IHG One Rewards: The Complete 2026 Guide

For years, frequent flyers treated IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental) as a “backup” program—useful because their hotels are everywhere, but uninspiring for elite benefits. That era is over. In 2026, IHG One Rewards is arguably the most valuable hotel loyalty program for mid-tier travelers, thanks entirely to one feature: Milestone Rewards.

While Marriott and Hilton have diluted their status tiers with “breakfast credits” that don’t cover the full bill, IHG has doubled down on guaranteed value. If you can stay 40 nights in 2026, you can unlock a confirmed Annual Lounge Pass that offers unlimited food and drink for two people—a benefit that costs $15,000+ to achieve with competitors.

What Is IHG One Rewards?

IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program for 19 hotel brands, including InterContinental, Kimpton, Six Senses, and Holiday Inn. Unlike programs that rely solely on status tiers (Gold, Platinum, Diamond), IHG uses a dual system: Elite Status (for bonus points and upgrades) and Milestone Rewards (for guaranteed perks like Suite Upgrades and Lounge Access). The program is best known for its “4th Night Free” award benefit and the ability to buy points at 0.5 cents each to save 50% on luxury stays.

Elite Status: Is Diamond Worth the Effort?

IHG offers four status tiers, but in reality, only two matter: Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite. The lower tiers (Silver/Gold) offer little beyond bonus points.

The “Credit Card” Platinum Strategy

You should never strive to earn Platinum status by staying 40 nights. Why? Because the Chase IHG Premier Card gives you instant Platinum Elite status just for holding the card ($99 annual fee). Platinum gets you room upgrades (subject to availability) and a 60% points bonus. It does not get you free breakfast.

Diamond Elite: The Breakfast Game Changer

Diamond Elite is where the real value lies. Unlike Hilton Gold (which gives a restricted U.S. food credit) or Marriott Platinum (where breakfast rules are a flowchart nightmare), IHG Diamond breakfast is simple: Full hot breakfast for you and a guest at almost every brand, including InterContinental and Kimpton.

If you stay 70 nights, you earn Diamond naturally. However, watch for “Status Challenges.” In late 2025, IHG sold Diamond status for 120,000 points (~$600). If that offer returns, it is often cheaper to buy the points than to do a mattress run.

The “Hidden” Value: Milestone Rewards

This is the most critical part of this guide. Milestone Rewards are perks you select every 10 nights, starting at 20 nights. They are separate from your status. This system prevents the “empty status” problem where you have the title but get no benefits.

• 20 Nights: Choose a Confirmable Suite Upgrade. This locks in a suite up to 14 days before arrival. See our guide on how to lock in suite upgrades to compare this with Hyatt’s policy.
• 30 Nights: Food & Beverage Rewards (worth $20 each).
• 40 Nights (THE SWEET SPOT): Choose the Annual Lounge Membership.

Why the 40-Night Lounge Pass is Worth $2,000+

When you cross 40 nights, you can select the Annual Lounge Membership. This pass grants you (plus one guest) unlimited access to Club InterContinental lounges and Crowne Plaza lounges for the remainder of the year plus the entire following year.

If you hit 40 nights in June 2026, you have lounge access until December 31, 2027. These lounges typically offer free breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails/hors d’oeuvres. At a high-end InterContinental (like London Park Lane or Da Nang), club access costs $100–$150 per night. If you stay 20 nights at these properties over two years, that pass is worth $2,000 to $3,000.

Credit Card Strategy: The Chase IHG Premier

In 2026, the Chase IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card remains one of the few cards that pays for itself instantly. The annual fee is $99, but the benefits are mathematically superior to almost any other hotel keeper card.

The “4th Night Free” Benefit:
This is the card’s superpower. When you book an award stay of 4+ nights using points, IHG charges you 0 points for the 4th night. This is an automatic 25% discount on 4-night stays.

Example Math:
A 4-night stay at the Kimpton Seafire Grand Cayman costs 70,000 points per night.
Standard cost: 280,000 points.
Cardholder cost: 210,000 points.
Savings: 70,000 points. At a conservative value of 0.5 cents per point, you just saved $350—triple the annual fee.

You also get an Anniversary Free Night Certificate valid for hotels up to 40,000 points. Unlike other certificates that are capped hard, IHG allows you to “top off” this certificate with unlimited points. If you want to book a room costing 60,000 points, you can use the 40k cert + 20k points. This flexibility makes the certificate nearly as good as cash.

Pro Tip: Chase’s 5/24 rule applies here. Before applying, check our Beginner Credit Card Setup guide to ensure you don’t waste a 5/24 slot if you’re eligible for higher-value Chase Ink cards.

InterContinental Ambassador: Is It Worth $225?

InterContinental has a separate paid membership program called Ambassador. As of late 2024, the price increased to $225 USD or 45,000 points per year. It is only valid at InterContinental hotels (and participating Six Senses/Regent properties).

Ambassador Benefits:

• Guaranteed one-category room upgrade.
• Guaranteed 4:00 PM late checkout.
• Complimentary Weekend Night Certificate: Buy one weekend night (cash), get the second night free.
• Instant Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards.

The Verdict for 2026:
If you plan to stay at least one weekend at a luxury InterContinental, the membership is worth it. The “Weekend Night Certificate” alone can save you $300–$500 at properties like the InterContinental Bora Bora or New York Barclay. However, do not buy it for the status alone, as the Chase card is cheaper ($99 vs $225) for the same Platinum status.

Redeeming Points & Avoiding “Gotchas”

IHG uses dynamic pricing, meaning point rates fluctuate with cash prices. Generally, you should aim to get 0.5 cents to 0.6 cents per point in value. If the redemption value is lower than 0.5 cents, pay cash.

Buying Points:
IHG frequently sells points with a 100% bonus, bringing the cost down to 0.5 cents per point. This creates an arbitrage opportunity. If a hotel costs $500 cash or 60,000 points, you can buy 60,000 points for $300 and book the room, saving $200 instantly.

Resort Fees:
Warning: Unlike Hilton and Hyatt, IHG does NOT officially waive resort fees on reward nights. While individual hotels may sometimes waive them as a courtesy, the program terms state that you are responsible for paying these fees (often $30–$50/night) even on points bookings. Always check the “Total Estimated Charges” on the final booking screen to see if a cash payment is required.

Partner Transfers

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to IHG at a 1:1 ratio, but you generally shouldn’t. Chase points are worth 1.5–2.0 cents each when transferred to Hyatt or United. Transferring them to IHG (worth 0.5 cents) destroys value. Only do this in an emergency to top off a specific redemption.