What the IHG Friends and Family Rate is

The IHG Friends and Family rate is a discounted room rate that InterContinental Hotels Group offers to cardholders and their guests at participating properties. It is not a separate membership tier or a benefit you unlock — it is a specific nightly rate you can book directly through IHG's website or by calling the hotel, usually 10 to 20 percent below the standard published rate for that night.

The rate is available to IHG credit card members, IHG Rewards members at certain elite tiers, and sometimes to employees and their families. The exact discount and which properties honor it depend on the specific IHG card you hold and the hotel's current inventory. Unlike some hotel perks, this rate is not automatic — you have to know it exists and request it by name when you book.

Key Takeaways

  • The Friends and Family rate is a named discount rate you request when booking, typically 10 to 20 percent off the standard nightly rate.
  • Availability varies by property, date, and card tier — some hotels may have no rooms available at this rate on busy nights.
  • You must book directly through IHG.com or by phone using the rate code provided by your card issuer; third-party booking sites do not display it.
  • The rate usually cannot be combined with other promotions, points redemptions, or elite member discounts, so you need to compare it against your other options before booking.
  • Not all IHG properties participate, and some corporate or contracted hotels may exclude this rate entirely.

How to find and book the Friends and Family rate

Your IHG credit card issuer (usually Chase, Bank of America, or Barclays depending on the card) provides a rate code in your welcome materials or on the cardholder benefits page. You enter this code when booking on IHG.com, or you can call the hotel directly and mention the code to the reservations team. The code is what unlocks the rate in the system.

On IHG.com, after you enter your check-in and check-out dates and select a property, look for a field labeled "Rate Code" or "Promo Code" before you choose your room type. Paste the code there, and the system will filter to show only rooms available at the Friends and Family rate. If no rooms appear, that property has no inventory at that rate for those dates — it does not mean the code is invalid.

If you book by phone, have your rate code ready and confirm the final price before you commit. Some hotel staff are familiar with this rate and some are not, so stating the code clearly and asking them to verify the discount in their system prevents confusion at check-in.

What discount you actually receive

The Friends and Family rate is typically 10 to 20 percent below the standard published rate, but the exact percentage varies. A hotel might offer 15 percent off on a Tuesday in March and 10 percent off on a Friday in July, depending on demand and occupancy. IHG does not publish a fixed discount percentage because rates are dynamic and tied to the hotel's pricing strategy for that specific night.

The discount is applied to the room rate only, not to taxes, resort fees, or parking. If a hotel charges a $20 nightly resort fee or $15 for parking, those are added on top of your discounted room rate. Always review the full itemized price before you confirm your booking.

To know whether this rate is worth using, compare it against what you would pay with points, a standard rate, or a competing hotel. Some nights the Friends and Family rate may be the best option; other nights a points redemption or a sale rate at a different chain might save you more money.

Which IHG cards offer this rate and which properties honor it

The IHG credit cards that typically include Friends and Family rates are the IHG One Rewards Premier Card, the IHG One Rewards Business Card, and sometimes the IHG One Rewards Card (the no-annual-fee version). The specific terms and rate codes differ by card, so check your cardholder benefits guide or contact your card issuer to confirm your code.

Not every IHG property participates. Most company-operated InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express locations honor the rate, but franchised properties, some resort locations, and properties in certain markets may exclude it. Before you book, call the specific hotel to ask whether they accept the Friends and Family rate code, or check the fine print on your card's benefits page for a list of excluded properties.

Restrictions and what you cannot combine with this rate

The Friends and Family rate usually cannot be stacked with other discounts, promotions, or elite member benefits. If you are an IHG Rewards Diamond member, you cannot use your Diamond discount and the Friends and Family rate on the same booking — you have to choose one. Similarly, if IHG is running a "20 percent off" promotion that week, you typically cannot combine it with Friends and Family.

You also cannot redeem points toward a room and use the Friends and Family rate on the same stay. The rate applies to paid bookings only. If you want to use points, you book a points redemption; if you want the Friends and Family rate, you pay cash (or put it on your IHG credit card).

Cancellation policies, check-in times, and other standard hotel rules explore to Friends and Family bookings just as they do to any other rate. The discount does not change the terms of your stay.

When the Friends and Family rate makes sense to use

This rate is most valuable when you are booking a property where the standard rate is high and you do not have enough points to cover the stay without paying a cash co-pay. For example, if a Crowne Plaza is charging $180 per night and the Friends and Family rate brings it to $150, you save $30 per night — which adds up on a week-long trip.

It is less valuable when you have elite status that grants you a similar or better discount, when the hotel is running a deeper sale, or when you have a large points balance and the points-per-dollar value is competitive. Always calculate the cost per night under each option (Friends and Family rate, elite discount, points redemption, standard rate) before you book.

The rate is also useful if you are staying at a property where you do not have status or a promotion running. It gives you a may provide discount without waiting for a sale or meeting membership thresholds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Friends and Family rate for someone else, or does the cardholder have to be the guest?

The cardholder does not have to be the guest, but the rate code is tied to your card. You provide the code when you book, and the reservation is made under your name or the guest's name depending on how you set it up. Call the hotel directly if you are booking for someone else to confirm their policy on who can check in.

What if I book the Friends and Family rate and then a better rate becomes available?

You can cancel and rebook if the hotel's cancellation policy allows it. Most IHG bookings allow free cancellation up to 24 or 48 hours before arrival. If a lower rate appears and you are within the cancellation window, cancel your current booking and rebook at the new rate. Always check the specific cancellation terms before you book.

Does the Friends and Family rate work at all IHG brands?

Most major IHG brands (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites) participate, but not all properties within those brands do. Luxury properties like Voco and some resort locations may exclude it. Check with the specific hotel or your card's benefits page for a list of participating properties.

Can I book the Friends and Family rate on a third-party booking site like Expedia or Booking.com?

No. Third-party sites do not display rate codes or proprietary discounts. You must book directly on IHG.com or by calling the hotel to use the Friends and Family rate code.

What happens if I show up with the Friends and Family rate booked but the hotel says they do not honor it?

This is rare if you booked through IHG.com with a valid code, because the rate is confirmed in the reservation system. If there is a dispute at check-in, show the hotel your confirmation email and the rate code. If the hotel still refuses to honor it, contact your card issuer's customer service — they can often resolve it or provide a credit.