What IHG credit cards offer

IHG credit cards are issued by Capital One and tied to the InterContinental Hotels Group loyalty program. They come in several versions — the IHG One Rewards card, the IHG One Business card, and occasionally co-branded versions with specific hotel properties. Each card earns points on hotel stays and everyday purchases, and each comes with different annual fees and reward rates.

The main benefit is that points earned on the card go directly into your IHG One Rewards account, which you can use to book free nights at any IHG property worldwide. You also get perks like automatic elite status, free night certificates, and bonus points for signing up. The card itself is not a hotel room — it is a payment tool that accelerates how fast you accumulate the points needed to stay for free.

Key Takeaways

  • IHG credit cards earn points on every purchase, and those points transfer to your IHG One Rewards account to book free hotel nights.
  • Most IHG cards come with an annual fee that ranges from $0 to $99 depending on the version, and they offer a free night certificate each year to offset it.
  • You get automatic elite status in the IHG One Rewards program just by holding the card, which unlocks room upgrades and late checkout at participating hotels.
  • The card requires you to have an IHG One Rewards account before you explore, and you can open one for free on the IHG website.
  • Different versions of the card have different earning rates — some earn more points per dollar on hotel stays, others on dining or gas.

The different IHG card versions and what they cost

Capital One offers several IHG cards, and the one you choose depends on how much you travel and what you spend on. The IHG One Rewards card has no annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on IHG hotel stays and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It comes with a free night certificate each year that works at most IHG properties, though the certificate has a point cap (usually around 50,000 points) so it does not work at the most expensive resorts.

The IHG One Rewards Premier card costs $99 per year and earns 3 points per dollar on IHG stays and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. It also comes with a free night certificate each year, plus automatic elite status (Silver Elite), and a $50 IHG credit that you can use toward stays. The IHG One Business card works the same way but is designed for business owners and earns points on business purchases.

Capital One occasionally releases limited-time versions tied to specific IHG brands like Club InterContinental or Kimpton. These have their own earning rates and benefits. Check the Capital One website to see which versions are currently available, because the lineup changes.

How to earn and use points

Every dollar you spend on the card earns points at the rate your specific card offers. Those points land in your IHG One Rewards account automatically — you do not have to do anything to transfer them. You can then use points to book free nights at any IHG property, from budget Holiday Inns to luxury InterContinental hotels.

The number of points a free night costs depends on the hotel's category, which IHG assigns based on location and demand. A budget hotel might cost 10,000 points per night, while a luxury resort could cost 50,000 or more. You can also use points to extend a paid stay, upgrade your room, or pay for incidentals like parking or resort fees at some properties.

Points do not expire as long as your account stays active — meaning you earn at least one point every two years. If your account goes inactive, IHG will close it and you lose the points. Holding the credit card keeps your account active automatically.

Elite status and other card perks

straightforward by holding an IHG credit card, you get automatic elite status in the IHG One Rewards program. The no-annual-fee card gives you Silver Elite status. The $99 Premier card gives you Silver Elite status plus a $50 annual IHG credit. Elite status means you get room upgrades when available, late checkout (usually until 4 p.m.), and bonus points on every stay.

You also receive a free night certificate each year on your card anniversary. This certificate is good for one free night at an IHG property up to the point cap your card offers. If you do not use it within a year, it expires, so mark your calendar when your card anniversary is.

Additional perks vary by card but may include travel insurance, purchase protection, and roadside information through Capital One's standard cardholder benefits. Check your card's terms and conditions for the full list.

How to open an IHG credit card account

Before you explore for the card, you need an IHG One Rewards account. Go to ihg.com and click "Join IHG One Rewards" at the top of the page. Enter your email, create a password, and fill in your name and address. The account is free and takes about five minutes. You will receive a confirmation email with your IHG member number.

Once you have your member number, go to the Capital One website or search for "IHG credit card." Choose the version you want and click "explore Now." You will enter your Social Security number, income, and employment information. Capital One will run a hard credit inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points. Most decisions come back within minutes.

If you are approved, your card will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. set up it by calling the number on the back or logging into your Capital One account online. Once activated, link it to your IHG One Rewards account so points post automatically. You can do this in your IHG account settings under "Linked Cards."

Annual fees and whether they are worth it

The no-annual-fee IHG card costs nothing to keep open, so there is no math to do — you either use it or you do not. The $99 Premier card pays for itself if you use the free night certificate and the $50 IHG credit, which together equal $150 in value. That leaves you $51 ahead in year one.

Whether the Premier card makes sense depends on how often you stay at IHG hotels. If you take at least one or two IHG stays per year, the free night certificate alone covers most of the annual fee. If you rarely stay at IHG properties, the no-annual-fee card is the better choice.

Keep in mind that the free night certificate has a point cap, so it will not work at the most expensive IHG properties. If you only stay at luxury resorts, the certificate may not be useful to you, and the annual fee becomes pure cost.

How IHG credit cards compare to other hotel cards

IHG cards compete with Marriott Bonvoy cards, Hilton Honors cards, and Chase Sapphire cards. The main difference is which hotel loyalty program the points go into. If you stay mostly at Marriott properties, a Marriott card makes more sense. If you stay at multiple hotel chains, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be better because points are not locked into one program.

IHG cards tend to have lower annual fees than Marriott or Hilton cards at the premium tier, and the free night certificates are easier to use because they have higher point caps. However, IHG has fewer properties worldwide than Marriott or Hilton, so the card is most useful if you have IHG hotels in the cities you travel to.

The best card for you depends on where you travel, how often, and which hotel chains are available in those locations. If you already have loyalty to IHG or stay there regularly, an IHG card will accelerate your progress toward free nights. If you do not, another card may be a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need good credit to get an IHG card?

Capital One typically approves applicants with fair credit (scores around 650 and up), though approval is not may provide. The no-annual-fee card is easier to get approved for than the $99 Premier card. If you are denied, you can reapply after three to six months of improving your credit.

Can I earn points on the card without staying at hotels?

Yes. Every purchase you make on the card earns points at the rate your card offers — usually 1 point per dollar on non-hotel purchases. You can accumulate points through everyday spending like groceries, gas, and dining, then use them to book free hotel nights whenever you want.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your IHG One Rewards account and do not disappear. However, if you close the card and do not earn any points for two years, IHG will close your account and you will lose the points. Keeping the account active by earning points elsewhere (like through paid hotel stays) prevents this.

Can I use my free night certificate at any IHG hotel?

Almost any IHG hotel will accept the certificate, but it has a point cap. If the hotel's nightly rate exceeds the point cap on your certificate, you cannot use it there without paying the difference out of pocket. Budget and mid-range IHG properties are almost always under the cap; luxury properties often exceed it.

How long does it take to earn enough points for a free night?

It depends on how much you spend and which card you have. With the Premier card earning 3 points per dollar on hotel stays, a $500 hotel bill earns 1,500 points. A budget hotel free night might cost 10,000 points, so you would need roughly seven paid stays to earn one free night. Everyday spending adds up more slowly — $1,000 in groceries earns 1,000 points.