The Complete Guide to IHG Hotels and IHG One Rewards Program: Maximize Your STAY Rewards in 2025
Whether you’re a seasoned business traveler or planning your next family vacation, understanding hotel loyalty programs can significantly enhance your travel experience while saving you money. IHG Hotels stands out as one of the world’s leading hotel companies with an impressive portfolio and a rewarding loyalty program that has undergone major improvements in recent years.
What is IHG?
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is one of the world’s largest hotel companies, operating over 6,000 hotels across 100+ countries. The IHG portfolio encompasses a diverse range of brands designed to meet every traveler’s needs and budget
Luxury brands:
Crowne Plaza – Upscale business hotels
Hotel Indigo – Boutique-style properties with local neighborhood flair
voco – Premium lifestyle hotels
Mainstream Brands:
Staybridge Suites – All-suite extended stay properties
Candlewood Suites – Extended stay hotels for longer trips
EVEN Hotels – Wellness-focused properties
IHG One Rewards: The Loyalty Program Overview
IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program of the InterContinental Hotels Group and has become significantly more competitive since its major overhaul in 2022. The program is free to join and offers immediate benefits to all members.
How IHG One Rewards Works
Earning Points:
- 10 points per dollar spent at most IHG properties
- 5 points per dollar spent at Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Residences
- 3 points per dollar spent at IHG Army Hotels
- Bonus points through credit card partnerships and promotions
- Points from dining, car rentals, and other partner activities
Point Values and Redemptions:
TPG’s June 2025 valuation of IHG points pegs their value at 0.5 cents each, though savvy travelers can often achieve better redemption rates. Hotels regularly range in price from 10,000 points per night to about 100,000 points per night, though we have seen some Six Senses properties cost in excess of 150K points per night.
IHG One Rewards Elite Status Tiers
The IHG One Rewards program features five membership levels, each offering increasingly valuable benefits:
1.Club Member (Free – No Requirements)
- Member-exclusive rates and promotions
- Free Wi-Fi throughout IHG hotels
- 2 PM late checkout (when available)
- Earn 10 points per dollar spent
- Points expire after 12 months of inactivity
2.Silver Elite Status
Requirements: 10 qualifying nights or 20,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year
Benefits:
- All Club member benefits
- 20% bonus points on all stays
- Points never expire (as long as you maintain Silver status or higher)
3.Gold Elite Status
Requirements: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year
Benefits:
- All previous tier benefits
- 40% bonus points on all stays
- Rollover nights (excess nights count toward next year’s status)
- Access to Milestone Rewards program
- Complimentary elite status as part of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Status Match program
4.Platinum Elite Status
Requirements: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year
Benefits:
- All previous tier benefits
- 60% bonus points on all stays
- Complimentary room upgrades (when available)
- Points or Drink/Snack Welcome Amenity at check-in
- Guaranteed room availability (when booked 72+ hours in advance)
- Early check-in privileges (when available)
- Elite members have access to reward night discounts during certain promotional periods
4.Diamond Elite Status (Top Tier)
Requirements: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 elite qualifying points per calendar year [No header tag – subpoint within H3]
Benefits:
- All previous tier benefits
- 100% bonus points on all stays
- Complimentary daily breakfast for two guests – With IHG’s new IHG One Rewards program, top-tier Diamond elites will get daily free hot breakfast for two
- Dedicated Diamond Elite customer support
- Point sharing capabilities with family/friends
IHG Milestone Rewards: Extra Perks Every 10 Nights
Starting at 20 nights, earn Milestone Rewards choice every 10 nights you stay each year, up to 100 nights. This innovative program allows members to choose additional benefits based on their travel patterns.
Milestone Rewards Schedule
- 20, 30, 50, 60, 80, 90, 100 nights: Choose one reward
- 40 and 70 nights: Choose two rewards
Available Milestone Rewards [H3]
- Bonus Points – Up to 10,000 bonus points
- Food & Beverage Credits – USD20 per voucher at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Confirmable Suite Upgrades – These can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for a stay of up to five nights
- Annual Lounge Membership – Beginning in 2025, the Annual Lounge Membership is valid for the remaining days in the year, if any, following the date the Milestone is achieved, plus one Calendar Year
The Annual Lounge Membership is particularly valuable as IHG doesn’t offer lounge access to elite members, so unless you book a more expensive room that grants you entry to the Club Lounges, the Annual Lounge Membership is the only way in.
Special IHG Status Programs
InterContinental Ambassador
Benefits include:
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
- Guaranteed room upgrades at InterContinental properties
- 4 PM late checkout
- One complimentary weekend night certificate annually
- Premium internet access
- Dedicated check-in area
Invitation-Only Programs
- InterContinental Royal Ambassador – By invitation only for highly loyal InterContinental guests
- Kimpton Inner Circle – IHG One Rewards only grants Kimpton Inner Circle membership via an exclusive invitation to rewards members who achieve Diamond Elite status and meet an unpublished threshold of stays at Kimpton properties
IHG Credit Cards: Fast Track to Elite Status
One of the most attractive aspects of the IHG One Rewards program is the ability to earn automatic elite status through co-branded credit cards.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (No Annual Fee)
- Automatic Silver Elite status
- earn automatic Silver Elite status when you sign up for the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- Fourth night free benefit on award stays
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Cards ($99 Annual Fee)
- automatic Platinum Elite status when you sign up for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Diamond status after $40K in purchases + one additional purchase in a calendar year
- Fourth night free benefit on award stays
- Anniversary free night certificate
Maximizing IHG Points Value
Fourth Night Free Benefit
If you have an eligible IHG credit card, you can get more value from your points by using the fourth-night-free reward benefit. This benefit lets you effectively pay zero points for every fourth night when you redeem points for a stay of four nights or longer.
Points + Cash Options
For travelers looking to stretch their 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.
Award Pricing
IHG no longer has an award chart. Hotels regularly range in price from 10,000 points per night to about 100,000 points per night. The dynamic pricing system means costs vary based on demand, season, and availability.
How to Earn IHG Elite Status
Traditional Path
- Stay frequently at IHG properties
- Reward Nights consumed by Members count as Qualifying Nights towards Elite membership qualification
- Take advantage of double points promotions
Credit Card Strategy
The fastest way to elite status is through IHG credit cards, which provide automatic status without requiring any nights stayed.
Rollover Nights
At the end of the calendar year, Qualifying Nights in excess of the number required for Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Diamond Elite status will rollover into the following year and count towards earning Elite status in that next year.
IHG One Rewards Pros and Cons
- With IHG’s new IHG One Rewards program, top-tier Diamond elites will get daily free hot breakfast for two
- Milestone Rewards offer the chance to confirm a suite upgrade after just 20 elite qualifying nights
- IMO, stacking 4th night free with the 10% points rebate (old IHG card) is the best deal in the hotel loyalty space
- Extensive global footprint with diverse brand portfolio
- No blackout dates on award nights
- Automatic elite status available through credit cards
Disadvantages
- IHG charges resort fees on award stays (Hilton and Hyatt do not)
- Suite upgrades not guaranteed without an upgrade instrument
- Points have relatively low value compared to some competitors
- Benefits can vary significantly by property
Current IHG Promotions and Offers (2025)
IHG One Rewards bonus points and rate offers for you to use in May 2025 include various regional promotions:
- Up to 30% off stays in Asia-Pacific
- 28% off + breakfast + F&B credit in Middle East, India & North Africa
- Double points promotions for business rewards members
- 15% off award stays at select new and refreshed hotels
Tips for Maximizing Your IHG Experience
Tips for Maximizing Your IHG Experience
- Book Direct: Most benefits only apply when booking through IHG channels
- Use Milestone Rewards Strategically: Once a milestone is reached, Members have 90 days to select a benefit on the IHG website or IHG App, otherwise, the benefit is forfeited
- Consider Credit Cards: Even occasional IHG guests benefit from the automatic elite status
- Plan Extended Stays: The fourth night free benefit makes longer stays particularly valuable
- Watch for Promotions: IHG frequently offers bonus points and discount promotions
Final Thoughts on IHG One Rewards
In one fell swoop IHG’s elite program has become a legitimate contender in the competitive hotel loyalty landscape. The 2022 program overhaul significantly improved benefits, particularly the addition of a complimentary breakfast for Diamond members and the comprehensive Milestone Rewards program. [Supporting paragraph – no header tag]
While IHG One Rewards may not offer the premium perks of luxury-focused programs like World of Hyatt, it provides excellent value for travelers who appreciate:
- A diverse portfolio spanning budget to luxury properties
- Automatic elite status through accessible credit cards
- Innovative benefits like Milestone Rewards and the fourth night free
- A truly global presence with over 6,000 properties
For travelers who frequent IHG properties or are looking for a well-rounded loyalty program with achievable elite status, IHG One Rewards represents one of the best value propositions in the hotel industry today. The combination of automatic elite status, meaningful benefits, and an extensive global footprint makes it an excellent choice for both occasional and frequent travelers.
Ready to start earning IHG rewards? Join IHG One Rewards for free today and begin enjoying member-exclusive rates, bonus points, and the pathway to elite status benefits that can transform your travel experience.
