IHG Inns & Resorts is the fourth-largest lodge chain, with greater than 6,000 properties throughout greater than 100 international locations and 19 lodge manufacturers.
Like most lodge chains, it presents a handful of cobranded bank cards. IHG and Chase at the moment supply three bank cards (two private and one enterprise) that earn IHG One Rewards factors. There’s a card suited to everybody, from the occasional traveler to IHG loyalists, with annual charges starting from $0 to $99.
Chances are you’ll be deciding between the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
Let’s study the cardboard particulars and see which card suits your technique higher.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
| Card | IHG One Rewards Premier | IHG One Rewards Traveler |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome supply | For a restricted time, earn 5 free nights (as much as 60,000 factors per night time) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Supply ends July 23. | For a restricted time, earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. Supply ends July 23. |
| Annual price | $99 | $0 |
| Level valuation* | 0.5 cents per level | 0.5 cents per level |
| Rewards construction |
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| Different advantages |
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| Journey and buying protections |
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*Factors worth is predicated on TPG’s June 2025 valuations and isn’t offered by nor reviewed by the issuer.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler welcome supply
New candidates for the IHG One Rewards Premier can, for a restricted time, earn 5 free nights (as much as 60,000 factors per night time) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This supply ends July 23.
Based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is price as much as $1,500 if you happen to absolutely maximize the free nights at 60,000 factors every for a complete of 300,000 factors.
This matches the highest-ever welcome supply we have seen on the cardboard, which was final supplied in September 2024.
However, for a restricted time, those that apply for the IHG One Rewards Traveler can earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. This supply ends July 23.
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Based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is price $600. This matches the highest-ever welcome supply we have seen on the cardboard, which was final supplied just a little over two years in the past.
With each playing cards providing limited-time welcome bonuses, now is a wonderful time to use for both card.
It is necessary to remember that since Chase points each of those playing cards, they’re topic to the 5/24 rule. Meaning you possible will not be accredited for both card if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards from any issuer previously 24 months.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. Its welcome supply is price $900 greater than the Traveler’s.
Associated: One of the best welcome bonuses of the month
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler advantages
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler playing cards share just a few advantages. These embrace:
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you obtain:
- Automated Silver Elite standing: Earn Gold Elite standing by way of Dec. 31 of the next calendar yr after spending $20,000 inside a calendar yr.
However, the IHG One Rewards Premier offers extra in depth advantages and assertion credit, like:
- Automated Platinum Elite standing: You’ll obtain Platinum Elite standing and might earn Diamond Elite standing by way of Dec. 31 of the next calendar yr after spending $40,000 inside a calendar yr.
- Anniversary free night time award: Obtain a free night time price as much as 40,000 factors every account anniversary. You possibly can prime up this free award with factors out of your IHG account if the room prices greater than 40,000 factors.
- Earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors yearly: In case you spend $20,000 in a calendar yr, you’ll earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors (price $50 primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations).
- TSA PreCheck/World Entry/Nexus utility price credit score: Obtain as much as a $120 assertion credit score each 4 years for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
- United Airways TravelBank credit score: Obtain as much as $50 in United TravelBank Money credit score yearly (as much as $25 biannually) deposited in your United TravelBank account.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It offers a free anniversary night time and a better tier of computerized elite standing than the Traveler card.
Associated: Evaluating one of the best lodge elite standing tiers and easy methods to earn them
Incomes factors on the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each the Premier and Traveler playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors.
With the IHG One Rewards Premier, you will earn:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on IHG resorts and resorts
- 5 factors per greenback spent on eating (together with takeout and eligible supply), fuel purchases and journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
These incomes charges symbolize a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
You can even earn as much as 26 factors per greenback spent with the Premier card at IHG resorts (10 factors per greenback from the cardboard, 10 factors for being an IHG One Rewards member and as much as 6 factors from the Platinum Elite standing the cardboard offers).
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you will earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on IHG resorts and resorts
- 3 factors per greenback spent on cable, web and telephone companies; eating (together with takeout and eligible supply); fuel stations; choose streaming companies; and utilities
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
These incomes charges symbolize a 2.5%, 1.5% and 1% return on spending, respectively, primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
With the Traveler card, it’s also possible to earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts (5 factors per greenback from the cardboard, 10 factors for being an IHG One Rewards member and as much as 2 factors from the Silver Elite standing the cardboard offers).
The Premier card presents extra factors in practically all classes, and in the one ones it does not, it matches the incomes charges on the Traveler card.
Neither card presents showstopping charges, however they each supply first rate returns on IHG purchases. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll be higher off utilizing one other card in your lodge stays and on a regular basis purchases, just like the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) or Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, as different playing cards can supply greater returns.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It earns extra factors than the Traveler on most purchases.
Associated: The right way to earn IHG factors through stays, bank cards and extra
Redeeming factors with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors, and they are often redeemed in the identical methods. IHG One Rewards factors could be redeemed for lodge stays, digital rewards and charitable donations, and could be transferred to airline companions.
To maximize the worth of your IHG factors, it’s best to redeem them for lodge stays. IHG makes use of dynamic pricing, which implies the factors value per night time is determined by availability and season, however nice offers can nonetheless be discovered. Award-night costs begin as little as simply 5,000 factors per night time.
TPG e-newsletter and partnerships editor Emily Thompson stretches her factors by reserving Vacation Inn and Vacation Inn Specific stays and utilizing the fourth-night-free perk on award stays.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors and supply the identical redemption choices.
Associated: Do you have to purchase IHG factors or switch rewards from Chase?
Transferring factors with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each playing cards have entry to a number of switch companions, together with American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways. Most airways convert IHG factors to miles at a 5:1 ratio.
Whereas this often is not one of the best use of factors, it may make sense in particular conditions the place transferring IHG factors to an airline companion could be useful.
For instance, if you might want to e-book an award flight and are quick on miles with an airline with miles which are in any other case laborious to earn, like Korean Air, transferring IHG factors could possibly be a great possibility.
It is necessary to notice that transferring factors to airways is way more cumbersome with IHG than with different lodge chains. It’s a must to name IHG One Rewards at 888-211-9874 to provoke the switch. Switch occasions range by airline; transfers can take as much as six weeks to course of.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have the identical switch companions.
Associated: Do you have to switch lodge factors to airline companions?
Ought to I get the IHG One Rewards Premier or IHG One Rewards Traveler?
IHG loyalists and frequent vacationers are higher suited to the IHG One Rewards Premier because of its greater incomes charges and computerized Platinum Elite standing. The cardboard has a $99 annual price — however the free anniversary night time greater than covers the annual price. In case you do not need to pay an annual price, the Traveler is the higher alternative.
Associated: Why you must get (and preserve) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
The right way to improve from the IHG One Rewards Traveler to the IHG One Rewards Premier
In case you at the moment have one among these playing cards and you’re over 5/24 or not eligible for a brand new IHG card welcome bonus, chances are you’ll need to go for a product change. You possibly can both improve from the Traveler to the Premier or downgrade from the Premier to the Traveler.
To request a product change (an improve or downgrade), merely name the quantity on the again of your card. It is necessary to ensure you wait till you have had the cardboard for a minimum of a yr earlier than altering so you do not probably forfeit your welcome bonus.
Associated: The last word information to bank card upgrades
Backside line
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler playing cards are every an effective way to leap into the IHG One Rewards program and make the most of a few of its redemption choices. You will not go improper with both, as IHG has hundreds of properties throughout the globe.
The Premier is the higher worth proposition if you happen to use the free night time yearly — which most ought to have the ability to do. Plus, it comes with a better degree of elite standing.
Nonetheless, the Traveler card is a strong no-annual-fee possibility if you happen to keep at IHG properties occasionally and need to improve your journey expertise whenever you do.
To study extra, try our full opinions of the IHG One Rewards Premier card and IHG One Rewards Traveler card.
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler
