As the tip of the yr approaches, chances are you’ll surprise how you may earn your required degree of elite standing with IHG One Rewards this yr. This information will talk about methods for incomes IHG elite standing earlier than the tip of the yr, together with methods to earn extra qualifying nights or qualifying factors.
IHG elite standing overview
IHG overhauled its loyalty program in 2022, including extra advantages and a brand new elite tier. Listed here are the present IHG One Rewards elite tiers and the necessities for every:
- 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
As you may see, you may earn most IHG elite standing tiers by way of qualifying nights or qualifying factors. IHG makes use of a calendar yr as its qualification interval, so you’ve got from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 every year to accrue sufficient nights or factors in your desired elite tier. Then, you may preserve your standing by means of the tip of the next calendar yr.
Moreover, you may earn IHG milestone rewards primarily based in your qualifying nights every calendar yr. Beginning at simply 20 qualifying nights per calendar yr, you may earn milestone rewards for each 10 qualifying nights you keep (as much as 100 qualifying nights per calendar yr).
Associated: IHG elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Methods for incomes extra qualifying nights
Sadly, there is not a shortcut to accruing qualifying nights with IHG One Rewards. You may earn one elite-qualifying night time for each night time of a qualifying keep, together with reward stays.
The IHG terms and conditions explicitly observe that you simply will not earn any qualifying nights for a keep should you no-show or cancel after the lodge cancellation time (even should you’ve paid the room in full and it is nonrefundable). So, you may want to point out as much as the lodge and keep on a qualifying paid fee or award keep to earn qualifying nights.
Moreover, should you e book two rooms for a similar calendar day, just one night time will depend as a qualifying night time. As such, should you want extra qualifying nights than the quantity left within the calendar yr, you will not have the ability to qualify in your desired standing primarily based on nights.
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In the event you want extra qualifying nights, take a look at your plans for the remainder of the yr and see when you may keep at an IHG lodge. Even when an IHG lodge is dearer than your different choices, it might be worthwhile if it can assist you earn a better elite tier or an extra milestone reward.
If you cannot get the qualifying nights you want on journeys you propose to take, contemplate doing a staycation or mattress run close to your own home. Or plan a getaway to a vacation spot with cheap IHG inns or resorts.
Associated: Earn elite nights on award stays with these hotel loyalty programs
Methods for incomes extra qualifying factors
Primarily based on IHG’s terms and conditions, solely the next actions earn elite-qualifying factors:
- Paying qualifying charges for lodge stays
- Spending on Hertz automobile leases, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences
- Buying an IHG One Rewards bonus factors bundle
- Qualifying spending by means of IHG Enterprise Rewards
- Purchases on IHG One Rewards bank cards issued within the U.Okay. and Better China
Incomes by means of IHG partner activities like Hertz automobile leases, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences could assist should you solely have to earn a small quantity of extra qualifying factors to succeed in your required elite standing. And should you occur to be eligible for an IHG card issued within the U.Okay. or Better China, you may use it to earn extra qualifying factors in your purchases.
However for many U.S.-based IHG loyalists, the easiest way to earn extra qualifying factors is so as to add bonus factors packages to imminent paid stays. For instance, this is a suggestion I noticed on a keep on the Vacation Inn Ocean Metropolis in Maryland:
In the event you add 5,000 factors for $32 per night time, you may purchase factors for 0.64 cents every. This buy fee is greater than TPG’s October 2024 valuation of IHG factors (0.5 cents every) however nonetheless decrease than I can usually get when redeeming IHG points. Plus, the factors you’d buy along with your keep are elite-qualifying.
Associated: How to earn IHG points via stays, credit cards and more
Different methods for incomes IHG elite standing rapidly
As you might need observed, there aren’t many shortcuts to incomes extra qualifying nights or factors. However that does not imply there are no shortcuts for incomes IHG elite standing. Listed here are some methods you may earn IHG elite standing rapidly.
Get an IHG bank card
A number of IHG credit cards present computerized elite standing as a cardholder perk and allow you to spend towards greater elite standing tiers:
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Take pleasure in computerized Silver Elite standing so long as you stay an IHG Traveler cardmember, plus earn Gold Elite standing by means of the tip of the next yr every calendar yr you make purchases totaling $20,000 or extra along with your card.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Take pleasure in computerized Platinum Elite standing so long as you stay an IHG Premier cardmember, plus earn Diamond Elite standing by means of the tip of the next yr every calendar yr you make purchases totaling $40,000 or extra along with your card.
You may also enroll in complimentary IHG Platinum Elite standing with the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Associated: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Pay for InterContinental Ambassador membership
One other option to rapidly earn Platinum Elite standing is to buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership. A 12-month Ambassador membership prices $225 or 45,000 factors. However, membership offers Platinum Elite standing within the IHG One Rewards program and the next perks when staying at InterContinental properties:
- Assured one-category room improve
- Assured 4 p.m. late checkout
- Complimentary weekend night
- Eating places and bars credit score of as much as $20 per keep
- Complimentary mineral water
- Complimentary web
- Devoted check-in space
- Single room fee for double occupancy
If you need Platinum Elite standing and do not have a bank card that gives this standing, sustaining an InterContinental Ambassador membership could also be a good selection, even should you solely often keep at InterContinental properties.
Associated: How much value does IHG One Rewards status provide when you book directly?
Make the most of a focused provide
It is also price checking your e mail and the gives part in your IHG account to see whether or not you’ve got any focused gives. In spite of everything, some IHG members have reported getting a targeted Diamond Elite fast-track offer. By this provide, focused members can earn Diamond Elite standing by means of the tip of 2025 after enrolling after which staying 10 promotion-qualifying nights between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.
Associated: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to honor your elite benefits
Backside line
You’ll be able to earn IHG elite-qualifying factors by including bonus factors to imminent paid IHG stays, however there is no shortcut to incomes IHG elite-qualifying nights.
Incomes IHG elite standing is not tough, although. You’ll be able to get pleasure from Platinum Elite standing as a perk of InterContinental Ambassador membership, and a number of other playing cards provide computerized Platinum Elite standing for so long as you are a cardholder. Plus, you may earn top-tier Diamond elite standing by means of the tip of the next yr by spending $40,000 or extra on the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card in a calendar yr.