Program tiers
- Club (free)
- Silver (10 nights)
- Gold (20 nights)
- Platinum (40 nights)
- Diamond (70 nights)
Point earning
Base rate: 10 base points per US$1 at most IHG brands; 5 per $1 at Holiday Inn Vacations and Staybridge.
Earning compounds with elite tier bonuses (typically 25–100% bonus points at top tiers), co-branded credit card multipliers, and IHG One Rewards-specific quarterly bonus promotions that members register for through the loyalty dashboard. The right co-branded card alone can double the per-stay point earning at the brand.
Redemption value & sweet spots
~0.55¢ per point average; can spike to 0.9¢ at top Intercontinental properties
The highest-value redemptions in IHG One Rewards: PointBreaks (5k–15k point properties), 4th-reward-night-free on award stays of 4+ nights, IHG Premier card free anniversary night
Top elite perks worth chasing
Milestone Rewards (free night, lounge passes, suite upgrades, status gifts every 20 nights), 4th-night-free on cash bookings (Diamond), confirmable suite upgrades
Co-branded credit cards
IHG One Rewards Premier (Chase), IHG One Rewards Traveler, IHG Business Premier
Sign-up bonus: IHG Premier opens at 140k bonus points + free anniversary night up to 40k points
Fast-track status
IHG Premier grants automatic Platinum status; Premier Business grants Diamond
Airline transfer partners
United, Delta, American — 5:1 ratio (IHG:airline), generally a poor use of points
How to stack IHG One Rewards with cashback portals and promo codes
IHG One Rewards member rates are the floor — sign in to your free account before searching to surface them automatically. Layer a current verified promo code from the IHG One Rewards brand page on top, then start the booking from a cashback portal click-through (Rakuten, TopCashback or BeFrugal — typically 1–4% on brand direct). Pay with the appropriate co-branded card or a flat 3x–10x travel card.
The five-layer stack — portal cashback + member rate + verified promo code + co-branded card + base loyalty earning — routinely delivers 18–25% effective discount on the public rate while still building elite-tier qualification. Read our step-by-step stacking guide for the full sequence.
When to redeem points vs. pay cash
The decision rule: divide the cash rate by the point cost to compute your effective ¢/point value. If it exceeds IHG One Rewards's program-wide average (typically 0.5–2.0¢ depending on the program), redeem points. Below that, save the points and pay cash. Off-peak award nights, 5th-night-free redemptions, and aspirational properties (luxury Caribbean, Maldives, Tokyo) consistently deliver the highest ¢/point.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my IHG One Rewards points balance?
Sign in to the brand's website or mobile app. Most programs also surface points balance and tier progress through co-branded credit-card statements.
Do IHG One Rewards points expire?
Most major hotel programs expire points after 12–24 months of inactivity. Any single qualifying activity (a paid stay, a partner transaction, a credit card purchase on the co-branded card) typically resets the clock. Watch the program's expiry policy on the loyalty member dashboard.
Can I transfer IHG One Rewards points to another person?
Most programs allow point transfers between household-linked accounts at a 1:1 ratio with annual transfer caps. Combining points across spouses or family members can unlock larger aspirational redemptions that neither account could fund alone.