Overview
IHG might not dominate the hotel conversation the way Marriott and Hilton (and even Hyatt now) do, but with over 6,000 properties in over 100 countries, it’s far from a small player. IHG One Rewards, which was revamped back in 2022 with a new elite status structure and milestone rewards, is in with a shout at being the most flexible hotel loyalty program around.
While it can be a little inconsistent for value, it does make up for that with its impressive global reach. You’ll find IHG’s properties just about anywhere on the planet, which makes it valuable in its own right and lets it compete for your attention with the other big names at the table. Plus, its updated perks are pretty solid, too, with upgrades finally making an appearance as well as free breakfasts. Regardless of whether you use it all the time, it’s worth checking out.
The Bottom Line:
IHG One Rewards may not stack up to its competitors on all-out value, but it has some strong benefits and sweet spots that let you take advantage of its sizeable hotel footprint. Its co-branded cards give me a solid leg-up to free stays, and regular customers will enjoy one of the better elite programs around right now.
IHG High-Level Overview
InterContinental Hotels Group has an interesting founding story. While its name comes from the American luxury hotel chain founded in 1946, its origins stretch back to the British brewing company Bass Brewing, located in Burton-on-Trent. The brewery launched its own hotels in the 60’s and purchased Holiday Inn in 1998. After years of corporate to-and-fro, the Intercontinental brand was purchased, and the fully-fledged company IHG emerged in 2003. It set about expanding ever since, and today the company has almost 20 brands across the world.
Its loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, is the umbrella term for its elite status wing, which rewards regular customers with numerous rewards, and the usual points-earning system, which allows users to earn free stays. The program spent years in the shadow of its rivals before its 2022 revamp made it a true competitor to Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.
IHG Brands
IHG’s portfolio covers the full spectrum. From budget options to recently acquired all-suite luxury stays. Here’s the complete breakdown of what’s on offer:
Luxury & Lifestyle
Six Senses: Ultra-luxury eco-focused resorts and spas emphasizing wellness, sustainability, and immersive experiences.
Regent Hotels & Resorts: Timeless luxury with high-end design and personalized service in iconic destinations.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: The flagship luxury brand, known for global city icons and resort classics.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: Boutique hotels with playful design, social lobbies, and strong bar/restaurant culture.
Hotel Indigo: Neighborhood-inspired lifestyle hotels that reflect local character and creativity.
Premium
voco Hotels: Upscale yet approachable, with stylish design and playful branding touches.
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: A favorite for business and conferences, offering meeting space and global consistency.
EVEN Hotels: Wellness-driven properties with in-room workout equipment and health-focused dining.
Essentials
Holiday Inn: The backbone of the IHG empire, from city hotels to resort destinations.
Holiday Inn Express: Affordable, efficient hotels with complimentary breakfast, especially strong in the U.S. and Europe.
Avid Hotels: Newer, budget-friendly properties designed for simplicity and value.
Suites & Extended Stay
Staybridge Suites: Apartment-style accommodations with kitchens and living areas, perfect for long stays.
Candlewood Suites: Budget extended-stay properties emphasizing practicality.
Atwell Suites: A midscale extended-stay concept blending business and leisure needs.
All-Inclusive & Other
Iberostar Beachfront Resorts: Recently integrated, these beachfront all-inclusive resorts expand IHG’s leisure appeal.
HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts: A brand created specifically for the Chinese market, emphasizing traditional values and hospitality.
IHG One Rewards Elite Status
IHG’s elite status tiers were once underwhelming, making a choice between its competitors fairly easy. Things changed after the 2022 revamp, and the new system boasts more than enough to interest most travelers. Its luxury options are still outstanding, with brands like Six Senses and Intercontinental some of the best on the planet, so if you have your eye on some high-end stays, don’t shy away from IHG.
Like its competitors, IHG runs a tiered elite status system. Each tier unlocks new privileges, from free breakfasts to upgrades. Each one is unlocked with qualifying nights, points, or with a co-branded credit card. Here’s a rundown of IHG’s tiered elite status, along with the points or nights required to earn them
Club Member (automatic upon joining)
Perks:
Member-exclusive rates
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Points never expire with account activity
Silver Elite
Perks:
All Club benefits
20% bonus points
Priority check-in
Earn with 10 qualifying nights
Gold Elite
Perks:
All Silver benefits
40% bonus points
Early check-in (subject to availability)
Earn with 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 points
Platinum Elite
Perks:
All Gold benefits
60% bonus points
Complimentary room upgrades (when available)
Reward night discounts
Earn with 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 points or automatic with certain Chase IHG credit cards
Diamond Elite
Perks:
All Platinum benefits
100% bonus points
Free breakfast as a welcome amenity
Higher upgrade priority, including suites
Dedicated Diamond support line
Earn with 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 points
Milestone Rewards
The most significant addition to IHG’s program.
Starting at 20 nights, members can choose rewards every 10 nights, including:
Confirmable suite upgrades
Annual lounge membership
Food & beverage credits
Bonus points
This flexibility allows members to tailor their benefits, something Marriott and Hilton have struggled to execute well.
How to Earn IHG One Rewards Points
As with most other hotel programs, IHG allows customers to earn One Rewards Points through a variety of channels. The traditional method is via stays and any spending on properties during stays, but the modern platform puts a lot of emphasis on credit card usage and transfers.
Stays
Stays remain the simplest and most traditional way to earn. Customers earn at the following rates, with increases as they move up through the tiers.
10 points per $1 spent at most brands
5 points per $1 at extended-stay properties (Staybridge, Candlewood)
Elite members earn additional percentage bonuses:
Silver: 12 points per $1 (20% bonus)
Gold: 14 points per $1 (40% bonus)
Platinum: 16 points per $1 (60% bonus)
Diamond: 20 points per $1 (100% bonus)
Co-branded credit cards
The problem with earning with stays is that most people just don’t do it enough. For the rest of us, using a co-branded credit card is the simplest and fastest way to build a solid pool of points. IHG currently has three cards available: two personal cards and a business card. These help unlock elite status, offer intro bonuses, and even the 4th night free benefit, which is the best way to maximize points.
IHG One Rewards Premier (personal) – Automatic Platinum status, annual free night certificate (valid up to 40,000 points, with top-off allowed), 4th night free on award bookings.
IHG One Rewards Traveler (personal, no annual fee) – Lower earning rates but still provides a path to elite night credits.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business – Similar to the Premier but designed for small business owners.
Transfer partners
One of the best ways to get IHG points is to transfer them from a general credit card partner. While you may find better value transferring them to an airline or more valuable hotel program, this allows you to send points to IHG when you know there’s a good deal to be had, and lets you focus your earning on higher earning cards.
Currently, you can transfer points to iHG from the following programs:
Bilt: 1:1 Transfer ratio
Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1:1 ratio
Just keep in mind that there are generally better hotel options when transferring.
Other earning opportunities
Seasonal promotions (like double or triple points for stays).
Airline and rental car partnerships.
Points from dining, shopping, or event bookings through IHG channels.
- Best for: IHG Hotel Lovers
- Annual Fee: $99
- APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
- Reward Rate: 3X - 26X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Limited Time Offer! Earn 165,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card should claim a spot in any IHG loyalist’s wallet, thanks to its 165,000 bonus points and some bonus perks that more than compensate for the $99 annual fee. While IHG points may not be as valuable as other hotel points, there are still some hefty savings to be had with this card.
Reward details
Up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG One Rewards member
Up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite status
5X points on travel, dining, and at gas stations
3X points on all other purchases
Pros & Cons
Pros
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The complimentary anniversary night is more than worth the $99 annual fee.
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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
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Cardholders can also get a bonus reward night after redeeming points for a stay of four nights or more (i.e. book four nights with points for the cost of three nights).
-
Complimentary Platinum Elite status comes with the card which gifts 50% bonus points on stays, room upgrades where available, and more.
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It’s possible to earn as much as 26X points when paying for an IHG stay.
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A wide variety of points-earning categories makes it easy to rack up rewards.
Cons
-
IHG points aren’t as valuable as some hotel currencies. You’ll need a lot more points to get free stays.
-
The high earning rates, in turn, aren’t quite as lucrative as they seem.
Terms Apply
How to Use IHG Points
Unlike Hyatt’s fixed award chart, IHG uses dynamic pricing. This means award costs fluctuate with demand and cash rates. The downside to this is that it’s hard to predict what a room will go for on any given date, and they could be astronomical. The good news is that you’ll sometimes find the opposite, and rates are super low. Still, it’s hard to rely on IHG points as your primary hotel program for this reason.
Redeeming points for stays
Entry-level hotels can be found for as few as 5,000–10,000 points.
Mid-tier properties often fall in the 20,000–40,000 point range.
High-end redemptions at InterContinental or Six Senses run 70,000–120,000+ points.
Value sweet spots include off-season city stays and emerging destinations.
If you own one of the cards, you’ll also get access to the 4th night free benefit. As suggested, when booking three nights, you’ll be offered a fourth for nothing. This can make a redemption far more valuable, and you should check this out whenever you’re considering a longer stay.
Other methods
There are a few other ways to use your points other than traditional free stays, but in general we advise against it as your value for points will plummet considerably.
Cash + Points
Lets you book with fewer points and pay the rest in cash. Useful when your balance is low but this rarely gets you good value for your points. Use it only if your concern is saving money.
Upgrades
Points can be used to confirm room upgrades, though the cents-per-point value is usually weaker than free night redemptions.
Experiences & Extras
Redeem for concerts, sports tickets, or dining through IHG Experiences, or apply points to spa treatments and food credits on-property. The same rule applies that it’s generally not spectacular value.
The Point
IHG One Rewards has undergone one of the most significant transformations in hotel loyalty in the past decade. What was once considered the weakest of the major programs now holds its own with Hilton and Marriott, thanks to milestone rewards, stronger elite benefits, and unmatched global scale.
The downside is that it’s still tough to maximize your value with redemptions. Making a decision to go all-in on IHG will hinge on how much you like the brand itself or the properties in its portfolio, as well as how often you can use them. If you’re a regular, you’d be crazy not to open one of its co-branded cards, as you’ll quickly rack up points and elite status. Less regular customers may feel their spending would be better allocated with an award chart-based program like World of Hyatt.
IHG One Rewards isn’t perfect, but it’s finally a loyalty program that demands to be taken seriously.
- Best for: IHG Hotel Lovers
- Annual Fee: $99
- APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
- Reward Rate: 3X - 26X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Limited Time Offer! Earn 165,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Why we like it
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card should claim a spot in any IHG loyalist’s wallet, thanks to its 165,000 bonus points and some bonus perks that more than compensate for the $99 annual fee. While IHG points may not be as valuable as other hotel points, there are still some hefty savings to be had with this card.
Reward details
Up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG One Rewards member
Up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite status
5X points on travel, dining, and at gas stations
3X points on all other purchases
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
The complimentary anniversary night is more than worth the $99 annual fee.
-
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
-
Cardholders can also get a bonus reward night after redeeming points for a stay of four nights or more (i.e. book four nights with points for the cost of three nights).
-
Complimentary Platinum Elite status comes with the card which gifts 50% bonus points on stays, room upgrades where available, and more.
-
It’s possible to earn as much as 26X points when paying for an IHG stay.
-
A wide variety of points-earning categories makes it easy to rack up rewards.
Cons
-
IHG points aren’t as valuable as some hotel currencies. You’ll need a lot more points to get free stays.
-
The high earning rates, in turn, aren’t quite as lucrative as they seem.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
