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15 Best Ways To Earn Lots of IHG One Rewards Points [2023]

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Jarrod West

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
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As one of the largest hotel loyalty programs in the world, IHG One Rewards allows members to earn points for stays at almost 6,000 IHG Hotels & Resorts properties. These points can be redeemed for reward hotel stays and other awards.

Here are great strategies for maximizing your IHG One Rewards points so that you can quickly build up your balance. After all, the more points you accrue, the better redemptions you will qualify for.

IHG One Rewards Program

Earn points and redeem them for a variety of travel awards with IHG One Rewards. Image Credit: IHG

1. Join IHG One Rewards

Sign up for the IHG One Rewards to start earning points immediately. In fact, if you enroll during your stay, you’ll get an automatic 1,000 points for that stay (with the exception of ANA and InterContinental Alliance Resorts). You can also enroll for free on the IHG One Rewards website or by contacting the service center.

You’ll enjoy earning 10x base points per $1 spent for most future hotel stays.

Exceptions include:

  • Earn 5x points per $1 spent at Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites
  • Earn 3x points per $1 spent at IHG Army Hotels
  • Earn 2.5x points per $1 spent at IHG branded residence properties (excluding voco Residences)
  • Earn 2,000 points per stay at InterContinental Alliance Resorts, Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Palazzo at the Venitian Resort

You’ll earn points for charges to your room — such as food, drinks, laundry, and in-room movies — even if staying on a rewards night redemption.

Points won’t expire as long as you redeem or earn points within 12 months or hold Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Elite status.

2. IHG Credit Card Welcome Bonus

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 2x on all other purchases.
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus up to $50 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months from account opening.
80,000 points plus up to $50 in IHG® statement credits
$450
$0
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re someone who is looking to enhance your IHG stays by earning more points and benefits, without paying an annual fee, then the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card might be the perfect fit for you.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed view of what the card can offer so you can decide if it makes sense to add to your wallet.

Pros

  • Up to 17x total points per $1 on IHG stays
  • 3x points per $1 on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
  • 2x point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Fourth night free on award stays
  • Complimentary IHG Silver Elite status, plus the ability to spend your way to IHG Gold Elite status
  • Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year
  • 20% discount on IHG point purchases
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
  • Earn 80,000 bonus points plus up to $50 in IHG® statement credits.
  • 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

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Learn More(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 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to $100 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months from account opening.
140,000 points plus up to $100 in IHG® statement credits
$800
$99
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

  • Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
  • 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
  • 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond Elite status
  • Free anniversary night certificate
  • Fourth-night free on award stays
  • 20% off when buying IHG Rewards points
  • Up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year

Cons

  • $99 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable points
  • Earn 140,000 Bonus Points plus up to $100 in IHG® statement credits.
  • 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

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
140,000 points
$700
$99
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)

IHG Rewards and Chase have teamed up to offer the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, a compelling option for those who travel often for their business and stay at IHG hotels.

In this review, we will cover all of the benefits of the card, including earning rates, perks, fees, and more to help you determine whether the card is a good fit for your travel goals.

Pros

  • Up to 26x total points per $1 spent on IHG Hotels and Resorts
  • 5x points per $1 spent on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
  • 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, plus the ability to spend your way to Diamond Elite status
  • Fourth night free on award stays
  • Free anniversary night certificate, plus the ability to earn a second free night after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
  • Up to $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • 20% discount on IHG point purchases

Cons

  • $99 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • 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 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 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

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

The IHG Premier card helps you accrue IHG One Rewards points, including a welcome bonus to get you started. Plus, you earn up to 26x points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Not only does the card usually come with a welcome bonus, but it includes tons of benefits like an annual reward night and complimentary elite status.

If a card with no annual fee is a better fit, you may want to consider the IHG Traveler card, or if you’re looking for a business card, consider the IHG Premier Business card.

Hot Tip: Not sure if the IHG Premier card is right for you? Check out our analysis of all of the IHG-branded credit cards to see which one is best for you.

3. IHG Credit Card Bonus Categories

Make purchases with IHG credit cards to earn lots of IHG One Rewards points.

IHG Premier Card

  • 10x points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels
  • 5x points per $1 spent on travel, gas, and dining
  • 3x point per $1 on everything else

IHG Premier Business Card

  • 10x points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels
  • 5x points per $1 spent on travel, dining, gas, office supply stores, and social media and search engine advertising
  • 3x point per $1 on everything else

IHG Traveler Card

  • 10x points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels
  • 3x points per $1 spent on dining, utilities, select streaming services, and at gas stations
  • 2x points per $1 spent on all other purchases

4. IHG One Rewards Elite Status

One of the benefits of IHG One Rewards elite status is earning bonus points. These points are in addition to the 10x points you usually earn at most IHG locations.

Club MemberSilver EliteGold ElitePlatinum EliteDiamond Elite
Status requirementsNone10 qualifying nights20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying points40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points
Bonus points earned on top of base points0%20%40%60%100%

IHG One Rewards members start at Club Member status — unless you have the right credit card.

Silver Elite status comes with the IHG Traveler card. Platinum Elite status comes with the IHG Premier card, IHG Premier Business card, and United Club℠ Infinite Card.

Having a card that comes with IHG elite status is a great way to keep your points from expiring, too.

Hot Tip: Rewards Nights count toward elite status, so you’ll work towards achieving a higher status while enjoying your reward night.

5. Join the InterContinental Ambassador Program

There’s actually another way to get elite status with IHG One Rewards. Join InterContinental Ambassador for $200 and you’ll get automatic Platinum Elite status, plus a guaranteed 1 category room upgrade, extended 4 p.m. checkout, a certificate for a reward weekend night, and more.

6. Milestone Rewards

Milestone Rewards are a new feature of the IHG One Rewards program. Members will get to choose rewards for every 10 elite nights (starting at 20 nights) and bonus points will be one of the awards.

Number of Elite NightsMilestone Reward Choice
205,000 points
305,000 points
4010,000 points
5010,000 points
6010,000 points
7010,000 points
8010,000 points
9010,000 points
10010,000 points

Transfer Points to IHG One Rewards

7. Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

IHG is a Chase hotel partner at a 1:1 ratio, starting at 1,000 points.

Due to how valuable Chase points are, we don’t recommend cashing in all of your Ultimate Reward points for IHG One Rewards points. However, this can be a fantastic option if you need to top off your points balance to have enough for a certain redemption.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
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®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
  • Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • 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

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

  • 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

If you’re a business owner, see our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

8. Transfer Bilt Points to IHG One Rewards

Bilt Rewards is a newcomer to the miles and points world that offers 1 credit card option. While this card gives renters a chance to earn points on rent, it’s probably not a major player in most people’s wallets. However, if you have Bilt Rewards points you can transfer them to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

Other Opportunities To Earn Points

9. Trip Extras

With IHG Trip Extras, members can earn 1,000 points every time they book an activity through the Trip Extras portal. Trip Extras gives you the option to book tours and activities, restaurants, transport services, excursions, and other experiences.

10. IHG One Rewards Promotions

IHG One Rewards posts special deals online throughout the year for members. These member offers include additional bonus points for stays, double bonus points, and discounts. Be sure to keep an eye out for the quarterly IHG Accelerate offers that can dramatically increase your point balance by completing tasks like booking a stay through the app or staying at multiple brands.

11. IHG Dining

Earn bonus IHG points for dining out. Image Credit: IHG Dining

Earn points for dining out when you enroll in the IHG Dining program and dine at one of more than 10,000 select restaurants around the country.

You can join for free and register with a credit or debit card. Then earn up to 5x IHG One Rewards points per $1 just for registering your email address, and 8x points per $1 after your eleventh dining experience.

12. IHG Business Rewards

Become a meeting planner with IHG Business Rewards and earn points for hosting qualifying events.

You’ll earn 3 points for each $1 spent on meeting space, food, beverages, and even guest rooms.

13. Purchase Discount IHG One Rewards Points

Are you close to an award but still need more points for the redemption? You may be able to buy IHG One Rewards points at a discount.

Every so often IHG One Rewards offers targeted promotions to members. For example, you may be able to take advantage of a 100% bonus on purchases between 5,000 to 100,000 points — the 100% bonus doubles whatever denomination you purchase.

14. Shop With Apple

Earn IHG points when you buy Apple products. Image Credit: Apple

When you buy your new Apple products through IHG One Rewards, you can earn 4x points for every $1 you spend on qualifying products. Simply visit the IHG/Apple partnership website, sign in to your IHG One Rewards account, and start shopping.

Your points will be deposited in your IHG account after the Apple 30-day product return period has passed.

15. Transfer IHG One Rewards Points to Another Member

IHG One Rewards permits you to transfer your points to another member, or have them transfer points to you! Best of all, there is no limit. You must transfer in 1,000 point increments, but there is a $5 fee per 1,000 points. This could definitely get expensive if you’re transferring a large number of points, so be sure to calculate whether the added cost is worth the redemption.

Final Thoughts

Credit card bonuses, elite status bonuses, promotional offers, and so much more…. IHG One Rewards really does offer plenty of ways to earn IHG One Rewards points.

Simply pick the strategies from this post that work best for your needs and you will be on your way to earning plenty of points for an award night in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

IHG One Rewards is a free hotel loyalty program. Members earn points for staying at participating hotels, as well as making purchases from travel and non-travel partners.

Earn 10 points per $1 spent at all avid hotels, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Holiday Inn ExpressHoliday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton HotelsRegent Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotels & Resorts, Vignetti Collection, and voco Hotels.

Earn 5 points per $1 spent at all Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

You’ll earn additional bonus points based on your elite status level — Silver Elite members earn an additional 20%, Gold Elite members earn an additional 40%, Platinum Elite members earn an additional 60%, and Diamond Elite members earn an additional 100%.

Yes, you can choose to earn miles instead of points for hotel stays. You can switch from earning points to earning airline miles in the Preferences section of your online account.

Expect points to post to your account within 7 business days.

You can check your IHG One Rewards points in your online account.

Yes, there are 3 IHG cards currently available — the IHG Premier card, the IHG Premier Business card, and the IHG Traveler card.

Your IHG One Rewards points will expire if there is no activity on the account for 12 months. However, your points won’t expire if you have Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond elite status.

Yes — anyone can join the IHG One Rewards and there is no cost to do so.

Standard award nights with IHG One Rewards range between 10,000 and 70,000 IHG One Rewards points per night on average.

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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31 comments

wesley wilson

March 18, 2018

It has become increasingly harder to find any IHG Resort Hotels that will allow you to use IHG points to pay for a room. I have even had a IHG hotel that had many rooms available deny me the option of using reward points to pay for the room. Their reasoning was they only had a few rooms that points could be used as payment, and those rooms were taken. With nearly 1 million points, I’m doing good to get an upgraded room. Not feelin’ the love!

Richie Taylor

July 22, 2018

How long did it take to rack up 1 mil points?

TABITHA Knowland

August 14, 2018

Would you be willing to sell some pouts? I would buy them!

Jimmy

September 21, 2021

Yes

LaKenya Bennett

July 31, 2022

I agree. I have experienced the same. To add insult to injury, need I remind you that the program specifically promises NO BLACKOUT DATES? Clearly false advertisement.

Mister Estrada

August 07, 2018

I have been a IHG Platinum Eilte member for 18 months and noticed hotels increasing the amount of points required to stay and even some hotels, like the Holiday Inn Resorts disappearing from the annual Free Reward Night list when trying to book your free night night. You need to accumulate and use your points quickly or the depreciation factor will render your points useless since last year’s 10,000 point hotel is now going for 15,000 or 20,000. I now have the new IHG black card…Premier Club, we’ll see if anything changes… or I’ll just have to switch to another hotel group credit card… nice post by the way….

Michael McHugh

August 16, 2018

Thanks for this info Mister Estrada!

Lucienne CHU

October 07, 2018

Hi team,

I just joined the IHG programme online and am still waiting for my IHG Card to be posted out to my home address . I am going to visit China soon and already booked three nights at Crowne Plaza Foshan . My enquiry : how can I earn the IHG points as I don’t have the card yet ? If I show my online IHG membership number to the Crowne Plaza when I arrive there, would they allocate the points I earn with this booking ? Or do I have to print out the temporary card to record the nights? I will then visit other cities in China. I am sure I can easily pass the 10 nights required during this trip .
Hence your advice is really appreciated. Thank you and cheers.

Lucienne

Christine Krzyszton

October 07, 2018

Hi Lucienne! Fortunately you do not need your physical IHG membership card to receive credit for your upcoming stays. If you call IHG, they can add your membership number to your reservations. Their phone number is 1(800) 621-0555. You could also email them. It is possible to add it at the hotel but it is best to do it in advance as you will then be able to access all of your reservations online in your account and assure you receive credit. Be sure to have your membership number with you during your trip in case the hotel does not have it on the reservation and check your statement when you check in/out to make sure your IHG membership is on it. I hope your trip goes well.

Terry R Wood

June 10, 2019

I have been an IHG Rewards member for 15 years. It was my go-to when traveling on business. Unfortunately something has gone wrong here. Points are practically worthless now. I still have the IHG rewards credit card and I do get an “free” anniversary night for the $89 annual membership fee but there is really no other benefit anymore. Over the last several years it has cost me more to stay loyal to IHG. Today I am trying to book a room in Salt Lake City, just as someone off the street a standard room can be had for $97.22. For me to stay with points would cost me 30,000 points. I recently loaded up for the year on points like I usually do when I am sent an offer to purchase, but to buy 30,000 points cost me $172.50. I do have the option to split the bill by paying cash and buying points. I can get that same standard room for 15,000 points (which cost me $94.50) plus $105.00 cash.
Someone has let this ship go astray???

Christine Krzyszton

June 10, 2019

Hello Terry and thanks for your comment. You are using a very specific example and in the case you mention, it would be better to pay cash for the room. As you are probably aware, being a long term IHG Rewards member, even with the increase in redemption costs, it is still possible to find great value using your points. A night at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, for example, can be secured for 70,000 IHG points but can cost $700 per night to pay cash. The Intercontinental in San Juan, for 50,000 IHG points, can run $350 or more per night. PointBreaks specials have even allowed me to secure a Holiday Inn Express in Madrid for 5,000 points per night. Also, sometimes purchasing points is not always the best value. During promotions you can pick up 100,000 points for $500 which does bring the cost down somewhat but even then, it does not always make sense without a specific redemption in mind that will maximize the value. Thousands of points can also be earned for no additional cost during a promotion such as Accelerate. So yes, while there are plenty of situations where using points is not a good deal, like the one you mention, there are still plenty of great reward redemption options to be found with IHG points.

Jeff

July 14, 2019

Hi, has anybody recently stayed at an IHG property in Greater China (Mainland, HK, Taiwan)? If so, did you have a choice of either Points or a Drink voucher as welcome amenity gift? I was told today by the Intercontinental Xiamen that Points are no longer offered in Greater China as a welcome amenity gift. Any recent experience proving that statement right (or wrong)?

Ed

August 22, 2019

My wife just became a Platinum Elite IHG member and currently, I am Gold Elite. I was looking to transfer the 50k points I have from my Gold account to my wife’s account but IHG is requesting $250 to transfer the points. This seems outrageous to me. I would be interested if anyone has any other methods/success stories to work around this?

Jarrod West

August 22, 2019

Hi Ed,

Unfortunately, the only way to transfer your IHG points into your wife’s account is to pay the $250 transfer fee. However, we would advise against doing so as that high of a fee would negate most of the value you would receive from just using the points through your own account.

Thanks for reading!

LaKenya Bennett

July 31, 2022

I assume that you are transferring the points to your wife so that she can book a room. If that is the case I would suggest that you book the room using your points and add her to the reservation. This way she can check in without you being present.

Peter Seeley

August 23, 2019

I’ve been a loyal IHG member for more years than I can think of. Most of my points have come from the credit card and business hotel stays.

Recently stayed in a Crown Plaza through work and just had confirmation of points earned, none! When did I miss the fact that you can no longer earn points through bookings with company travel agencies? Why would they do this? We still make a choice which hotel/chain to stay with. May just have to look at alternative loyalty schemes!

Edward Temoney

December 12, 2019

Is paying for the Ambassador option worth it?

Jarrod West

December 13, 2019

Hi Edward,

That is entirely subjective. If you frequently stay in IHG hotels then it very well could be!

Jenson

January 21, 2020

You might want to mention that the credit cards are only available to less than 5% of the world’s people. Those who recide outside of the US cannot apply.

Jarrod West

January 21, 2020

Hi Jensen,

That is correct. We are a U.S. based company and, currently, only cover U.S. credit cards.

Babs

January 22, 2020

The IHG rewards club that gives 5x or 10x points per dollar spent DOES NOT WORK if you chose the Points & Cash option. You will be charged the amount they state on site per night for converting into points, but you will only receive 1 point per dollar spent even though you’re spending the money for a stay at their hotel.

Chuck

February 13, 2020

You caution against (blindly) transferring points to another member due to the high cost of $5 per 1,000 points transferred. However, my transferring $1,000 points to my wife for $5 (500 cents for 1000 points = 0.5 cents per point) is the same as her capitalizing on a great IHG purchase promo — buying points for 0.5 cents per point. And this transfer can be done anytime, not just during IHG’s promos. And this $5/1000 point transfer rate is in effect for quantities as small as 1,000 points, whereas one often has to buy a lot of points in order to get the best rate of 0.5 cents per point. So I don’t see how this transfer rate is bad, at all. Am I missing something?

Jarrod West

February 13, 2020

Hi Chuck,

If you need to move a small number of points to another account in order to make a booking possible, then it can definitely make sense to do so.

However, if you have the option to buy points at 0.5 cents per point instead, then that would likely be the better option. This is because when you purchase points, you’ll receive new points that you did not have before. When you transfer points, you’re just paying money to move points you already have from one account to another.

Susan

July 02, 2020

With 84k Available points and gold elite how many free hotel nights would that be?

Jarrod West

July 02, 2020

Hi Susan,

It depends! IHG award nights vary from hotel to hotel. Award nights usually range between 10,000 to 70,000 points per night. So 84,000 points could get you anywhere between 1 to 8 free nights, or even more if you use the 4th-night free benefit from the IHG Rewards Premier card!

Confused IHG Member

April 17, 2022

I’m trying to decide whether to earn IHG points or airline miles. Do you earn the same number of miles as you would IHG points? Do you still earn an Elite bonus if I choose to earn Miles?

Christine Krzyszton

April 17, 2022

You will earn far more IHG Rewards points than miles on each stay. Also, earning miles does not count toward IHG Rewards’ elite status or earning an elite bonus. Plus, at redemption time, your IHG Rewards points will result in better value when used for free hotel nights.

Cap

January 01, 2023

The article says that one would earn points for reward nights, which is not really true. Reward nights do not earn you points in IHG One Reward Programme, however they do count towards your night-stay count for milestone rewards or status/level within the programme.

Jarrod West

January 02, 2023

Hi Cap,

Can you let me know where in the post it says that? I’m not seeing that claim on my end. Thanks for reading!

Sally

July 28, 2023

Can I still apply IHG traveler silver elite card if I don’t have 10 qualifying nights in 1 year? I only have 2-4 nights in 1 year.

Jarrod West

July 29, 2023

Hi Sally,

Yes, you can get the IHG Traveler card no matter how many nights you stay in IHG hotels.

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