IHG Diamond Elite: How It Works, How to Get It, and How to Maximize Every Stay

Diamond Elite is the highest status you can get, above Platinum and Gold. It’s for those who are super loyal or spend a lot.

You can earn it in a few ways: Stay 70 nights in a year, get 120,000 qualifying points, or spend $40,000 on the IHG Premier credit card in the U.S. Once you’re Diamond, you get cool stuff like 100% bonus points on paid stays, free room upgrades (if available), free breakfast for you and a guest at most hotels, and better customer service, among other things.

Let’s check out rules, perks, and any loopholes, so you don’t waste your time or money.

How to Get Diamond Elite

Qualifying for Diamond Elite requires planning your calendar year. You have three paths, any of which will grant status for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year. (For example, qualify by July 2025 and you’ll have Diamond through Dec 31, 2026.) It’s annual status – there’s no lifetime Diamond in IHG – so you must re-qualify each year.

Qualification Path	Requirement	Key Notes/Source
Nights Path	70 Elite Qualifying Nights in a calendar year	Nights from direct, qualifying stays only.
Points Path	120,000 Elite Qualifying Points in a calendar year	Only base points from paid stays and partner activity (like car rentals) count. Card bonus points do not count.
Credit Card Path (U.S. only)	$40,000 annual spend (IHG One Rewards Premier Card)	U.S. IHG Premier cardholders earn Diamond when $40K is charged in a year. (Only the spend counts, not the points earned.)

Qualification Period

The membership “year” runs January 1 through December 31. Any nights or points you accumulate reset on January 1. Once you hit a path mid-year, your status remains in effect for the rest of that year and all of the next calendar year.

Status Validity

Diamond status, once earned, lasts through the end of the following calendar year. For example, earn Diamond by October 2025 and you keep Diamond through Dec 31, 2026. On January 1, 2027, your status will drop to whatever level you achieved in 2026 (likely Platinum if you don’t requalify). There’s no lifetime Diamond tier in IHG; you must re-qualify each year.

If You Don’t Requalify

If you fall short next year, you simply revert to the lower level corresponding to your activity. (For example, 50 nights usually means Platinum, 30 nights Gold.) Your Diamond benefits end when the benefit year resets. Plan accordingly.

Example:

If you accumulate 70 qualifying nights by September 2025, you earn Diamond Elite for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. If in 2026 you only reach 65 nights (not enough for Diamond, but sufficient for Platinum), on January 1, 2027 you’ll be Platinum Elite.

Nights Path

The classic route: stay 70 qualified nights in one calendar year. Each qualifying night is one night at an IHG hotel booked directly (as above). If you check into the same hotel for multiple nights, each night counts individually. (Booking two rooms for one night, or splitting one “night” across two consecutive transactions, still only counts as two nights maximum.)

Key point: The rate must be “qualifying” — most Flexible, Member, and Corporate rates are fine, but opaque/government, wholesale, or heavily discounted packaged rates often are not. Only bookable via IHG’s official channels. If in doubt, ask the hotel if the rate is “qualifying” before booking or check the IHG T&C.

Extension Nights

Nights in earlier years (like 2025) don’t carry forward into 2026, except as rollovers if you’re already Gold or Platinum from 2025 (Platinum carries 10 rollover nights etc). So count only nights since Jan 1 of the current year toward your 70-night goal.

Points Path

You can get there by racking up 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points in a year. Keep in mind, only those elite qualifying points count — basically, the points you get from paying for stays (10 points for every dollar spent) and certain partner activities. Here’s what doesn’t count:

• Card bonuses: Points you get from paying your IHG credit card bill (or moving points from Chase or another partner) don’t count toward that 120,000 goal.
• Point purchases/transfers: Buying points or changing airline miles into IHG points doesn’t count either.
• Gift/Bonus Points: Points from promotions or package deals may sometimes also be taken into account, so read the fine print carefully

Realistically, getting 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points the usual way means dropping around $12,000 on paid stays at IHG (since it’s 10 EQP per $1). A lot of people aiming for Diamond status will mix nights and points.

Example: If you stay 40 nights (at $100 a night, that’s 40 x 10 x $100 = 40,000 points), you could grab the other 80,000 points with more stays, or by getting the Bonus Points Package (IHG sometimes sells EQPs in chunks of 10,000 through special deals), or just spending more. Just remember, swiping your card doesn’t help here — it only matters if you’re going for the nights or the $40,000 spending path.

Credit Card Option (US Only)

If you have an IHG One Rewards Premier card (the US version, including the Business Premier), you can earn Diamond Elite status by spending $40,000 on it in a calendar year. This is a separate shortcut: once you hit that $40,000 mark, IHG gives you Diamond status, even if you haven’t stayed 70 nights or gotten 120,000 points.

The timeframe is January 1 – December 31 (like the other options).

If you’re not staying enough nights but can spend in other ways (like regular shopping), this could be a faster way to get to Diamond.

This perk is only for US cards; international IHG cards usually have easier status requirements.

Special Offers

Sometimes IHG offers targeted promotions that allow you to accelerate your status or add it. Here are examples of promotions that are currently active or were recently available:

• IHG’s “Buy Diamond” Targeted Offer Returns
• IHG Elite Fast Track (Thru Dec 31, 2025): Instant Silver, Shortcut to Gold/Platinum or Targeted Paths to Diamond & 2× Elite Nights
• Achieve IHG Diamond Fast Track Status In Just 8 Nights

Bonus Points Packages When Booking

Using Bonus Points Packages when booking differs from regular point purchases in that these points count as Elite Qualifying Points. Therefore, if you are short of them, this is the best option. You can add up to 5,000 points per night to your booking.

How to buy an additional package of points:

1. Make Your Booking: Use the intuitive booking tool available on the website or opt for the convenience of the IHG One Rewards app.
2. Enhance Your Rate: After choosing your hotel, room, and rate, decide how many additional points you’d like to add per night.

The Bonus Points Package is exclusively available for the two premium rate categories, which offer the flexibility of cancellation until one day prior to check-in.

3. Confirm and Enjoy: Give the green light to an enriched stay filled with additional rewards.

Note: These add-on points are not compatible with 7-day free cancellation rates.

Benefits of Diamond Elite Status

Diamond Elite unlocks a suite of perks designed to make stays more rewarding. Below, we break down each major benefit, why it matters, and what the fine print says. Remember that availability and execution vary by hotel; politely asking for each benefit (and documenting denial if needed) is part of the game.

100% Bonus Points on Paid Stays

As a Diamond member, you get twice the usual base points on stays you pay for — that’s 20 bonus points for every dollar instead of the standard 10. Basically, this double points deal really boosts how quickly you earn points.

More points mean you can get free nights or other rewards sooner. Say you spend $1,000 on rooms; normally, you’d get 10,000 points. But as a Diamond member, you’d get 20,000 points. At a value of 0.5¢ per point, that’s about $50 back. Plus, you even get bonus points on food and drinks you charge to your room when using reward nights.

The bonus only counts on the base points. Points from promotions or anything you spend outside of your room don’t get the extra boost. Keep in mind that only the original base points count towards keeping your Diamond status next year.

Free Room Upgrades

If you’re a Diamond member, you might get a free room upgrade when you check in, if there are rooms available. What upgrade means can be different depending on the hotel—it could be a room on a higher floor, a bigger room, or even a fancy suite. They’ll usually give you any upgrade they can at no extra cost to them.

A better room, like a suite, could save you $50–$200 each night. And even small upgrades like a better view or access to a club floor can make your stay way better.

Something to keep in mind: Upgrades aren’t a sure thing. Always ask when you check in and mention you’re a Diamond member. It’s harder to get an upgrade when the hotel is full. Also, just because you’re in a club-level room doesn’t mean you automatically get free lounge access and If the hotel is all booked for premium rooms, you will not get a better one.

Free Breakfast Welcome

One of the best perks is free breakfast for you and a guest when you arrive. This is offered at most IHG hotels with full service, and some with limited service. IHG even includes reward stays in this deal.

If breakfast usually costs $15–$20 per person, a couple staying five nights could easily save $150–$200.

Not every hotel gives free breakfast. Here’s where you can get it: Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, HUALUXE, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn, and Kimpton. Places like Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites aren’t included. Also, only one room gets free breakfast, so if you book multiple rooms, only one set of guests eats free. You might have to remind them at check-in to get the breakfast since they might think you want bonus points instead.

Early Check-In and 2 p.m. Late Check-Out

Diamond members can ask to check in early and are guaranteed to check out as late as 2 p.m. (GMT – but it depends on where you are). Usually, it’s easier to get a late check-out than an early check-in, but it’s worth asking about both.

Being able to stay in your room until 2 p.m. instead of the usual 11 a.m. or noon is really nice. If you have a late flight or a busy afternoon, those extra hours can save you time and make your day easier. Early check-in is great too, especially if you arrive early and want to get straight to your room.

Even though late check-out is guaranteed, hotels sometimes bend the rules when they’re really busy. Always ask when you check in and confirm the day before. They might say no if the hotel is packed.

Guaranteed Room (72-Hour Notice)

If you book your stay and call IHG at least 72 hours before you arrive, Diamond (and Platinum) members are guaranteed to have a room, even if the hotel is sold out. If they can’t keep your reservation, IHG will make it up to you (usually with points) and find you another place to stay.

This is a real guarantee. The hotel has to find you a room; they cant just turn you away. This is more reliable than upgrades or check-outs. If a hotel fails to deliver on the guaranteed room, IHG usually gives you double points for the stay.

This only works if you book at least 72 hours in advance and through official channels. It doesn’t count for reward nights, and hotels can block it during huge events. Only one room is guaranteed, even if you book multiple.

Special Customer Service for Diamond Members

IHG promises Diamond members a special customer service line with trained staff. But there’s no direct phone number just for Diamond members. You have to call the regular IHG One Rewards number and ask to speak to the Diamond Support team.

If something goes wrong, you’ll hopefully get help faster. The Diamond support team should know more and have more power to solve problems.

If the Diamond desk isn’t helpful, ask to speak to someone higher up or contact IHG’s guest relations (you can try emailing [email protected] or reaching out via @IHGService on Twitter). Stay polite but firm – the rules say you get special support even if IHG doesn’t give you a direct line.

Milestone Rewards: Suite Upgrades and Lounge Passes

Diamond members get Milestone Rewards for every 10 nights they stay after the first 20. You get to pick a reward at 20 and 30 nights, two rewards at 40 nights, one at 50 and 60, and two again at 70 nights. Rewards include bonus points, credits for food and drinks, suite upgrades, and at 40/70 nights, a lounge membership for the year.

Milestone rewards can expire if you don’t claim them quickly (usually in about 90 days). Suite upgrades only work for regular suites; if the hotel only has fancy suites, you might get something smaller. The lounge membership only works at hotels that have a lounge. If you only stay at hotels without lounges, the pass is useless, so plan accordingly.

These rewards can be really valuable. For example, two suite upgrades at 70 nights mean you can book a suite for up to five nights. A lounge pass (at 40 and 70 nights) gives you and a guest access to IHG lounges for a year. Bonus points are always a plus too.

Brand-by-Brand Benefit Matrix

Because Diamond perks vary greatly by brand, here’s a quick summary of where the main benefits apply:

IHG Brand	Free Breakfast Amenity?	Upgrade Opportunity?	Lounge Membership Eligible?
InterContinental	✔ (amenity choice)	✔ (subject to avail)	✔ (has club lounges)
Regent	✔	✔	✔ (club-level lounges in many Regent hotels)
Kimpton	✔	✔	✔ (most Kimpton have club or studio lounges)
HUALUXE	✔	✔	✖ (generally no club lounges)
Vignette Collection	✔	✔	✖
Hotel Indigo	✔	✔	✖ (rarely have club lounges)
voco	✔	✔	✔ (many voco hotels have club lounges)
Crowne Plaza	✔	✔	✔ (many fullest service Crownes have lounges)
Holiday Inn	✔	✔	✔ (some older Holiday Inns have lounges)
Holiday Inn Express	✖ (excluded brand)	✔	✖
EVEN Hotels	✔	✔	✖
Candlewood Suites	✖	✔	✖
Staybridge Suites	✖	✔	✖
Avid Hotel	✖	✔	✖
Six Senses	✖	✔	✖

Free Breakfast: As shown, Diamond’s free breakfast amenity only appears at the listed brands. If your hotel is in one of those brands and you’ve chosen the breakfast amenity, you should get a complimentary breakfast each day (for one guest). At all other brands, no Diamond breakfast is offered.

Upgrades: Subject to availability, upgrades are possible at any brand that has suites or better rooms (basically all brands). The only notable exclusions are independent IHG “Residences” or licensed residences (they are not full-service hotels). In practice, you can ask for an upgrade at the vast majority of IHG hotels — the main limit is simply occupancy.

Lounge Membership: The annual Diamond lounge membership (milestone reward) only works at hotels with a club lounge. InterContinental, Regent, Kimpton, voco, and many full-service Crowne Plazas do have lounges, so the pass is valued there. Weekend or limited-service brands (Express, Candlewood, Staybridge, etc.) have no lounges, so a lounge pass would never be used. If in doubt, check the hotel’s website or contact it to see if a club lounge exists.

Each experience underscores that real outcomes depend heavily on the hotel team’s awareness and generosity. Keep good notes and be prepared to remind them of the official policy if needed.

Risks and Pitfalls: What I Wish I’d Known Earlier

Diamond Elite delivers high value, but only if you avoid these traps:

• Booking via OTAs or Aggregators: This is the single biggest mistake. Even if you pay more out-of-pocket, direct rates guarantee elite credit. Once booked through a third-party, that stay earns nothing toward Diamond.
• Assuming Card Points Count: Remember, only the spend $40k on the US IHG Premier card triggers Diamond. The points you earn from that card’s purchases do not help with the 120k threshold.
• Brand Exclusions: Breakfast and lounge benefits are brand-dependent (see matrix above). Don’t be disappointed if, say, the Candlewood Suites or Staybridge you booked doesn’t offer breakfast or a lounge pass.
• One-Room Rule for Breakfast: If you book multiple guestrooms, only one room’s occupants get the Diamond breakfast. Make sure the front desk knows which room to credit, or you might end up paying for both.
• Inconsistent Upgrades: Don’t expect a suite every time. If the hotel is busy or short on premium rooms, you may get nothing or a mild perk (e.g. a “high floor” standard room). Always ask nicely and know that “up to suites” is on their goodwill and inventory.

In a pinch, keep all documentation—confirmation emails, folios, and even screenshots of IHG’s online benefits—to prove your case if you have to argue for a perk or credit.

Is IHG Diamond Elite Worth It? Who Should Pursue It?

Diamond Elite shines for travelers who meet these conditions:

Diamond Elite shines for travelers who meet these conditions:

• You stay at IHG 40+ nights/year
• Or you have the U.S. IHG Premier Card and $40K of spend (personal and business combined)
• If free breakfast for two and occasional suite/club upgrades significantly improve your travel experience or save you money (like if alternative costs are high), Diamond’s perks have real dollar value.
• If you already naturally book most stays on IHG channels, then Diamond is easier to keep. But if your trips often take you to other chains or you rely on OTAs, be honest: Diamond benefits will elude you anyway.

It’s probably not worth it if:

• You travel infrequently or preorder via third-party sites. Diamond perks won’t help if you can’t earn them or use them.

• If most stays are in HI Express with no breakfast amenity and no lounges, Diamond’s main benefits can’t be used.
• You have high status with other hotel chains that give you similar benefits (e.g. Marriott Titanium/Bonvoy, Hilton Diamond). Then Diamond is icing on the cake rather than a necessity.

Bottom Line

IHG Diamond Elite can be really worth it, but only if you know how it works. Free breakfast, upgrades, lounge access, and double points can make it worth the effort if you use IHG a lot and book directly. If you can meet the requirements and understand the fine print, Diamond status can really make your stays better and save you money.

If you’re not a regular IHG customer, think about whether it’s worth getting Diamond status. Make sure you can earn it without any problems and that the perks fit your travel plans. If you hardly ever stay at IHG hotels or book through other websites, then Diamond status probably isn’t worth it.

In the end, play the game smartly or don’t play it at all. Know your travel patterns, organize your stays, and Diamond Elite will pay you back many times over when you check out.