Business owners who love IHG hotels and resorts can earn elite status, annual free nights, and rewards with the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. This card offers complimentary travel and purchase benefits and the ability to earn up to 26x points per dollar on business spending. It even extends the value of your points with a fourth-night free bonus on award stays that can be used an unlimited number of times.

Learn more about how your business can benefit from the IHG business credit card.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

• Annual fee
  $99
• Welcome offer
  140,000 points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months
• Card type(s)
  Travel, Hotel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent, Good

• Rewards rate
  • 26x when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • 5x on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
  • 3x on all other purchases

• Benefits
  • Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts, plus a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay
  • Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
  • 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

How to earn rewards

Cardholders have numerous ways to earn points with the IHG One Rewards Premier Business. Earning opportunities include a welcome bonus, points on purchases, an annual spending bonus, and new cardmember referrals.

Welcome bonus

When you open the IHG One Rewards Premier Business, you can earn 140,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. IHG uses dynamic pricing on award bookings, but these points are typically worth up to four nights at more than 4,400 hotels worldwide.

IHG purchases

You‘ll earn the most points when spending at IHG hotels and resorts. The card gives 10x points per dollar spent at properties, plus up to 10x points per dollar for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 6x points per dollar with Platinum Elite status, which is included with the card.

Bonus categories

Bonus points are available on more than just IHG purchases. The card also earns 5x points on travel, dining, select business purchases, and at gas stations. Eligible business purchases include social media or search engine advertising and office supply stores.

Everyday spending

While many credit cards earn only 1x points on standard spending, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business earns an impressive 3x points on every dollar.

Annual spending bonus

When you spend at least $20,000 in a calendar year, you’ll receive a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus IHG points.

Referring friends and family

Since you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, you can speak from personal experience about the value of the card. You can earn up to 100,000 bonus points per year by referring friends and family. You’ll receive 20,000 points for each successful referral, up to the annual maximum.

How to redeem rewards

IHG offers numerous redemption options for its points. Here are a few of the best ways to redeem your points.

• Award stays. The highest-value redemption is often for free hotel nights. IHG prices free nights dynamically, so the price of an award night may vary based on the hotel, room size, travel dates, and other factors.

• Points + cash stays. If you don’t have enough points or want to save them for something else, you can use a combination of points and cash to book your reservation.

• Enhance your trip. Use points for experiences near where you’re staying.

• IHG One Rewards Access. Redeem points for exclusive events and popular tickets that often cannot be bought with cash. Access events include sporting events, concert VIP passes, and celeb meet-and-greets.

Other redemption options include online shopping, donations, digital rewards, and transfers to airline miles. However, these redemptions tend to offer subpar redemption value.

Additional benefits

Besides earning hotel points on your business purchases, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business includes numerous perks that help justify its annual fee. Here are a few of the benefits you need to know about.

Annual free night certificate

Each year you renew the card, you'll receive an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points. The certificate is good for 12 months from its issue date. If you want to redeem the certificate for a room with a higher price, you can redeem points from your IHG One Rewards account to cover the difference.

For example, you might need 50,000 points for a one-night stay. You can use your free night certificate to cover 40,000 points and then use 10,000 points from your account to make up the difference.

Fourth night free on award reservations

Redeeming points for longer stays provides incredible savings, especially with the fourth-night-free benefit. This benefit can be used unlimited times on stays of four or more consecutive nights. You'll pay the normal points rate on the first three nights; the fourth night is free.

Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Instead of earning Platinum Elite status the hard way — by staying 40 nights (or earning 60,000 points) — you receive status automatically just for being a cardholder. This elite status offers a 60% bonus on paid stays, reward night discounts, 72-hour guaranteed room availability, complimentary upgrades, a welcome amenity, and more.

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS reimbursement

Every four years, you'll receive reimbursement of up to $120 when paying Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees with your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card. You can use this benefit for yourself, an employee, or someone else.

Travel and purchase protections

Enjoy complimentary trip cancellation/interruption insurance on travel purchases made with your IHG business credit card. Eligible trips are covered up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.

When you make eligible purchases with the IHG business card, you'll receive purchase protection for the first 120 days in case of damage or theft. The limit is $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Free employee cards

Earn additional points on employee purchases by adding employee cards to your account. There is no charge for adding an employee to your account, and you can set individual spending limits for each card.

No foreign transaction fees

There are no foreign transaction fees on the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card. Whether you're traveling internationally or purchasing from a supplier outside the U.S., you won't be hit with currency conversion fees of up to 3%.

Who is the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card best for?

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card is best for business owners who want to earn elite status and points with IHG hotels and resorts. It earns bonus points on IHG stays, travel, dining, gas, and select business purchases made by the business owner and employees added to the account.

Business owners will receive automatic Platinum Elite status, an annual free night worth up to 40,000 points, and the fourth night free when redeeming points for award stays. These benefits extend the value of your points and enhance each of your stays at IHG properties.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card benefits

• Complimentary Platinum Elite status

• Annual free night (up to 40,000 points redemption cap)

• Fourth-night-free benefit

• Annual bonus based on spending

• Free employee cards

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card potential drawbacks

• IHG dynamic award pricing gives an uncertain value of points

• No intro APR offers

• Annual fee of $99

Where can you use the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card?

Business owners can use the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Visa and Mastercard are generally the two most widely accepted types of credit cards in the US and abroad.

Since IHG has more than 6,500 destinations worldwide, this card is a good option for international travelers. With no foreign transaction fees, you won't be hit with hidden fees when making purchases abroad.

How to make an IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card payment

To pay your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, there are several options available.

• Log into your account online at Chase.com

• Make payments through the Chase mobile app

• Pay using cash or check at a Chase ATM

• Over the phone: (800) 436-7958

• In-person at a Chase branch

• Mail payments to:
  Cardmember Services
  P.O. Box 6294
  Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card customer service info

• Customer service is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Phone number: (800) 945-2028

• Ink Business Premier login page

Alternative cards to consider

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card is a solid choice for business owners who prefer IHG hotels and resorts. However, some business owners prefer another hotel brand or earning flexible points instead of being stuck with one loyalty program. In that case, consider these alternatives.

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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

• Annual fee
  $95
• Welcome offer
  Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 in first 3 months (that's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠)
• Card type(s)
  Business, Travel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.74% - 26.74% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Good, Excellent

• Rewards rate
  • 3x on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year in the following categories: shipping purchases; advertising purchases via social media sites and search engines; internet, cable, and phone services; and travel
  • 1x on all other purchases with no earning cap

• Benefits
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel
  • Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account

Why we like it: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash back, booking travel through Chase, or transferring to hotel and airline partners (including IHG). Points are worth 25% more when booking travel through Chase, which is an excellent option to stretch the value of your points. The card also provides robust protections, including primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection, and extended warranty coverage.

Read our full Ink Business Preferred review

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Capital One Venture X Business

• Annual fee
  $395
• Welcome offer
  Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
• Card type(s)
  Business, Travel
• Purchase APR
  Not applicable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent

• Rewards rate
  • 2x miles on every purchase
  • 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

• Benefits
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date and receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • Up to a $120 statement credit on TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
  • Unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group lounges

Why we like it: For luxury business travelers, the Capital One Venture X Business Card is hard to beat. While it has a high annual fee, that's offset with a $300 travel credit (for bookings through Capital One Travel) and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles. Miles can be redeemed for prior travel purchases, cash back, and more. Capital One partners with more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs. While IHG is not a transfer partner, you can redeem miles to book rooms through Capital One Travel or to cover reservations made directly with IHG.

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Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Rates & fees, terms apply

• Annual fee
  $125
• Welcome offer
  Earn 3 Free Night Awards — each valued at up to 50K Marriott Bonvoy® points for eligible stays — after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months (resort fees & terms apply)
• Card type(s)
  Business, Travel
• Ongoing Purchases APR
  20.49% - 29.49% Variable
• Recommended credit score
  Excellent/Good

• Rewards rate
  • 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program
  • 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
  • 2x Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases

• Benefits
  • Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
  • Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month, and an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; certain hotels have resort fees)

Why we like it: Business owners who prefer Marriott over IHG should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. With a 7% discount on eligible bookings, you'll save money on hotel stays. Plus, you'll enjoy extra perks during your stay with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

The card has a modest annual fee. When you renew the card, you'll receive an annual free night certificate (up to a 35,000-point redemption cap), and you can earn a second free night by spending at least $60,000 within a calendar year.

This article was edited by Ben Walker (CEPF, CFEI®)

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