Snapshot of IHG One Rewards
IHG One Rewards, a complimentary loyalty scheme from the InterContinental Hotels Group, enables members to rack up points redeemable for complimentary hotel stays and an assortment of other rewards. Climbing the elite ladder unlocks perks such as late check-outs, early arrivals, and free upgrades when available. Plus, pairing your membership with a co-branded credit card cranks up your point haul on everyday spending.
A World of Stays: IHG’s Vast Hospitality Network
With 20 unique hotel brands housing over 6,000 properties globally, IHG’s spectrum ranges from plush escapes at Kimpton or InterContinental resorts to practical stops at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, or Staybridge Suites. Signing up for their loyalty scheme enhances your travel with benefits like room upgrades and no-cost internet access.
We’ll break down how IHG One Rewards functions, spotlight earning opportunities, and suggest savvy ways to squeeze maximum value from your points.
IHG One Rewards 2.0: A Program Revamp
Early 2022 saw IHG rebrand and breathe fresh life into its loyalty offering, rechristening it IHG One Rewards. Beyond a name change, the program expanded its generosity by introducing more perks, versatile redemption options, and a layered elite status system.
Points accumulate through hotel stays and other eligible activities, redeemable for free nights, airline miles, merchandise, and more. Varied earning avenues include paying for stays, spending on affiliated credit cards, and booking travel with partner companies.
Points Required for a Complimentary Night
As of May 2025, booking a free night at one of IHG’s 6,000+ venues can start as low as 5,000 points. You can cover stays entirely with points or mix cash and points to fit your budget. Plus, elite tiers offer added privileges and enhanced ways to reap rewards.
Joining the IHG One Rewards Club
Kick off your journey by navigating to the IHG website, clicking on IHG One Rewards at the top right, and hitting “Join for free” on the rewards page. Fill in your name, email, address, country, and password to create your account.
Once enrolled, an email confirming your new loyalty number arrives swiftly, letting you log in and begin amassing points from your very first hotel stay.
Is IHG One Rewards Right for You?
If earning points for complimentary hotel nights at any IHG property appeals to you, this program is your no-cost ticket in. It’s ideal for travelers hitting the road regularly but also beneficial for occasional voyagers due to its zero entry barrier and ease of access.
IHG Hotel Families: Diverse Brands Under One Roof
Within its portfolio, IHG proudly hosts 20 distinctive brands spanning over 6,000 locations worldwide. From the indulgent Luxury & Lifestyle Collection to essentials and suites, here’s a quick rundown of the main groupings:
- Luxury & Lifestyle Collection: Hotel Indigo, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton, Regent Hotels, Six Senses, Vignette Collection
- Premium Collection: Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts, voco
- Essentials Collection: avid hotels, Garner, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Resort, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn – the niu
- Suites Collection: Atwell Suites, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Staybridge Suites
Alongside these, exclusive alliances like Iberostar Beachfront Resorts open up extra opportunities to earn and redeem points.
Earning Points: Your Roadmap
Multiple methods help you pile up IHG One Rewards points:
1. Booking Stays at IHG Hotels
Most IHG hotels reward members with up to 10 base points per dollar spent, while Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites offer 5X points. Elite members snag even heftier bonuses, outlined below:
| Club Member | None |
| Silver Elite | 20% |
| Gold Elite | 40% |
| Platinum Elite | 60% |
| Diamond Elite | 100% |
2. Milestone Rewards: Celebrate Frequent Stays
Once your tally hits 20 qualifying nights, every 10 additional nights unlock a fresh prize. Occasionally, select nights grant double rewards — choose between points, dining treats, suite upgrades, and more.
| 20 nights | 5,000 bonus points, 2 food & beverage rewards, 1 confirmable suite upgrade |
| 30 nights | 5,000 bonus points, 2 food & beverage rewards |
| 40 nights (bonus choice eligible) | 10,000 bonus points, 5 food & beverage rewards, 1 confirmable suite upgrade (limit 1), annual lounge membership (limit 1) |
| 50-90 nights | 10,000 bonus points, 5 food & beverage rewards (repeat per 10 nights) |
| 70 nights (bonus choice eligible) | 10,000 bonus points, 5 food & beverage rewards, 2 confirmable suite upgrades (limit 1), annual lounge membership (limit 1) |
3. Special Offers and Promotions
Keep an eye out for time-limited campaigns where extra points are up for grabs.
4. Co-Branded Credit Cards
IHG’s credit cards, including partnerships like Bilt Rewards, allow you to notch bonus points on daily expenses, easily funneling rewards into your IHG One Rewards account.
5. Transferring Points from Partner Programs
Rewards currencies such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards can be transferred, though it’s wise to weigh their higher alternative value before moving points. Transfers happen online with simple steps, but remember: minimum 1,000-point increments apply.
IHG One Rewards Elite Status: The Climb and Its Privileges
Five tiers shape your journey, with perks escalating alongside your progress. Here’s a quick glance at each level’s essentials:
| Club | None | None | Basic member benefits including reward nights, member rates, free Wi-Fi |
| Silver Elite | 10 stays | 20% | Late checkout, guaranteed room availability 72 hours ahead |
| Gold Elite | 20 stays or 40,000 points | 40% | Welcome amenity, early check-in when available |
| Platinum Elite | 40 stays or 60,000 points | 60% | More generous upgrades, rollover nights, breakfast options |
| Diamond Elite | 70 stays or 120,000 points | 100% | Dedicated support, guaranteed room availability, annual lounge membership |
Redeeming Your IHG One Rewards Points: Multiple Paths
Although not boasting as many redemption avenues as some rivals, IHG One Rewards still shines with options tailored for every traveler:
- Complimentary Nights: The crown jewel of rewards, offering stays from 5,000 points per night. Mixing points and cash is an option if you want to stretch your budget.
- Experiences & Events: Gain access to exclusive concerts, sports, and immersive tours via IHG One Rewards Access.
- Gift Cards & Merchandise: Trade points for physical goods or cards, though value tends to be lower with this path.
- Digital Content: Redeem for e-books, movies, games, or subscriptions—availability and value may vary depending on location.
- Airline Miles: Convert points to miles with many airline partners, albeit at modest rates (10,000 IHG points often exchange for roughly 2,000 airline miles).
- Charity Donations: Give your points to several supported causes, valuing around 0.7 cents per point, supporting good causes while using unused balances.
IHG One Rewards in the Loyalty Landscape
| IHG One Rewards | 0.7 cents |
| Best Western Rewards | 0.6 cents |
| Hilton Honors | 0.6 cents |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 0.7 cents |
| Radisson Rewards Americas | 0.4 cents |
| World of Hyatt | 2.3 cents |
| Wyndham Rewards | 0.9 cents |
*Based on Bankrate’s valuation estimates
IHG’s Airline Partners: Linking Your Points to the Skies
IHG teams up with over 40 airline programs. While earning miles is generally straightforward, transferring points to airline miles sometimes lacks reciprocity, limiting reverse transfers. Below is a snapshot of several key airline partners and approximate redemption values:
| Aeromexico | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Air Canada | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Air China | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Air France/KLM (Flying Blue) | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Air Miles | 10,000 : 250 |
| Alaska Airlines | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| ANA | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| American Airlines | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| British Airways | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Delta Air Lines | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Emirates | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Etihad Airways | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| JetBlue | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Singapore Airlines | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| United Airlines | 10,000 : 2,000 |
| Virgin Atlantic | 10,000 : 2,000 |
Some airlines—like China Airlines, Eva Airways, Finnair, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines—don’t currently support point transfers.
Magic Behind the Curtain: Why Join IHG One Rewards?
Signing up is a no-brainer since it costs nothing but offers the doorway to 20 unique hotel brands and thousands of properties. You’ll find ample chance to save on stays and enhance your travel experience. Partnered airlines make accruing miles from your points possible, although the conversion rates aren’t exactly generous.
If you frequently book IHG properties, an affiliated credit card can turbocharge point collection. For casual travelers, the program still holds value, especially with flexible redemption options beyond hotel nights.
No matter your travel style, enrolling in IHG One Rewards offers more perks than drawbacks—don’t miss the chance to start cashing in on your journeys.
Frequently Asked Queries About IHG One Rewards
Do IHG One Rewards points expire?
Points do vanish after 12 months of inactivity if you hold the basic Club membership. However, members in all higher tiers maintain points indefinitely, provided their elite status remains active.
Can I share my points with friends or family?
Yes, transferring points to other IHG One Rewards members is possible for a $5 fee per 1,000 points transferred.
What’s the process to gift points?
Points gifting is doable by transferring balances to another member (fees apply) or booking stays on someone else’s behalf by contacting customer service. Charitable donations through partner organizations are also welcomed.
Is buying IHG One Rewards points allowed?
Absolutely. Members may purchase up to 200,000 points per calendar year to top off their accounts or reach a desired redemption threshold.