How To Use IHG One Rewards Dining to Earn More Points [2024]

There are several ways IHG One Rewards members can earn some extra points, including capitalizing on dining. If you’re already going out to eat or ordering takeout, this method is pretty darned simple!

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about joining and utilizing the IHG One Rewards Dining program.

How To Sign up and Log in

To earn reward points for dining experiences, customers must log in or join the program. This process just takes a quick couple of minutes to complete.

If you are already an IHG One Rewards member, you will still need to fill out a few simple forms to join the dining program. Be sure to use the same name and email that’s on your IHG One Rewards membership.

If you are not an IHG One Rewards member, you will need to sign up (1 basic form) since you must enter your IHG One Rewards membership number to submit on your other forms for the dining program.

Additionally, before your sign-up process can be finalized, IHG will ask you to provide a credit card to link to the program. There is no fee to join the program, and don’t worry — you can link more cards later.

Don’t miss the section below on which credit cards you should link to maximize your earnings in this program.

Basics of Using the Program

There are 3 membership tiers within the IHG One Rewards Dining program. Depending on your tier, you’ll earn a different amount of points and be offered certain additional benefits when you dine.

You’ll see that simply by signing up to receive emails, you’re bumped up to earning 5 points per $1. If you dine 12+ times a year, you’re considered a VIP member and can earn up to 8 points per $1.

To earn points when dining, the restaurant must also be an IHG One Rewards Dining restaurant. You can easily search for these by city, state, zip code, or restaurant name.

You will then be presented with a list view, or you can choose a map view. Many details are listed including neighborhood, member rating, the average price of an entree, days of the week that rewards are applicable, and more.

Once you dine at a participating restaurant, be sure to pay with a card that is registered/linked with your IHG Dining program. You’ll earn bonus points based on the cost of your meal, including tax and tip.

Remember, it may take up to 5 days after dining to view the transaction in your club account.

Each restaurant in the program earns the same ratio of points per dollar depending on your membership status.

Intro Bonuses

At the time of this writing, IHG was offering a new member bonus of 1,000 points if you spend $30 within the first 30 days. To earn any applicable introductory bonus, you’ll need to pay for purchases with your linked card and complete an online review.

If you’re doing this solely for the points, this bonus isn’t especially lucrative. You can just as easily buy 1,000 points for $13.50 straight from the Buy Points section of the website (at the time of writing).

However, if you’re already planning to dine out at one of IHG One Rewards Dining’s participating restaurants, it’s not an awful way to earn 1,000 extra points.

Example Restaurants

As previously mentioned, each IHG One Rewards Dining restaurant earns the same ratio of points to spend. So, whether you spend $30 at a cafe or $30 at a fine dining location, you’ll receive the same number of points.

Regarding example restaurants: at the time of writing this article, a search of the Chicago area revealed 410 participating restaurants within 30 miles of the city center.

Most of these restaurants are smaller, local restaurants rather than chains, so the participating venues will vary quite a bit from city to city.

Similarly, each city may have a vastly different number of participating merchants. For example, at the time of writing, Atlanta had 358 participating restaurants within 30 miles of the city center, while Boston had 247, San Diego had 146, and Dallas had 229.

While most participating restaurants are local spots, you’ll want to note the address in case there is a chain you’re interested in visiting (not every restaurant of the same name may be participating).

This is also applicable for the few regional or national chains you may find — check the address so you’re not disappointed.

Using Credit Cards To Earn Extra Points

You have several card options to link with the IHG One Rewards Dining program to help you earn even more IHG points.

IHG One Rewards Credit Cards

Chase offers 3 credit cards to earn IHG points directly. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card give cardholders bonus points at gas stations, and restaurants.

If you link these cards to the IHG One Rewards Dining program, you will earn these extra points for using the card in addition to points earned from the dining program.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Cards

Using a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards can also help boost your account since you can transfer Chase points to the IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio in up to 24 hours. A couple of these cards even include restaurants as a bonus category.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

BEST BEGINNER 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 great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. 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, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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.

Apply Now(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.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $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 Travel℠ 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 Travel℠. 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 $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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

Final Thoughts

By joining the IHG One Rewards Dining program and linking a couple of credit cards, you can earn some easy IHG One Rewards points.

If you’re already dining out, why not earn a few extra points on your burger and that pint of beer? Grabbing takeout? You might even earn extra IHG One Rewards points at your favorite Thai place.

Plus, if you pair your IHG One Rewards program membership with a credit card that earns a category bonus on dining, you’re earning points on top of points.