IHG in 2025: Master the Art of Earning and Redeeming Points for Maximum Rewards
Discover the secrets to unlocking elite status, maximizing point redemptions, and stretching your stays with IHG’s massive global footprint.
If you’ve ever stayed at a Holiday Inn, Kimpton, or InterContinental, you’ve already brushed up against the IHG One Rewards ecosystem. But in 2025, there’s more to this loyalty program than just collecting points and hoping for a free night. With 6,000+ properties worldwide, IHG offers one of the most flexible and potentially lucrative hotel rewards programs—if you know how to play the game.
Whether you're a business traveler, a luxury lover, or a road warrior looking for value, this guide breaks down exactly how to earn, redeem, and maximize IHG points in 2025—plus some secret hacks to squeeze out every last ounce of value.
Overview: What Makes IHG One Rewards Unique?
IHG One Rewards underwent a major revamp in 2022, and by 2025, the program has matured into a flexible, customer-centric rewards system. Key features include:
- No blackout dates on standard rewards.
- Dynamic pricing for award nights.
- Elite status benefits including upgrades, late checkout, and free breakfast (finally).
- A growing portfolio of brands like Kimpton, Vignette Collection, Six Senses, and avid Hotels.
With brands that span from roadside essentials to overwater bungalows, IHG can meet your needs whether you're in Ohio or Oman.
Earning IHG Points: The Core Strategy
Here’s how you can rake in points in 2025—both on-property and beyond.
1. Hotel Stays (Base + Bonus Points)
- Base rate: 10 points per $1 at most IHG brands (exceptions below).
- Bonus multiplier: Elite members get up to 100% bonus.
| Status Level | Bonus Points | Example Earnings on $500 Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Club | 0% | 5,000 |
| Silver Elite | 20% | 6,000 |
| Gold Elite | 40% | 7,000 |
| Platinum Elite | 60% | 8,000 |
| Diamond Elite | 100% | 10,000 |
Exceptions: Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites only earn 5 points per $1.
2. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Chase)
If you’re serious about IHG, this is your golden ticket.
- Earn 26x points at IHG hotels (10 base + 10 from card + 6 from elite status).
- 4x points on travel, dining, and gas.
- 125,000-point welcome bonus (current offer, subject to change).
- Free anniversary night (up to 40K points, top-off eligible).
- Automatic Platinum Elite status.
Real World Math: A $500 IHG stay on your Premier Card as a Diamond member could net you:
- Base: 5,000 pts
- Diamond bonus (100%): 5,000 pts
- Premier card bonus: 5,000 pts
- Quarterly promo: 2,000 pts
Total: 17,000 points—enough for a reward night at many Holiday Inns or even a luxury Kimpton with PointBreaks.
3. Everyday Spending
Use your IHG card or Chase Ultimate Rewards card strategically:
- Grocery + gas + dining (Premier card): 4x
- Travel booked through Chase (Ultimate Rewards): transfer at 1:1 to IHG
- Targeted Amex Offers: occasionally feature IHG discounts and bonuses
Example: Spend $1,000/month on groceries/dining = 48,000 IHG points annually. Enough for 2 nights at Hotel Indigo Williamsburg or 3 nights at Holiday Inn Express Sedona.
4. Promotions & Partnerships
IHG is big on limited-time promos:
- Quarterly bonuses (e.g., 2,000 points every 2 nights)
- Double elite night promos
- Dining and travel partner bonuses
IHG Elite Status in 2025: Benefits That Finally Deliver
IHG’s elite tiers are finally meaningful, especially at Platinum and Diamond levels.
| Status | Nights or Points Required | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 10 nights or 10,000 pts | Priority check-in |
| Gold | 20 nights or 20,000 pts | 40% point bonus |
| Platinum | 40 nights or 60,000 pts | Room upgrades, 60% bonus |
| Diamond | 70 nights or 120,000 pts | Free breakfast, 100% bonus, lounge access at some brands |
Milestone Rewards
At every 10-night increment, you choose your reward:
- Bonus points
- Confirmable suite upgrades
- Annual lounge membership (from 40 nights)
- Food & beverage credit
Example: At 40 nights, you might select 2 confirmed upgrades + 25,000 points + free breakfast. That’s potentially $1,000 in value on top of your stay.
Best Ways to Redeem IHG Points in 2025
IHG’s award pricing is dynamic—meaning point rates change based on demand—but it still offers solid sweet spots.
1. Luxury Stays on Off-Peak Dates
Six Senses, InterContinental, Kimpton, and Regent are your best high-end redemptions.
Example:
- Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali: 60K–85K points (cash rates $800+).
- InterContinental Paris Le Grand: 70K–90K points (cash $700+).
- Kimpton Seafire Resort, Grand Cayman: 55K–80K points.
Value: Up to 1.2–1.5 cents per point, far above the average.
2. Budget Travel & Road Trips
Holiday Inn Express, voco, and avid Hotels offer surprisingly good value.
Example:
- Holiday Inn Express Savannah Historic District: 26K–35K points.
- avid Hotel Oklahoma City Airport: 12K–18K points.
- voco Gold Coast, Australia: 20K–25K points.
At ~$150/night, you’re getting 0.7–0.8 cents per point.
3. Fourth Night Free (When using Co-Branded Credit Card)
Unlike Marriott, IHG now offers every 4th night free on award bookings of 4+ nights when using one of their co-branded credit cards.
Booking 4 nights at 25K/night = only pay 80K points instead of 100K.
That’s a potential of up to 25% return just for booking longer. Perfect for vacation getaways or repositioning between cities.
Dynamic Pricing Hacks
IHG’s pricing algorithm is tied to cash prices but not always tightly. Use this to your advantage.
Strategy:
- Search flexible dates in low-season cities (e.g., Barcelona in February).
- Look at Sunday–Thursday stays for lower rates.
- Combine with PointBreaks deals (discounted redemptions starting at 5K–10K points/night).
Transfer Partners & Stackability
IHG has limited partners, but the Chase Ultimate Rewards program allows 1:1 point transfers.
Convert Chase points earned via:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Ink Business Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
Use this to top off your IHG account when you're just shy of an award or to combine points across multiple Chase cards for a big redemption.
Real Redemption Scenarios
Here’s how an actual traveler might use IHG points in 2025:
Scenario 1: NYC Business + Europe Vacation
- 2 nights at EVEN Hotel Brooklyn ($220/nt or 25K/nt): Use points = 50K
- 5 nights at Holiday Inn Express Lisbon (22K/nt): Book 4 nights, get 5th free = 88K
- 1 night at InterContinental Rome for anniversary = 40K + 10K top-off
Total value: $1,500 in hotel stays
Cost: 188K points + free night cert
Effective point value: ~0.8 cents per point
Scenario 2: Domestic Road Trip
- 2 nights at voco St. Augustine (18K/night)
- 3 nights at Candlewood Suites Asheville (15K/night) – 5th night free applies
- 1 night at Kimpton EPIC Miami (60K – paid with card for bonus)
Total: 81K points used for 5 nights
Cash value: ~$900
Value per point: ~1.1 cents
How to Avoid Pitfalls
Not every redemption is a good deal. Here’s what to watch for:
- Dynamic pricing surges: Popular destinations spike during holidays.
- Low-value redemptions: Avoid using points for merchandise or gift cards—values drop to 0.2–0.3 cents per point.
- Elite perks vary by property: Don’t assume breakfast or upgrades at all brands—read the fine print.
Final Tips to Master IHG in 2025
- Always stack promos with elite bonuses and card spend
- Use the flexible calendar to find lower-point redemptions
- Don’t forget to top off your free night with points
- If traveling for work, credit all stays to earn Diamond
- Use Chase Ultimate Rewards for point transfers when needed
- Rebook award stays if pricing drops—you’ll get the difference back
Final Thoguhts
IHG One Rewards in 2025 offers serious flexibility—whether you’re into luxury retreats, business hotels, or road trip pit stops. Thanks to revamped elite perks, easy-to-earn points, and a wide hotel footprint, there’s real value to be had.
Play it right, and your IHG points could easily stretch across 10+ nights this year—while scoring you breakfast, upgrades, and unforgettable stays.
