holiday Inn properties for as low as 10,000 points per night. Or you could spend a couple of nights at more luxurious IHG properties, such as the majestic InterContinental Paris – Le Grand or the picturesque Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in the Cayman Islands.

The timing of this welcome offer is also ideal for anyone looking to put the extra points toward a dream summer vacation, making bucket-list hotel stays a real possibility.

2. Rewarding Bonus Categories (Up to 26x Points)

The IHG Premier card has excellent bonus categories, with the top one being 26 points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

I recently spent several nights at the Iberostar Waves Paraíso Beach, an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. The stay, for my family of 3, cost a total of $2,131.36, earning me more than 55,000 IHG One Rewards points. In most cases, the stays I pay cash for, assuming they’re more than just a couple of nights, usually end up giving me enough points for a free night (or at least for a solid chunk of the nightly rewards rate).

I live in a big city and don’t own a car, so I’m not too interested in bonus points on gas. However, it’s nice to know this card offers 5 points per $1 spent on gas station, restaurant, and travel purchases, because I do use rental cars frequently and need to fill up the tank in those cases. It’s also a nice card to use for random purchases that don’t usually incur bonuses, like at a department store, because I get 3 points per $1 spent on all purchases.

3. Fourth-Night-Free Benefit

I normally don’t recommend sitting on a large points balance for a long time, but when it comes to redeeming points at IHG properties, I wait until I have enough points to take advantage of a very special perk of the IHG Premier card: the fourth night free on award stays.

When cardholders book 4-night award stays, they pay only for 3 nights in points. This is an incredible perk that can turn a long weekend into a 4-night vacation. It’s really the best way to maximize points, so I often aim to use points for 4-night or longer redemptions and use cash (or an IHG free night award) for shorter stays of 1 or 2 nights.

4. Automatic Platinum Elite Status

IHG One Rewards loyalty program features 4 elite status levels beyond basic membership: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The IHG Premier card awards cardholders Platinum Elite status, the third-highest status level, which is an extremely beneficial perk.

The status comes with top benefits, including early check-in (subject to availability), late checkout, a welcome amenity such as points or a drink at check-in, reward night discounts, rollover nights for next year’s status, and more.

But my favorite perk is the complimentary upgrades. Although upgrades are subject to availability, I’ve always received an upgrade or at least a better room in the same category. Although there are no guarantees, I usually book the room category below the one I want in hopes that my status will award me a step up to the next category.

5. Annual Free Night Certificate (Up to 40K Points)

Each year, I receive a free night certificate with the IHG Premier card. The certificate is for a 1-night stay at a property, up to 40,000 points per night, though I can add points from my IHG One Rewards account to redeem for hotels above the 40,000-point limit.

These certificates have been a lot of fun to use over the years. In 2024, I redeemed it for a night’s stay at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar in Phoenix. It’s directly across the street from the Mortgage Matchup Center, a stadium and concert venue. I was able to hit up the Kimpton’s complimentary happy hour, then walk across the street to meet friends at Janet Jackson’s “Together Again” concert. Paid rates were well into the hundreds, and I saved significantly by using my free-night award certificate.

In 2025, I used my certificate at the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago. Although it was absolutely freezing during my December stay, it was fun to enjoy the holiday lights of Chicago and attend a Bulls game. Rates were hovering between $200 and $300 on my dates, so I got great value from the certificate.

I’m not sure where I’ll use my free night certificate in 2026, but I look forward to finding the perfect spot. And I love that I can put the certificate toward a night at a fancier, more-than-40,000-points-per-night property if I want.

I always set a calendar alert to remind me to use the certificate as soon as it becomes available. Since I can’t use the IHG One Rewards free night for a stay past the certificate’s expiration date (even if I booked the stay before the award expires), I prefer to figure out a strategy to use it right away so I don’t lose it.

I also appreciate that the certificate is easy to use. If there is an active certificate in your account, it’s simple to book a night using it. Log in to your IHG account, then add your destination, dates, and number of guests. Then select the rate code labeled “free night flex award,” and availability will appear after you hit search.

6. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Statement Credit 

I already have Global Entry, but I find it especially rewarding to gift it to friends and family, especially since I have several cards that offer a statement credit for the service.

The IHG Premier card offers a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years if you charge the application fee to your card. This past year, I was able to give Global Entry to a friend of mine who also lives in Spain and frequently travels back to the U.S. across the Atlantic. She was then able to get Global Entry for her 3-year-old daughter, making their international trips significantly easier.

Giving Global Entry is a great gift, especially for frequent travelers, so keep this credit in mind for a birthday or Christmas present.

7. Low Annual Fee

The main reason I’m able to extract hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in value from the IHG Premier card is its extremely reasonable $99 annual fee.

Clearly, the first year of the card is when you can obtain the most — the welcome offer alone results in massive value. Still, perks like Platinum elite status, high bonus rates, a free-night certificate, and fourth night free on reward nights mean I’m getting major value from the card years later.

Final Thoughts

My IHG Premier card isn’t going anywhere and holds a firm spot in my wallet, thanks to its numerous perks and easy-to-use benefits. And while my son is still young and we often stay at all-inclusive Iberostar resorts and family-friendly Holiday Inns, the value this card offers is unmatched.