Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you apply for a credit card through our links, we may receive a commission from the issuer at no additional cost to you. We maintain editorial integrity; all opinions expressed are our own and are not provided or influenced by the card issuers. For more information, please see our Financial & Affiliate Disclaimer.
Credit cards › Airline cards › Delta SkyMiles Reserve

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Updated July 2026 · 4 min read
Quick verdict

The IHG Premier is an outstanding hotel card value. For $99 you get an anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points, automatic Platinum Elite status, the fourth night free on award stays, and $50 in annual United TravelBank Cash.

8.5
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Chase - Hotel Card
The anniversary free night is worth more than the $99 annual fee at most IHG properties. The fourth-night-free on points redemptions compounds value on longer stays. For IHG guests who stay 4+ times a year, the compounding benefits make this a long-term keeper.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you apply for a credit card through our links, we may receive a commission from the issuer at no additional cost to you. We maintain editorial integrity; all opinions expressed are our own and are not provided or influenced by the card issuers. For more information, please see our Financial & Affiliate Disclaimer.

Pros & cons

Pros
  • 185,000-point limited-time welcome offer among the best Chase hotel card offers available
  • Anniversary free night up to 40,000 points -- more than the annual fee on a single use
  • Fourth Reward Night Free on award stays amplifies value on every multi-night stay
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status with room upgrades and late checkout
  • $50 United TravelBank Cash each year after registering
  • $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck every 4 years
Cons
  • IHG points worth approximately 0.5-0.7 cents each -- lower than Chase or Amex points
  • Platinum Elite does not include breakfast or lounge at most IHG properties
  • $50 United TravelBank Cash requires registering card with MileagePlus
  • IHG property quality varies widely across brands

Who this card is for

✓ Good fit

Frequent IHG guests who stay at Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, or InterContinental 4+ times a year

✓ Good fit

United Airlines flyers who can use the $50 TravelBank Cash

✓ Good fit

Travelers who take multi-night award stays and benefit from the fourth-night-free

✓ Good fit

Those who need Global Entry/TSA PreCheck coverage at a low annual fee

✕ Skip it

Travelers whose primary hotel brand is Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt

✕ Skip it

Those seeking aspirational award redemptions -- IHG points do not stretch as far as Hyatt

✕ Skip it

Cardholders who rarely stay at IHG brands and cannot use the anniversary free night

Earning rates

10X
Points on IHG stays from your card, which stacks with IHG membership and Platinum Elite status for up to 26X total on eligible stays.
5X
Points on travel purchases, gas stations, and dining.
3X
Points on all other purchases.

Benefits breakdown

The IHG Premier earns at elevated rates on IHG stays and everyday spending, with structured annual benefits that more than offset the fee for regular IHG guests.

Anniversary Free Night
One free night up to 40,000 points. Top up with account points for higher-category properties.
Varies
Fourth Reward Night Free
Every 4th night is free when redeeming points for a consecutive 4+ night stay. Unlimited use annually.
Varies
Platinum Elite Status
Automatic IHG Platinum Elite. Includes room upgrades when available, welcome amenity, and 2 PM late checkout.
Status
$50 United TravelBank Cash
Earned annually after registering card with MileagePlus.
$50
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
Statement credit every 4 years for application fee.
$120
$20,000 Spend Bonus
$100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points each calendar year you spend $20,000.
$100
Estimated value 190
After 99 fee ~$91 net

What to look out for

Anniversary Night Capped at 40,000 Points

Higher-end InterContinental or Kimpton properties require supplementing with account points.

Platinum Elite Has Limits

No complimentary breakfast at all properties and lounge access is property-dependent. Diamond status ($40,000 spend) unlocks more.

United TravelBank Cash Requires Registration

Must link card to MileagePlus. Not automatic.

Our take

The IHG Premier is one of the best dollar-for-dollar hotel cards in the market. The anniversary free night alone justifies the $99 fee at nearly any IHG property. The fourth-night-free perk is unique in the industry -- no other hotel card gives you a reward night for every four-night stay. See how IHG compares to other programs in our IHG One Rewards guide.
The 185,000-point offer ends June 25, 2026. IHG points at 0.61 cents put this bonus at roughly $1,130 in value. Top up the anniversary free night with points from your account for higher-category properties. See our IHG program overview for redemption strategy.
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments

Sid

I'm Sid, the traveler behind this site. My journey started as a simple "back-up plan" to help pay for expensive personal travel. I realized that with the right strategy, this hobby scales incredibly well. Since then, I have earned and spent over 15 million miles across nearly every major global loyalty program. This blog is where I share what I've learned about this hobby (and ramble a bit), hoping it will also help you travel and see the world. Learn more about me. Want to get in touch? Drop me a line.

You may also like...