Mastering the IHG Rewards Game: Your Guide to Earning More Points

The world of hospitality offers diverse options for travelers and tourists, but one avenue that stands out is the IHG One Rewards Program. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has crafted this rewards program to bring added value and enhanced experiences for its loyal guests. If you’re contemplating joining or have recently become a member, here’s a comprehensive overview to help you navigate the sea of benefits that come with it.

How to Become a Member of the IHG One Rewards Program

Step-by-Step Registration

1. Visit the official IHG website: Navigate to the IHG One Rewards Program page.
2. Click on “Join Now”: You’ll find this option prominently displayed.
3. Fill in your details: Provide essential information like name, email, and address.
4. Set up a password: Make sure it’s strong for security reasons.
5. Confirm your membership: After submitting, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Verify your membership through this email.

Best Ways To Earn IHG One Rewards Points

Co-branded IHG Credit Cards

IHG has joined hands with financial institutions to offer co-branded credit cards that fast-track your rewards point accumulation. Below is a table that outlines some of the major cards and their benefits:

	IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card Secure 80,000 Bonus Points by making $2,000 worth of purchases within the initial three months. Additionally, benefit from up to $50 as IHG® credits for expenditures at IHG® Hotels and Resorts in the first year. This comes with no annual fee.
	IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Attain 140,000 Bonus Points by spending $3,000 in the first three months. Also, you can avail up to $100 in IHG® statement credits for transactions at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the initial year. An annual fee of $99 applies.
	IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Collect 140,000 Bonus Points by spending $3,000 in the first three months of account initiation. This card has an annual fee of $99.

Categories of Bonuses for IHG Credit Cards

IHG credit cards aren’t just a way to earn points on hotel stays; they provide an opportunity to accumulate vast amounts of IHG One Reward points on daily transactions. Here’s a breakdown of points you can earn with different IHG cards:

1. IHG Premier Card

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn up to $100 in Statement Credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months from account opening
• Up to 26X total points at IHG® Hotels and Resorts

• That’s 10X points with this card
• Plus up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG One Rewards member
• Plus up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of this card

• Rake in 5 points per dollar on expenses related to travel, gas, and dining.
• For all other miscellaneous purchases, you can get 3 points per dollar.

• Anniversary Free Night
• Redeem 3 Nights, Get 4th Night Free
• Plus, earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 each calendar year

2. IHG Premier Business Card

• Earn 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Up to 26X total points at IHG® Hotels and Resorts

• That’s 10X points with this card
• Plus up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG One Rewards member
• Plus up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of this card

• Benefit from 5 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas, office supplies, and even on advertising with social media platforms and search engines.
• Acquire 3 points for every dollar on all other transactions.
• Anniversary Free Night
• Redeem 3 Nights, Get 4th Night Free
• Plus, earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 each calendar year

3. IHG Traveler Card

• Earn 80,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Plus, earn up to $50 in Statement Credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months from account opening
• Up to 17X total points at IHG® Hotels and Resorts

• That’s 5X points with this card
• Plus up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG One Rewards member
• Plus up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this card

• Earn 3 points per dollar on expenses like dining, utilities, select streaming platforms and gas stations.
• All other purchases will let you gather 2 points per dollar.
• Gold Elite Status
• Earn IHG One Rewards Gold Elite Status after you spend $20,000 on purchases each calendar year
• Redeem 3 Nights, Get 4th Night Free
• Plus, earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases each calendar year

These cards and their bonus structures emphasize the benefits of integrating your daily spending habits with your IHG loyalty, optimizing the rewards you can reap from the program.

Overview of IHG One Rewards membership levels

Members will receive Elite status if they meet specified criteria with either Elite Qualifying Points or Elite Qualifying Nights within a calendar year, which runs from January 1st to December 31st (For each calendar day, only one night will be recognized as a Qualifying Night. For instance, if a member reserves two rooms on the same date, just one of those nights will contribute to their Elite Qualifying Nights).

When determining elite status within the IHG One Rewards program, points are classified into two types: Elite Qualifying Points and Non-Elite Qualifying Points. Only the Elite Qualifying Points contribute to achieving Elite status.

Elite Qualifying Points are awarded for stays booked through avenues like IHG Customer Care, IHG websites, the IHG One Rewards app, and directly at IHG branded hotels, among others, provided they are paid at Qualifying Rates. On the other hand, Non-Qualifying Points are accrued from stays on Non-Qualifying Rates, which include complimentary rooms provided by the hotel, rates provided by online travel agencies like Expedia, and rates offered by tour operators, to name a few. Essentially, it’s crucial to understand where and how you book your stay to ensure you earn the right type of points for elite status.

*Qualifying Rates – see here

**Partner activity  – Members earn Elite Qualifying Points on Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations, Grubhub orders, and Viator experiences. Members earn Non-Elite Qualifying Points with IHG Dine & Earn

The IHG Traveler card grants holders Silver Elite status. On the other hand, the IHG Premier card, IHG Premier Business card, and  a little-known benefit of the partner card  United Club℠ Infinite Card bestow users with Platinum Elite status.

United Club℠ Infinite Card   Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit. Annual fee $525

The more often you stay with IHG One Rewards, the more your loyalty is valued. IHG has introduced a new Milestone Rewards program. Starting from the 20th qualifying night, for every 10 nights you stay at IHG hotels during the calendar year, you have the opportunity to choose a reward until you reach 100 nights.

Members can monitor their progress with Elite Qualifying Nights by checking the Rewards Wallet in the My Account area on the IHG website or app. When a milestone is achieved, members get 90 days to choose a reward through the IHG website or app; failing to do so will result in the loss of that benefit.

Another quick way to achieve Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards is to join the InterContinental Ambassador Program.

InterContinental Ambassador Program

By joining the InterContinental Ambassador program for $200, you will automatically receive Platinum Elite status as well:

• Guaranteed room upgrades.
• A complimentary weekend night.
• Extended 4 pm check-out.

Perks of Elite Membership

Upon joining the IHG One Rewards program, Club Members receive foundational benefits such as earning and using points, accessing special promotions, and getting complimentary internet at IHG properties.

When you attain an elite tier within the IHG One Rewards program, you’re entitled to its specific advantages. These can vary from extra IHG points to enhanced room accommodations and welcoming features, potentially inclusive of complimentary breakfast.

Transferring points from Chase to IHG One Rewards

You can add points to your wallet with a 1:1 transfer from a Chase partner, starting at 1,000 points.

To transfer points, you need to possess an Ultimate Rewards premium card that accumulates points. Regrettably, cards that come without an annual fee are excluded from the point transfer feature.

	Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card 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®. Annual Fee $95
	Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card 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®. Annual Fee $550; $75 for each authorized user

Earn IHG One Rewards points during promotions

Throughout the year, IHG One Rewards updates its online platform with exclusive offers for its members. These promotions range from extra bonus points for stays and doubled bonus points to discounts. It’s essential to stay vigilant for the periodic IHG Accelerate deals that offer substantial boosts to your points, especially when you undertake actions like reserving through the app or choosing stays across various brands. Stay informed about the most lucrative IHG offers in the world of rewards by following PointsCrowd. Subscribe to ensure you never miss out on the latest promotional deals. 

Keep in mind that you almost always need to register for IHG promotions separately.

Boost Your Balance with IHG Business Rewards

Another fantastic avenue to amplify your IHG points is through the IHG Business Rewards program. It’s tailor-made for those who often book on behalf of others, be it for professional commitments or personal gatherings.

1. Enrollment & Earning: By joining the IHG Business Rewards, you stand to gain 3 points for every $1 you spend.
2. Diverse Booking Opportunities: Whether you’re orchestrating corporate meetings or planning grand events such as weddings for groups, IHG caters to your needs, ensuring you are duly rewarded.
3. Special Promotions: To maximize your earnings, keep an eye out for exclusive promotions. They’re crafted to speed up your rewards accumulation process.

In a nutshell, if you’re someone who frequently manages bookings for others, the IHG® Business Rewards is an invaluable tool in your arsenal. It not only rewards your effort but also enhances your connection with nearly 6,000 participating IHG® Hotels & Resorts globally.

4th Night Free on Redemption

When you book four consecutive nights at an IHG hotel using your points and one of our co-branded credit cards, you’ll get the fourth night free. In other words, redeem points for the first three nights and get a fourth reward night at the same hotel during that stay for free.

Understanding IHG’s Flexible Certificate for Free Night

The IHG flexible award night certificate is a unique benefit given annually to holders of specific IHG credit cards. This certificate grants a free stay at IHG hotels that demand 40,000 points or less per night. But what makes this certificate “flexible”? Well, if you fancy a stay at a more premium hotel, you’re allowed to do so by topping up with some extra points.

The Evolution of the IHG Free Night Certificate

Initially, this certificate was exclusively applicable to hotels that required 40,000 points per night or under. But in March 2022, IHG introduced greater flexibility. Now you can freely use the certificate at almost any IHG hotel, as long as you can compensate for the necessary additional points.

Which Credit Cards are Eligible?

The annual IHG flexible free night certificate is a privilege for:

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card holders.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card holders.

Despite both these cards having a $99 annual fee, the value derived from a well-utilized free night can easily surpass this cost.

How To Redeem Your IHG Flexible Free Night Certificate

Step 1: Access Your IHG Account

• Begin by logging into your IHG One Rewards Club Account. 
• Once logged in, you’ll find a “Free Night” link below your point balance. Clicking this takes you to the booking page.

Step 2: Input Travel Details

• Start by entering your desired destination and travel dates.
• Make sure the “IHG Rewards Premier Card Annual Flex Night” option is checked under “Rate Preference.”
• Proceed by clicking “Search”.

Step 3: Property & Room Selection

• Choose the option “points” from the “Display Price In” dropdown.
• The certificate will cover up to 40,000 points of an award night. If your hotel demands, say, 50,000 points a night, you’ll have to redeem the certificate plus an additional 10,000 IHG points.
• As you select your hotel and room, rates will be shown as “Chase Anniversary Night + ___ points”. This extra point value is the gap between your certificate’s 40,000-point value and the hotel’s rate.

Step 4: Complete the Booking

• Confirm all details of your booking and ensure you’re aware of any additional charges that might apply during your stay.

Remember, while redeeming your free night certificate provides excellent value, be wary of additional fees. IHG, unlike some other loyalty programs, doesn’t waive resort or “destination” fees on award stays.

Using PointsCrowd to find eligible nights for gift certificates

Finding the right nights to use your certificates might seem daunting. However, the PointsCrowd search feature can make this process simpler by identifying the best options that can be booked with your certificates. To benefit from this feature, add your certificates to your PointsCrowd account, and the platform will display the available options for you.

Transferring points between IHG One Rewards members

You can transfer points to or receive points from another member. There is no limit to the number of points you can transfer. However, transfers must be in multiples of 1,000 points and there is a $5 fee for each transfer over 1,000 points. 

Purchasing IHG Points

You have the option to purchase IHG points. Initially, the cost is set at $13.50 for every 1,000 points. However, for acquisitions exceeding 25,000 points, the price decreases to $10 for each 1,000 points. Additionally, IHG Rewards frequently introduces promotional campaigns where you can secure up to 100% additional bonus points when buying points.  IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card selected gives you the privilege of saving 20% on purchases for points (when you purchase points with your card).

Earn points for your hotel stays:

• 10 Points per Dollar Spent at the following hotels: AvidCrowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn brands (Club Vacations, Express, Hotels & Resorts), Hotel Indigo, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotels & Resorts, Vignetti Collection, voco Hotels

• 5 Points per Dollar Spent at: Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites hotels.

Conclusions

Mastering IHG’s One Rewards Program can truly elevate your travel experiences. With diverse avenues to earn points — from co-branded credit cards to exclusive promotions and business rewards — the IHG’s One Rewards Program offers tangible benefits to its loyalists. Whether it’s for a leisurely vacation or business, IHG goes the extra mile to reward you. Now that you’re armed with this comprehensive guide, we’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips you may have for fellow travelers. Dive in, explore, and share your feedback!