IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program for IHG Hotels & Resorts, which includes brands like Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental, Kimpton and Crowne Plaza. It has become one of my go-to hotel loyalty programs; I spent 72 nights with it in 2025, and I’ve already logged 81 nights in 2026.

The IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes a mix of luxury and mainstream brands. I love the high-end Six Senses brand, but even less prestigious properties, like those affiliated with Candlewood Suites and Holiday Inn Express, usually offer solid quality.

Cobranded IHG credit cards often have generous welcome offers and can unlock valuable perks. So, especially since the IHG cards portfolio just got a major refresh, here’s what you need to know about the IHG One Rewards program.

A few notes first, though. When discussing card benefits throughout this guide, we discuss the benefits you’d get as a new cardholder (benefits for existing cardholders may be different). We also present the earning and redeeming options available to U.S. residents, as these vary by country of residence.

IHG One Rewards elite status

There are five IHG elite status tiers. Plus, IHG offers two additional membership programs: InterContinental Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle. You can also earn Milestone Rewards as you reach specific elite qualifying night thresholds.

IHG One Rewards Club member

You’ll become a Club member simply by signing up for the IHG One Rewards program. Club members get the following benefits:

• Access to member rates and promotions
• The ability to earn points when paying qualifying rates for stays
• Free internet access
• 2 p.m. late checkout, upon request and subject to availability

Related: The best IHG hotels in the world

IHG One Rewards Silver Elite member

Silver Elite membership typically requires 10 elite qualifying nights per calendar year. However, travelers with the IHG One Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) get automatic Silver Elite status if their account is open and in good standing.

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On top of the benefits available to Club members, Silver Elite members get:

• 20% bonus earnings on top of base points
• No points expiration while they have elite status

Keep in mind that getting automatic elite status as a credit card perk doesn’t reduce the requirements for earning a higher tier. However, elite night credits you receive from a credit card count toward the applicable night threshold.

Related: IHG One Rewards Credit Card review: Hotel perks for no annual fee

IHG One Rewards Gold Elite member

Gold Elite membership typically requires 20 elite qualifying nights or 40,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year. However, travelers with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) enjoy automatic Gold Elite status. And travelers with the IHG One Rewards Credit Card can earn Gold Elite status through the end of the following calendar year if they spend $15,000 or more on their card within the current calendar year.

In addition to the benefits available to Silver Elite members, Gold Elite members get:

• 40% bonus earnings on top of base points
• Hertz Gold+ Five Star status
• The ability to roll over qualifying nights that surpass what they need for status during a particular year to the next year (although rollover nights are only valid for one calendar year)

Related: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review: Strong perks for a $150 annual fee

IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member

Platinum Elite membership typically requires 40 elite qualifying nights or 60,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year, but travelers with the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) get automatic Platinum Elite status.

You’ll also get complimentary Platinum Elite status if you buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership, and travelers with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card can earn Platinum Elite status through the end of the following calendar year if they spend $15,000 or more on their card within the current calendar year. Further, those with a United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) can register for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status, and those with a Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) can enroll in complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status through Dec. 31, 2027.

On top of the benefits available to IHG One Rewards Gold Elite members, Platinum Elite members get:

• 60% bonus earnings on top of base points
• Occasional reward night discounts
• Complimentary upgrades, subject to availability
• A welcome amenity at check-in (usually points or a drink and a snack)
• Early check-in, upon request and subject to availability
• Guaranteed room availability if they book at least 72 hours in advance, subject to blackout dates

Related: IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card review: Valuable perks for true IHG loyalists

IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite member

Diamond Elite membership typically requires 70 elite qualifying nights or 120,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year. However, you can also earn Diamond Elite status through the end of next year if you meet one of the following spending requirements:

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Spend $40,000 or more on your card within the current calendar year.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card: Spend $25,000 or more on your card within the current calendar year.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Starting in 2027, spend $50,000 or more on your card within the current calendar year.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Spend $75,000 on purchases on your Sapphire Reserve within the current calendar year.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business: Make $120,000 in purchases on your Sapphire Reserve for Business card within the current calendar year.

In addition to the benefits available to IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite members, Diamond Elite members get:

• 100% bonus earnings on top of base points
• Hertz President’s Circle status
• Access to a dedicated support phone line for Diamond Elite members
• A welcome amenity choice of free breakfast (per night for up to two people), points (per stay), or a drink and a snack (per stay) at check-in

InterContinental Ambassador

You can purchase a 12-month InterContinental Ambassador membership for $225 or 45,000 IHG points. InterContinental Ambassador members get extra perks at InterContinental hotels and resorts, including a guaranteed one-category room upgrade and 4 p.m. late checkout.

Additionally, membership includes IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a complimentary weekend night at an InterContinental hotel or resort (valid for the second night of a minimum two-night paid weekend stay booked at a special rate).

InterContinental Ambassador members also get extra perks at Six Senses properties participating in IHG One Rewards. These benefits include complimentary breakfast daily for two in the main restaurant, a wellness platter welcome amenity on the day of arrival and a complimentary one-category room upgrade (subject to availability).

Even if you already have Platinum Elite status or higher, purchasing InterContinental Ambassador status can be worth it if you frequently stay at InterContinental properties. It can also make sense if you get more than $225 of value from your complimentary weekend night.

IHG invites select InterContinental Ambassadors to become Royal Ambassadors based on their qualifying activity at InterContinental hotels and resorts. Royal Ambassadors receive even more perks, including access to Club InterContinental lounges.

Kimpton Inner Circle

If you’re an IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite member and frequently stay at Kimpton hotels, you might be invited to become a Kimpton Inner Circle member.

Kimpton Inner Circle members get extra perks, including personalized treats upon arrival, guaranteed one-category room upgrades, waived amenity and destination fees, guaranteed 10 a.m. early check-in and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, when staying at Kimpton hotels.

IHG Milestone Rewards

As you accrue elite qualifying nights each calendar year, you can earn IHG Milestone Rewards at specific thresholds. Here are the IHG Milestone Rewards you can earn as you reach the following elite qualifying nights milestones each calendar year (you can choose one at each level, except at 40 and 70 nights, which get two):

• 20 nights: 5,000 bonus points, two $20 food-and-beverage rewards or one confirmable suite upgrade
• 30 nights: 5,000 bonus points or two $20 food-and-beverage rewards
• 40 nights (choose two): 10,000 bonus points, five $20 food-and-beverage rewards, one confirmable suite upgrade (limit one) or one annual lounge membership (limit one)
• 50 nights: 10,000 bonus points or five $20 food-and-beverage rewards
• 60 nights: 10,000 bonus points or five $20 food-and-beverage rewards
• 70 nights (choose two): 10,000 bonus points, five $20 food-and-beverage rewards, two confirmable suite upgrades (limit one) or one annual lounge membership (limit one)
• 80 nights: 10,000 bonus points or five $20 food-and-beverage rewards
• 90 nights: 10,000 bonus points or five $20 food-and-beverage rewards
• 100 nights: 10,000 bonus points or five $20 food-and-beverage rewards

You’ll earn one elite qualifying night per night stayed, up to one night per day. So, if you book two rooms for the same night, you’ll only earn one elite qualifying night. Elite qualifying nights count toward the calendar year in which the checkout day occurs. You can also earn elite night credits toward elite status and Milestone Rewards with IHG credit cards as follows.

Related: How to earn and redeem IHG food-and-beverage rewards

Which bookings are eligible for IHG elite benefits and earnings?

You generally need to book through IHG or another eligible direct booking channel to receive elite benefits. However, bookings through certain authorized travel agents that IHG recognizes as qualifying can also earn points and elite qualifying nights. And you are eligible for on-property member benefits even when staying as part of a group booking.

Related: Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?

How do IHG perks compare to Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton?

Here’s a quick look at how IHG One Rewards benefits compare with those of Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors in some key areas.

How to earn IHG points

There are many ways to earn IHG points. Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular ways.

Hotel stays

All IHG One Rewards members earn base points as follows when paying a qualifying rate at participating IHG hotels and resorts:

• 3 points per dollar spent at IHG Army Hotels
• 5 points per dollar spent at Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and IHG Residences (serviced apartments and extended-stay units)
• 10 points per dollar spent at other IHG properties

You can also earn points on eligible charges billed to your room, such as food-and-beverage, telephone and laundry charges.

Only specific Six Senses properties, select Iberostar Beachfront Resorts properties and select Ruby Hotels participate in IHG One Rewards. So, if you’d like to earn IHG points and elite nights, check if your desired hotel participates before you book.

As discussed above, elite members earn bonus points in addition to these base points. Specifically, Silver Elite members receive a 20% bonus, Gold Elite members receive a 40% bonus, Platinum Elite members receive a 60% bonus and Diamond Elite members receive a 100% bonus.

IHG often offers bonus points promotions that let members earn even more on stays. Plus, you can pay to add up to 5,000 elite qualifying points per night on select bookings.

Credit cards

IHG currently offers four credit cards: three consumer cards and one small-business card. Here are their welcome offers, annual fees, earning rates and bonus points opportunities.

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Points to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

Related: How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG One Rewards

Meetings and events

The IHG Business Rewards program allows you to earn IHG points when you book rooms, meetings and events for others at participating IHG hotels and resorts.

First, you must register for IHG Business Rewards on IHG’s website. Then, you can earn 3 points per dollar spent on the following:

• Guest rooms
• Meetings and events
• Conference rooms
• Food-and-beverage service linked to meetings and conferences
• All-inclusive meeting packages

However, you can’t earn more than 60,000 points on a meeting or event in most cases.

IHG Trip Extras

IHG Trip Extras is a booking platform that allows you to earn IHG points on select bookings. Specifically, you’ll earn as follows when you book through the IHG Trip Extras portal:

• Hertz car rentals: Earn up to 10 points per dollar spent.
• Tours and activities: Earn 1,000 points per activity booking.
• OpenTable reservations: Earn up to 500 points when you make an OpenTable restaurant reservation.
• Ground transport services: Earn up to 1,000 points per transportation booking.

Most of these bounties are relatively small, although the earnings on Hertz car rentals could add up. You’ll generally only want to book through the IHG Trip Extras portal when it matches or beats the lowest-priced competitor.

IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn

The IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn program lets you earn IHG points on dining. To earn points at participating restaurants, join the program and enroll at least one credit or debit card. You’ll earn IHG points when you use an enrolled card to pay at participating restaurants, bars and clubs.

Your earning rate will depend on your elite status level within the IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn program:

• VIP members earn 8 points per dollar spent.
• Select members earn 5 points per dollar spent.
• Basic members earn 1 point per dollar spent.

To earn Select status, opt in to receive emails. You’ll earn VIP status when you opt in to receive emails and complete 11 qualifying transactions in a calendar year. Once you’ve earned VIP status, you’ll keep it for the rest of the current year and the following calendar year.

However, you can only enroll each card in one dining rewards program at a time. So, if you use another program, such as American Airlines’ AAdvantage Dining, you’ll need to decide whether IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn offers more value.

Buying points

You can also boost your account balance by buying IHG points. All four IHG cards give you at least a 30% discount on IHG point purchases, but you can’t stack this discount with other discounts or bonuses (some of which bring the cost as low as 0.5 cents per point). You can generally purchase no more than 200,000 IHG points per calendar year.

Which points qualify for elite status?

Some activities above earn elite qualifying IHG points, while others earn nonelite qualifying points. Both types of points are redeemable, but only elite qualifying points count toward elite status.

Based on IHG’s terms and conditions, the following activities produce elite qualifying points:

• Qualifying rates paid for hotel stays
• Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences
• IHG One Rewards bonus points packages
• Qualifying spending through IHG Business Rewards

Meanwhile, the following activities produce points that are redeemable but do not qualify for elite status:

• Purchases on U.S.-issued IHG One Rewards credit cards
• Transfers of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt points to IHG
• New cardmember bonuses and bonus points promotions through IHG One Rewards credit cards (unless otherwise indicated)
• Points earned through IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn
• Points earned from IHG promotions and select partner promotions
• Elite tier bonus points
• Points vouchers, purchases, deposits and transfers (unless otherwise indicated)

If you aren’t looking to earn IHG elite status through elite qualifying points, you don’t have to worry about which points qualify.

How to redeem IHG points

You’ll generally get the most value when you redeem IHG points for hotel stays, but other options exist. Here’s what you need to know.

Reward nights

IHG One Rewards uses dynamic award pricing, meaning the number of points required to book a reward night at a particular property varies from night to night and may change at any time.

You can use points to book reward nights at most IHG properties. However, you may be unable to redeem points at IHG Army Hotels and Six Senses properties. The lowest rate I’ve seen for any IHG property recently is 5,000 points per night.

IHG has a standing 15% award discount on stays at new and renovated properties. You’ll see this discount when searching for award stays.

You may be able to book multiple room types with IHG points. At some properties, premium room types may cost more points than base room types. For example, on a random night at the InterContinental Presidente Mexico City, an executive-floor room costs 20,000 points more than a standard king room.

TPG’s October 2026 valuation of IHG points pegs their value at 0.6 cents each. So, you should generally aim to get at least this value when redeeming IHG points.

If you have an eligible IHG credit card, you can get more value from your points by using the fourth-night-free benefit. This benefit lets you effectively pay 0 points for every fourth night when you redeem points for a stay of four nights or longer. For example, here’s what the benefit looks like for a sample four-night award stay with my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

However, you can’t combine the new hotel award discount with the fourth-reward-night-free benefit.

Related: How to maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

Points & Cash

If you’re looking to conserve points, you may want to book using Points & Cash. As the name implies, you’ll pay partially with points and partially with cash on a Points & Cash booking. The cost of paying partially in cash through Points & Cash bookings varies, so consider whether the rate at which you’d be purchasing points provides good value.

One caveat about Points & Cash bookings is that you don’t get the cash portion back if you cancel the stay. Instead, IHG refunds the cash copay as points deposited in your IHG One Rewards account.

IHG One Rewards Access

IHG One Rewards Access is an auction platform where you can redeem IHG points for experiences. There are usually some experiences you can bid on and some experiences you can obtain by redeeming a set number of points. If you have a Mastercard, you can also redeem points for Mastercard Priceless Experiences.

Redeem for airline miles

You can also redeem IHG points for airline miles with select partners by calling the IHG One Rewards Service Center. However, you can usually only redeem in increments of 10,000 IHG points, and it may take up to six weeks for the miles to post to your airline loyalty account.

Other ways to redeem IHG points

• Catalog: You can redeem IHG points for gift cards, merchandise and more via the IHG Catalog. However, your redemption rate will usually be lower than it would be on stays.
• Donate points: You can also donate your IHG points to select charities through the IHG Catalog.
• Transfer points: You can transfer IHG points from your account to friends or family in 1,000-point increments. Transfers usually cost $5 per 1,000 points, and you can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year. Transfer fees are waived for Diamond Elite and qualifying Business Rewards members.

Earning and redeeming IHG free night certificates

One of the most valuable perks of IHG credit cards with an annual fee is the free night certificates they provide. Here’s a look at the IHG free night certificates you can obtain from currently available credit cards.

It’s easy to redeem these free night certificates, although you can only use them when booking single-night stays. This is true even if you have multiple certificates or want to use a certificate for one night and points and cash for the rest of your stay.

To redeem, simply search for a one-night stay, select your free night certificate type from the “Rate Preference” drop-down menu and then click “Search.”

The results page will show you which properties you can book on the date you searched with your certificate. And, as you can top up many types of IHG free night certificates with additional points from your account (the primary exception is certificates from legacy IHG cards that are no longer open for applications), you’ll see how many points you’d need to redeem to use your certificate at a property with a redemption rate over the value of your certificate.

How to book an IHG award stay

Booking award nights through the IHG website or app is easy. I usually book through the IHG website.

To make a booking from the IHG homepage, click “Sign in” in the upper right-hand corner. Once you’ve signed in, type in your destination, dates, number of guests and number of rooms. Before clicking “Search,” click the “Rate Preference” drop-down option and select “Reward Nights.”

Once you click “Search,” you’ll see bookable options within a set radius of your destination. You can filter these options by brand and amenities. You can sort your results by distance, price or rating.

You can also click “Map” to view your results on a map.

Click “Select Hotel” to see award rates for each room type. By selecting the applicable tiles, you can see paid rates and Points & Cash rates. This will help you decide if redeeming points is worthwhile.

In this case, you could pay 15,666 IHG points or $108 per night for a reservation you can cancel without charge up to one day before your stay. So, you’d get 0.69 cents per point if you redeem for this stay.

Is IHG One Rewards worth it for you?

IHG One Rewards is free to join, so there’s little downside to enrolling before an eligible IHG stay. But whether it’s worth actively prioritizing depends on how you travel. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you regularly stay at IHG properties? If IHG’s footprint fits your travel patterns, the IHG One Rewards program may be rewarding since qualifying nights can move you toward both elite status and Milestone Rewards.
• Would you get meaningful value from an IHG credit card? IHG One Rewards becomes more compelling if you have a card that provides elite status, elite night credits and access to the fourth-reward-night-free benefit. Luckily, IHG cards with annual fees offer an anniversary free night certificate and food-and-beverage credits that can often justify the annual fee.
• Do IHG’s brands fit how you travel? IHG has everything from extended-stay and select-service properties to luxury brands like Six Senses, Regent and InterContinental, making the program useful for many types of trips.
• Are you comfortable with dynamic award pricing? IHG points can provide good value, especially when you use the fourth-reward-night-free benefit, but redemption rates can vary significantly by property and date.

However, another hotel program may be a better primary choice if you value predictable award pricing or stronger guaranteed elite benefits.

Pros and cons of IHG One Rewards

Bottom line

IHG One Rewards remains one of my go-to hotel loyalty programs thanks to its large global footprint, wide range of brands and valuable Milestone Rewards. The cobranded IHG credit cards make the program even more compelling for many travelers, as they all offer elite night credits and automatic elite status. Plus, IHG cards like the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card provide anniversary free night certificates and automatic access to the fourth-reward-night-free perk.

Dynamic award pricing and limited award inventory can make some redemptions frustrating, though. And IHG’s elite benefits aren’t always as strong as those offered by competing programs. Still, there’s plenty of value to be found, especially for frequent guests who can also make good use of an IHG credit card.