As with each kind of lodge elite standing, you may discover positives and negatives when evaluating IHG elite standing to different applications. That mentioned, I’ve gotten nice worth from IHG elite standing and the IHG One Rewards program over the past 9 years.
IHG elite standing will not at all times get you upgrades, even on the top-tier Diamond Elite stage, and extra advantages than I might like are topic to the discretion of every property. However, particularly as a result of worth I can get when redeeming IHG factors and IHG’s in depth worldwide portfolio, I’ve discovered IHG elite standing worthwhile.
This is what you need to learn about incomes IHG elite standing and utilizing its advantages.
What’s IHG elite standing?
IHG elite standing offers perks when staying at IHG resorts and resorts. The IHG portfolio consists of manufacturers starting from Candlewood Suites and Vacation Inn to Lodge Indigo, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental. With IHG elite standing, you’ll be able to get pleasure from advantages at a variety of properties.
You possibly can earn most tiers of IHG standing by accruing set quantities of qualifying nights or elite qualifying factors throughout a calendar yr. When you earn a selected IHG elite standing tier inside a calendar yr, you may preserve the standing by way of the top of the next yr. Nonetheless, every Jan. 1, your qualifying nights and factors towards elite standing reset to zero.
Associated: The 19 greatest IHG resorts on the planet
IHG elite standing tiers
The IHG One Rewards program presents 5 membership tiers. The primary membership tier — Membership member — does not have any necessities. To earn IHG elite standing, you may want to satisfy the next necessities every calendar yr:
- Silver Elite: 10 qualifying nights
- Gold Elite: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying factors
- Platinum Elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying factors
- Diamond Elite: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying factors
Along with these IHG elite standing tiers, chances are you’ll get invited to Kimpton Interior Circle in case you have Diamond Elite standing and continuously keep at Kimpton properties. It’s also possible to buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership and probably get an improve to Royal Ambassador based mostly in your qualifying exercise at InterContinental resorts and resorts.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
You will earn rewards by way of IHG’s Milestone Rewards program as you accrue qualifying nights every calendar yr as effectively.
Associated: How a lot worth does IHG One Rewards standing present once you ebook straight?
earn IHG elite standing
To earn IHG elite standing, you may must accrue particular quantities of qualifying nights or factors every calendar yr. As mentioned above, you may must accrue 10 nights for Silver Elite standing, 20 nights or 40,000 factors for Gold Elite standing, 40 nights or 60,000 factors for Platinum Elite standing and 70 nights or 120,000 factors for Diamond Elite standing.
Qualifying nights are nights you ebook with IHG factors or at a qualifying fee — which is best outlined as a fee that earns IHG factors. Briefly, for those who ebook straight with IHG, you may possible get qualifying nights.
Qualifying factors are a bit trickier. IHG presents two forms of factors: elite qualifying factors and nonelite qualifying factors. The distinction between these two forms of factors is simply vital for incomes elite standing. Briefly, here is an inventory of the forms of actions that earn elite qualifying factors:
- Lodge stays for which you pay a qualifying fee
- Spending with choose companions, together with Hertz automotive leases, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences
- Shopping for IHG One Rewards bonus factors packages
- Certified spending by way of the IHG Enterprise Rewards program
- Spending on IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.Okay. or Better China
And here is an inventory of actions that earn factors you can redeem however aren’t elite qualifying:
When you ebook costly stays at qualifying charges, closely make the most of the IHG Enterprise Rewards program or continuously use an IHG One Rewards card issued within the U.Okay. or Better China, chances are you’ll discover it straightforward to qualify for IHG elite standing based mostly on qualifying factors. Nonetheless, most members discover qualifying nights a neater metric to satisfy.
Associated: maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program
IHG elite standing advantages
IHG elite standing presents some beneficial perks to vacationers who continuously keep at IHG resorts and resorts. This is a have a look at a number of the most helpful perks, together with how they differ by standing tier.
Bonus factors
IHG members earn 10 factors per greenback spent on qualifying stays at most IHG properties. Nonetheless, you may solely earn 5 factors per greenback spent at Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and residences (serviced flats and prolonged keep items) properties; 3 factors per greenback spent at IHG Military Lodges; and a couple of,000 factors per keep at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort (for stays earlier than March 31, 2025, booked by Dec. 31, 2024).
IHG elite members get bonus factors on qualifying stays. Silver Elite members get a 20% bonus, Gold Elite members get a 40% bonus, Platinum Elite members get a 60% bonus and Diamond Elite members get a 100% bonus. However keep in mind, these bonus factors aren’t elite qualifying factors.
Rollover nights
This perk could also be useful for those who normally qualify for IHG standing based mostly on qualifying nights. On the finish of every calendar yr, IHG will calculate the rollover nights for Gold Elite and above members because the qualifying nights they earned above the quantity required for his or her standing. These nights will roll over and depend towards incomes elite standing within the new calendar yr.
Nonetheless, rollover nights are solely legitimate for one calendar yr. IHG calculates rollover nights as your complete qualifying nights on the finish of the calendar yr (together with rollover nights from the earlier yr) minus the nights required for the IHG elite standing you earned minus the rollover nights from the earlier yr.
Reward evening reductions
One of many perks launched with the new IHG One Rewards program was reward evening reductions.
These reward evening reductions are periodically accessible for IHG One Rewards bank card holders, Platinum Elite members and Diamond Elite members, however members with IHG One Rewards bank cards normally get early entry.
Complimentary upgrades
Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members are eligible for complimentary upgrades topic to availability and on the lodge’s discretion. Nonetheless, complimentary upgrades to club-level rooms or flooring do not embody club-level advantages or lounge entry. And since upgrades are at every property’s discretion, I’ve discovered some resorts and resorts are rather more beneficiant than others.
Welcome amenity
Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members can get pleasure from a welcome amenity when checking in to IHG resorts or resorts. Silver Elite and Gold Elite members additionally get pleasure from a welcome amenity for stays in Better China.
The choices fluctuate by model and area however typically embody a snack, a food-and-beverage credit score or factors. High-tier Diamond Elite members additionally get day by day breakfast for the member and a visitor staying in the identical room as a welcome amenity selection at full-service and select-service manufacturers. IHG defines breakfast as limitless nonalcoholic drinks and one primary menu merchandise or full buffet, though some menu objects and specialty drinks could also be excluded.
Be aware that utilizing digital check-in could routinely provide you with factors as a welcome amenity. When you’d slightly have one thing else, it is best to test in to your room in individual.
Early check-in and late checkout
Solely Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members can request early check-in, which is topic to availability and offered as early or late because the lodge chooses.
In the meantime, late checkout is on the market to all IHG members — together with nonelite members — upon request, topic to availability and till 2 p.m. on the newest. This can be a nice perk for members with out standing, however it’s irritating to be denied late checkout as a top-tier Diamond Elite or solely given a further hour or two over the usual checkout time. Plus, many IHG properties will not verify a late checkout request till the checkout day, which makes it troublesome to depend on this profit.
Associated: The perfect IHG all-inclusive resorts, from Jamaica to Mexico
Can a bank card assist earn IHG elite standing?
Bank cards can assist you earn IHG elite standing. In case you have an IHG One Rewards bank card issued within the U.Okay. or Better China, you’ll be able to earn elite qualifying factors towards standing along with your spending. Nonetheless, IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.S. supply complimentary IHG elite standing and alternatives to spend to earn larger tiers of standing.
For instance, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card supply automated Platinum Elite standing as a cardmember profit. It’s also possible to earn Diamond Elite standing by way of the top of the subsequent calendar yr after spending $40,000 or extra in your IHG Premier or IHG Premier Enterprise card in a given calendar yr.
In the meantime, the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card presents automated Silver Elite standing as a cardmember profit. You possibly can earn Gold Elite standing by way of the top of the next calendar yr after you make purchases totaling $20,000 or extra in your IHG Traveler card in a single calendar yr.
All three IHG bank cards issued within the U.S. supply a beneficial fourth-night-free reward perk. This perk drops the price of each fourth evening on stays of 4 nights or extra that you just ebook with IHG factors to zero factors. This may not directly provide help to earn IHG elite standing since you’ll be able to stretch your factors throughout extra nights for those who continuously keep in increments of 4 nights.
Likewise, in case you are a main United Membership℠ Infinite Card member, you’ll be able to enroll in complimentary Platinum Elite standing as a perk of your card.
Associated: Which bank card must you use for IHG stays?
Is IHG elite standing value it?
IHG elite standing is undoubtedly value it for some vacationers; the query is whether or not or not it is value it for you. The advantages on the Silver Elite and Gold Elite tiers normally will not be value striving for — though for those who earn these statuses organically, you may profit from bonus factors and will earn some IHG Milestone Rewards.
Platinum Elite standing presents some beneficial perks value striving for over Gold Elite or Silver Elite standing. So, for those who stick with IHG at the least a couple of occasions a yr, it might be value getting the IHG Premier Credit score Card, the IHG Premier Enterprise Credit score Card, the United Membership Infinite Card or an InterContinental Ambassador membership — all of which supply complimentary Platinum Elite standing in addition to different perks that may provide help to justify paying an annual payment. I just like the IHG Premier Credit score Card since I get considerably extra worth than the cardboard’s $99 annual payment annually utilizing the fourth-night reward perk and the anniversary free evening certificates.
Nonetheless, you may want top-tier Diamond Elite standing to decide on day by day breakfast as a welcome amenity when staying at full-service and select-service manufacturers. This standing requires 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying factors every calendar yr, rather a lot in comparison with different lodge loyalty applications. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite standing at 50 nights or World of Hyatt Globalist standing at 60 nights (or 100,000 base factors) are comparable statuses that each supply methods to earn elite qualifying nights by way of bank card spending.
Associated: Why you need to get (and preserve) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Backside line
The decrease tiers of IHG standing do not supply many perks. In the meantime, top-tier Diamond Elite standing requires numerous nights, elite qualifying factors or spending on the IHG Premier Credit score Card or the IHG Premier Enterprise Credit score Card. So, for many vacationers, IHG Platinum Elite standing is the candy spot.
In any case, you will get Platinum Elite standing as a perk of the IHG Premier Credit score Card, the IHG Premier Enterprise Credit score Card, the United Membership Infinite Card or an InterContinental Ambassador membership. This fashion, you’ll be able to get pleasure from IHG elite standing even for those who do not stick with IHG all that continuously.
