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Credit card welcome bonuses worth 100,000 points can be hard to come by, but two new offers from IHG promise that much — and potentially more — for new cardholders.
Here’s how to take advantage of these limited-time welcome offers and decide whether an IHG credit card could work for you.
What are the new IHG credit card welcome offers?
With either the IHG One Rewards Traveler or IHG One Rewards Premier card, you’ll get at least 100,000 points when you earn the welcome bonus:
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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 within the first three months
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 170,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months
We don’t yet know how long these elevated bonuses will last, but they’re only here for a limited time. If you’ve been considering an IHG credit card or you have upcoming hotel stays to book, now could be a great time to apply. IHG properties include Regent, Kimpton, InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and more than a dozen other hotel and resort brands.
Which IHG credit card should you choose?
Compare your regular spending and how often you stay at IHG properties to help decide whether the IHG One Rewards Travel or IHG One Rewards Premier is best for you.
- Annual fee$0
- Welcome offerLimited time offer — Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in first 3 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.99% - 28.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 17x when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3x on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants
- 2x on all other purchases
- Benefits
- $0 annual fee
- Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free
- Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad
The IHG One Rewards Traveler has no annual fee, which could make it the better option if you only travel a few times per year but prefer to stay at IHG hotels when you do take a trip. It’s also a great way to maximize points on your regular purchases when you’re not traveling, with 3x points on dining, utility payments, select streaming services, and at gas stations.
There aren’t a ton of added benefits with this card, so it’s best used for the welcome bonus and earning those extra points toward future stays on your spending. However, there are some IHG perks, including automatic Silver Elite status (with a path to Gold); your fourth night free when you redeem three nights; and 10,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Read our full IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card review
- Annual fee$99
- Welcome offerLimited time offer — Earn 170,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Ongoing Purchases APR19.99% - 28.49% Variable
- Recommended credit scoreExcellent/Good
- Rewards rate
- 26x points at IHG hotels and resorts
- 5x points on travel, dining, and at gas stations
- 3x points on all other purchases
- Benefits
- Earn a free night on each account anniversary, plus get a fourth night free when you redeem your points for a consecutive four-night stay at IHG properties
- Receive Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- Access perks including free upgrades, welcome amenities, and guaranteed room availability when you book at least 72 hours in advance
If you’re a regular traveler and stay at IHG hotels often, you may find the IHG One Rewards Premier is worth its $99 annual fee. This card’s rewards aren’t quite as focused on everyday spending, but you’ll still get a solid 5x points on non-IHG travel purchases, on dining, and at gas stations.
There are plenty of added benefits to help make up the annual cost, too — automatic Platinum Elite status; an anniversary free night reward (up to 40,000 points); and both a $100 statement credit and 10,000 points when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year on the card.
More travel perks include a statement credit to reimburse fees for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS every four years and up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank Cash each calendar year when you link your card to your United MileagePlus account.
How much is the IHG credit card bonus worth?
IHG One Rewards points are dynamic, so their exact value depends on where you travel, when you travel, when you book, and other factors. Here’s one example of how you could use either card’s welcome bonus for an upcoming vacation.
Maybe you’re looking for an escape from cold winter weather and want to book a stay at the Kimpton Aluna Resort Tulum in Mexico. A long weekend getaway between Feb. 20 and 24 starts at 39,000 points per night. That’s a total of 156,000 per night — which you can cover with the IHG One Rewards Premier card bonus.
Even if you choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler card, you can cover your stay with 24,000 points and $99 per night, for a total of 96,000 points and $396.
With cash, you’d pay a total of $713.44 for the same dates if you also pay a nonrefundable one-night deposit.
For any hotel stay, you’ll also need to factor in the prices of taxes and fees, which aren’t included in the example prices above.
More about IHG One Rewards
IHG Hotels and Resorts has more than 6,000 locations worldwide. Its brands, like Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, and Staybridge Suites, cover a wide range of budget options for any type of travel.
As a rewards member, you’ll get perks like free WiFi and late checkout, exclusive rates, and special offers for members. As you move up with Elite Status in the program, you can qualify for complimentary upgrades, early check-in, extra bonus points on stays, and more. You’ll earn points on paid hotel stays as well as reward stays to use toward future trips with IHG.
Does it cost money to join the IHG One Rewards program?
You don’t have to pay anything to join IHG One Rewards as a Club member. Even as you move up to higher Elite Status within the program, there’s no added cost beyond the IHG hotel stays you’ll need to earn qualifying points.
This article was edited by Alicia Hahn
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