The benefits of IHG One Rewards elite status

Compared to Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards is one of the smaller hotel rewards programs. However, the hotel chain still has over 6,000 locations around the world and boasts 17 different brands. If you enjoy extra perks like free Wi-Fi, late checkout or dedicated customer service, IHG elite status is a way to make your next hotel stay a little more plush.

Like other hotel chains, you can qualify for elite status with IHG Rewards by staying at one of its locations for a specific number of nights or by racking up enough rewards points in a year.  Another simple way to qualify is to hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which automatically grants its cardholders Platinum Elite status.

Read on to find out exactly how to attain an IHG elite status, even without the co-branded rewards card, and learn whether the elite status is worth having.

IHG One Rewards Elite tiers

There are a few different ways to advance through the IHG elite status tiers, including staying at a qualifying property or racking up enough qualifying points in a calendar year. A quick breakdown of each tier is outlined below.

Earn 140,000 bonus points in your first three months

IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
Why should you get this card? Though IHG points are a bit inflated, the bonus on the IHG Rewards Club Premier card is a great incentive to sign up.	More things to know: 140,000 bonus points if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months Up to 26X points on IHG hotel stays 5X points on travel, gas station and restaurant purchases 3X points on all other purchases Enjoy a reward night on your card member anniversary Automatic Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards

Is IHG elite status worth it?

For frequent travelers, the perks, like free Wi-Fi, late checkout and exclusive member rates, tend to have a lot of value. But many of IHG’s elite status benefits go beyond the standard. Here’s a quick summary of the most valuable elite perks:

• Discounts on reward nights: Once you reach Platinum Elite status, you’ll get exclusive access to discounts on reward nights at select hotels.
• Room upgrades: Platinum Elite Members can enjoy a room upgrade at no extra cost, when available.
• Hertz Gold status: Diamond Elite Members are automatically granted Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star® status with the popular car rental company. This perk comes with one-car-class upgrades whenever available and bonus points on car rentals. If you regularly rent a car when you travel, the free upgrades and Hertz points can add up to great savings.
• Welcome Amenity: Exclusive to Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite Members, this perk provides free breakfast at select brands for your entire stay. The complimentary breakfast may include a full buffet or one main menu item (other than specialty entrees), as well as unlimited non-alcoholic drinks.

Shortcuts to IHG elite status

If you don’t meet the point or stay requirements for IHG elite status, you can still enjoy the perks by signing up for an IHG Rewards Club credit card. As noted, IHG Rewards Club Premier cardholders are automatically granted Platinum Elite status.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card holders don’t receive automatic elite status, but the card will expedite a move to Gold Elite status if you spend $10,000 a year with the card. It’s not a bad offer considering that the card has no annual fee and you get to skip the Silver Elite status (which doesn’t offer many useful benefits for most cardholders).

Also, if you book rooms for yourself or others through the IHG Business Rewards program, you can use the points from that program to accelerate a move through the elite status tiers. In fact, you can earn Platinum Elite status when using the Business Rewards program to book only five nights. That’s way easier to achieve than the required 40 nights of stay when booking on your own.

Bottom line

Qualifying for IHG elite status is simple, and even the small perks, like free Wi-Fi or late checkout, can make travel more convenient. If you’re an IHG One Rewards loyalist but don’t think you can meet the stay or point requirements, you can still enjoy Platinum Elite status by signing up for the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card. It comes with a $99 annual fee, but considering all the benefits you’ll receive, you may decide it’s worth the cost each year.