Introduction
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is one of the big players in the hotel loyalty landscape, with a broad portfolio spanning luxury, full-service, select service, extended stay, boutique, and midscale brands. When you join IHG One Rewards, you earn points for qualifying stays, enjoy special rates, and unlock elite perks as you climb tiers. IHG has been refreshing and refining its loyalty program in recent years, with more dynamic pricing, more partner options, and more flexible rewards.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
- The value of IHG points (and how that compares to alternatives)
- Sweet spots and especially strong redemptions
- The brands under IHG’s umbrella
- How to earn points (hotel stays, credit cards, transfers)
- How to spend / redeem — including booking windows, transfer partners, etc.
- Elite status: what the tiers are and what you get
- And finally, our take.
Value
How much are IHG points really worth?
Many analysts peg the value of IHG One Rewards points in the range of 0.5 to 0.8 cents per point (USD) when redeemed wisely for hotel nights. (Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on property, dates, and promotions)
In “alternate” redemptions (gift cards, shopping catalog, magazine subscriptions), the value is typically lower — often ~0.2 to 0.4 cents per point.
For some special uses (e.g. buying InterContinental Ambassador membership), you might get closer to ~0.5 cents/point.
So the baseline is: IHG points are not among the very richest hotel currencies (Hyatt and some of Marriott’s high-end awards tend to outperform), but you have many more choices. Used strategically with your IHG cards and free nights, you can get solid returns, like free nights at Intercontinental Paris.
Because of IHG’s dynamic pricing for reward nights, the “point cost” for a given hotel-night can vary based on demand, season, and property, so the effective value you get will vary.
While IHG points can technically be redeemed for other things—like airline miles, gift cards, or catalog purchases—these options rarely provide good value.
If you need to keep your account active, donating a small number of points to charity or making a small redemption can help, but the best strategy remains using points for hotel nights.
Sweet Spots: How to Get the Most Value from Your IHG Points
If you’ve built up a large IHG balance, the good news is that you have options—real ones, not just budget hotels near airports. IHG points can go surprisingly far if you know where to look. The key is aiming for at least 0.6 cents per point, which is about the benchmark value of IHG One Rewards. Anything higher than that means you’re getting strong value.
The best opportunities tend to come from three IHG brands: InterContinental, Kimpton, and Hotel Indigo. These brands combine strong locations, consistent quality, and fair award pricing.
InterContinental Hotels
InterContinental is IHG’s luxury flagship brand, and several properties in Europe stand out as particularly good uses of points.
- InterContinental Paris – Le Grand: A classic five-star property next to the Palais Garnier. Rooms regularly exceed $600 per night, but redemptions often start around 70,000 to 80,000 points.
- InterContinental Lisbon: Modern and centrally located, this hotel usually runs 40,000 to 50,000 points per night compared to $300 or more in cash.
- InterContinental Porto – Palácio das Cardosas: A restored palace in Porto’s main square that can be booked for about 60,000 points per night.
- InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam and InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace: Both earn consistent praise from travelers for their quality and fair redemption value.
Recent openings in Berlin, Lyon, Barcelona, Geneva, and Crete are also worth checking. Depending on demand, these newer InterContinentals sometimes price lower in points than older properties of similar caliber. In Asia, InterContinental Bali Sanur, InterContinental Kaohsiung, and InterContinental Pattaya offer resort-style stays that still come in under 50,000 points per night.
Kimpton Hotels
Kimpton hotels consistently deliver one of the best balances of comfort, personality, and redemption value in the IHG portfolio. They feel smaller and more personal than typical chain hotels, and their service reputation is strong. Award rates generally fall between 30,000 and 70,000 points per night, but the experience often compares to a $400–$600 cash stay.
- Kimpton Fitzroy London: Historic architecture, modern interiors, and easy Underground access. Usually 60,000 points per night.
- Kimpton Atlanta: A newer property near ATL and Porsche headquarter. You can book it around 30000 points per night.
- Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam: Well-located near Amsterdam Central Station and priced around 50,000–55,000 points.
- Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok and Kimpton Kitalay Samui: Two of the most popular Kimptons in Asia, combining modern design, generous elite recognition, and reasonable redemption rates.
For anyone with Diamond Elite status, Kimpton stays are even more rewarding. The breakfast credit and late checkout benefits add real-world value that goes beyond just saving points.
Hotel Indigo
Hotel Indigo properties fall between upscale and boutique, offering strong local character without the high nightly cost of InterContinental or Kimpton. They’re often the smartest way to stretch your points while maintaining a quality experience.
Award nights typically range between 25,000 and 40,000 points.
- Hotel Indigo Milan – Corso Monforte: A quiet, stylish hotel near the Duomo, usually around 35,000 points.
- Hotel Indigo Rome – St. George: A well-located property with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, typically 40,000 points.
- Hotel Indigo Porto: A modern hotel that captures the feel of the city, around 35,000 points per night.
- Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road: A favorite among travelers in Asia, offering excellent value at 30,000–40,000 points per night.
If you prefer several shorter trips over one luxury stay, Hotel Indigo is the brand where your points last the longest without sacrificing comfort or location.
Fourth Night Free
If you hold an IHG credit card, the fourth-night-free benefit is one of the easiest ways to increase redemption value. When you book four consecutive nights using points, you only pay for three.
That discount effectively gives you a 25% bonus in point value. A four-night stay at a 40,000-point property costs 120,000 points instead of 160,000. This benefit applies across all IHG brands and can be used as many times per year as you like.
Combine with Chase Free Night Certificates
The Chase IHG Free Night Certificate is one of the most valuable perks that comes with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and Premier Business Card. Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you receive a certificate valid for a one-night stay at any IHG property costing up to 40,000 points.
Since 2022, IHG has allowed members to top off the certificate with additional points from their account if the hotel you want costs more than that cap. For example, if a Kimpton property is 46,000 points for the night, you can use the certificate and add 6,000 points to complete the booking.
This flexibility makes the certificate far more useful, turning what was once a limited benefit into one that can cover high-end redemptions at InterContinental, Kimpton, or Hotel Indigo locations. Given that 40,000 points are typically worth around $240–$300 in hotel value, the certificate alone can easily offset the card’s annual fee every year.
What to Avoid
Transferring IHG points to airline miles is rarely worth it; most transfers happen at a 5:1 ratio, which cuts your point value by more than half. Redeeming for gift cards or catalog items is also poor value—often below 0.3 cents per point.
If you need to keep your account active, small redemptions or charitable donations work fine, but hotel stays remain the best use of IHG points.
Brands
IHG’s portfolio is broad, spanning the luxury to the midscale. Some of the key brands include:
- Luxury Brands:
- InterContinental Hotels & Resorts — IHG’s flagship luxury brand
- Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants — boutique, design-forward
- Regent Hotels & Resorts — luxury / ultra-luxury (in select markets)
- Vignette Collection — boutique, localized, stylish
- Hotel Indigo — boutique / urban lifestyle
- Normal Brands
- Crowne Plaza — full-service, upscale
- Holiday Inn — one of the core, midscale full-service brands
- Holiday Inn Express — limited service, often breakfast included
- Candlewood Suites — extended stay / apartment-style
- Staybridge Suites — extended stay
- EVEN Hotels — wellness-forward, design focus
- avid hotels — lean, no-frills but solid basics
- And occasionally special partner or beach resort brands
All of these typically participate in IHG One Rewards (though benefits, point earning rates, and special perks may differ by brand).
Because of this breadth, one of IHG’s strengths is global coverage, which gives you flexibility. But with that breadth comes the challenge that not all brands or locations deliver great value per point.
Earning Points with IHG One Rewards
There was a time when you could stack multiple promotions for one stay. You could also write postcards and get thousands of points. Those days are gone. However, IHG points are still easy to earn. Here is how.
Hotel Stays (Qualifying Stays)
When you stay at an IHG property, you earn base points, and if you have elite status, you get bonuses.
The base earning rate is typically 10 points per $1 USD (or local currency equivalent) on qualifying stays at most IHG brands. However, some brands (like Candlewood Suites, Staybridge) may have different base rates (for example lower) — often 5 points per $1 in certain brands.
Not every rate qualifies — you must book an eligible rate, usually retail, corporate, or promotional rates that include “earning points” (i.e. not deeply discounted wholesale / opaque rates).
With elite status, you’ll earn bonus points on top (e.g. 20%, 40%, 60%, 100%), which we’ll detail below. Points from hotel stays count not only toward redemptions, but also toward elite status qualification (qualifying nights / qualifying points) in most cases.
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus
IHG offers co-branded credit cards (in various markets). In the U.S., for example:
- The IHG Rewards Club Premier Card (consumer card) offers a welcome / sign-up bonus (e.g. historically ~140,000 bonus points after $3,000 spending in first 3 months) in some offer cycles.
- The IHG Rewards Premier Business Card likewise offers a bonus.
- These cards often also confer automatic elite status (e.g. Platinum) just by holding the card, which provides extra value.
The sign-up bonus is one of the fastest ways to get a chunk of IHG points, especially if you plan to stay at IHG properties.
Credit Card Spending (Ongoing)
Beyond the sign-up, the IHG credit cards typically provide category bonuses for spending. You’ll often see 10× points per $1 on IHG hotel spending (i.e. huge multiplier when using the card at IHG stays).
Other bonus categories may include travel, dining, gas, etc. (e.g. 5×, 3×) depending on card version and offers. There may also be annual spending thresholds that unlock statement credits or bonus points (for example, a $100 credit or bonus 10,000 points if you spend $20,000 in a year) on some versions.
Always check the fine print for your version of the card in your country.
Transfer Partners / Other Earning Routes
IHG has some partnerships and transfer possibilities (though it is not usually a program where many people flood points in from transferable currencies — unlike airline programs or some hotel programs).
You can transfer IHG points to airline partners (we’ll cover that in the “spending” section) to convert into miles.
If you’re a Diamond Elite member (or business reward member), you can transfer points between IHG accounts (up to 500,000 points per calendar year) without the usual fee. For non-elite, transfers cost $5 per 1,000 points.
- Some partner promotions or promotional bonuses (e.g. stay X nights, earn Y extra) can boost your earnings temporarily.
Spending / Redeeming IHG One Rewards Points
Once you’ve earned points, the key is how you use them. Redeeming poorly erodes value.
Hotel Reward Nights
This is the primary value sink — redeeming IHG points for free nights.
No blackout dates: As long as a hotel has inventory, you can use your points. Because pricing is dynamic, the number of points required for a night can vary greatly depending on date, demand, hotel, and even room type.
Reward nights often start at 5,000 points at lower-tier or select budget properties. You can use Points + Cash to blend points and cash if you don’t have enough points or want to preserve them.
Because of the variability, always compare the cash rate vs the points rate to see if you’re getting good value.
Booking Window & Availability
- Because of dynamic pricing, earlier bookings may sometimes be cheaper (in points) than last-minute, but that’s not guaranteed.
- Some hotels might restrict reward room capacity in very high-demand periods, but overall IHG aims for relatively open redemption.
- Keep an eye on promotional windows — IHG sometimes runs offers like “50% off reward nights,” double points, etc., which can tilt the economics.
Transfer to Airlines / Airline Earning via Stays
This isn’t exactly “spending” within IHG, but it’s a way to convert points into airline miles, or earn miles instead of points. They are almost always bad value.
IHG has ~34–37 airline transfer partners, depending on the source. Typical ratio is 5,000 IHG points → 1,000 airline miles (i.e. 5:1). Transfers usually take 14 to 21 days to process. Keep in mind the name on your airline account must match your IHG account to complete the transfer.
Given the modest transfer ratio, you’ll often get better “cents per point” value staying within IHG unless you’re just topping off an airline account. Also, IHG allows you to earn airline miles directly on hotel stays (i.e. instead of receiving IHG points, you opt to earn miles). The rate is ~2 airline miles per $1 USD (or local equivalent) at many IHG brands; at lower-tier brands it might be 1 mile per $1.
Other Redemption Options
IHG also allows you to redeem points for non-hotel things:
Shopping / catalog redemptions (electronics, gift cards, brand-name goods) — but the value is typically lower (0.2–0.4 cents per point). Magazine subscriptions, digital downloads (books, content) — often subpar value.
Buying or gifting points (i.e. you can top up your account by purchasing points) — though the cost must be evaluated because buying points is usually at a poor rate.
Converting IHG points into an InterContinental Ambassador membership (45,000 IHG points), which grants elevated benefits when staying at InterContinental properties may give you good value depending on your redemption.
Elite Status in IHG One Rewards
The simplest way to earn elite status is to stay at IHG hotels. Each night you stay under a qualifying rate counts as a qualifying night toward your tier. In some regions, you’ll also earn qualifying points, which track how much you spend.
If you have the IHG Premier or Premier Business Credit Card, spending $40,000 in a year can get you straight to Diamond Elite. Extra nights roll over to the next year, giving you a head start. You’ll also unlock Milestone Rewards at certain stay counts—like 20, 40, or 60 nights—which can include upgrades, food credits, or lounge passes.
Tiers & Qualification
IHG has these tiers in its loyalty structure:
| Tier | How to Qualify (per calendar year or via spend / nights) | Base Bonus Points | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club (base) | Free upon sign-up | — | Member Rate, free Wi-Fi, 2 pm late checkout (subject to availability) |
| Silver Elite | 10 qualifying nights (or hold the IHG Traveler credit card) | 20% bonus | Points no longer expire while status is held, etc. |
| Gold Elite | 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 elite qualifying points | 40% bonus | Rollover nights, etc. |
| Platinum Elite | 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 elite qualifying points (or hold IHG Premier credit card) | 60% bonus | Upgrades, guarantee room availability, 2 pm late checkout, etc. |
| Diamond Elite | 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 elite qualifying points OR spend threshold on IHG credit card (e.g. $40,000) | 100% bonus | Top-tier perks like free breakfast, dedicated support, etc. |
Elite Benefits (In More Detail)
Here are the common perks you can expect as you climb tiers.
| Benefit | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus points on stays | +20% | +40% | +60% | +100% |
| Late checkout (2 pm) | yes (subject) | yes | more reliably | yes |
| Room upgrades | — | possible | better chances | stronger |
| Guaranteed room availability | — | — | maybe | yes (within rules) |
| Welcome amenity / F&B credit | — | small | better | stronger |
| Free breakfast | — | — | sometimes | more guaranteed (property dependent) |
| Milestone rewards | — | yes | yes | yes |
| Transfer fee waiver | — | — | — | yes (for IHG-to-IHG transfers) |
| Dedicated support / prioritized service | — | — | — | yes |
Keep in mind: benefits vary by hotel (some independent hotels or franchisees may not always honor certain perks fully), and availability is always subject to capacity. Use your elite benefits as a “bonus,” not a guarantee.
Bottom Line & Tips (What to Watch, When IHG One Rewards Makes Sense)
IHG’s best value comes from stacking Credit Card Free Night + Fourth Night Free + Points. InterContinental, Kimpton, and Hotel Indigo properties often give you the strongest return on your points—especially in cities like Paris, Lisbon, Porto, and Bangkok. These hotels combine quality, location, and fair award pricing, and if you have the IHG credit card, the fourth-night-free benefit makes them even better.
IHG isn’t always the top program, but it’s practical if your travel fits its footprint. Dynamic pricing can work for or against you, so always compare the cash rate before redeeming. Elite status perks like room upgrades, breakfast, and late checkout add real value if you stay often, and the annual free night certificate from the credit card can easily offset the card’s fee.
The best strategy is to use IHG where it makes sense and keep other options open with Hyatt, Marriott, or Hilton. Watch for promotions, bonus offers, and discounted reward nights—they can quickly improve your redemption value. And while you can transfer points to airlines, it’s rarely worth it unless you’re just topping off a small balance.
