IHG One Rewards elite status: Last-minute strategies for earning status

As the end of the year approaches, you may be wondering how to reach your desired level of elite status IHG One Rewards this year. This guide will discuss strategies for achieving IHG elite status before the end of the year, including ways to earn more qualifying nights or qualifying points.

Overview of IHG elite status

IHG has overhauled its loyalty program in 2022, adding more benefits and new elite levels. Here are the current IHG One Rewards elite levels and the requirements for each level:

• Elite silver: 10 nights of ranking
• Golden essence: 20 qualifying nights or 40,000 qualifying points
• Platinum elite: 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 qualifying points
• Elite diamond: 70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points

As you can see, you can earn most IHG elite status levels through qualifying nights or qualifying points. IHG uses one calendar year as the qualifying period, so you have from January 1 to December 31 each year to accumulate enough nights or points for your desired elite level. You will then maintain your status until the end of the next calendar year.

Additionally, you can earn IHG Milestone Rewards based on your number of qualifying nights per calendar year. Starting with just 20 qualifying nights per calendar year, you’ll earn significant rewards for every 10 qualifying nights you stay (up to 100 qualifying nights per calendar year).

Related: IHG Elite Status: What it is and how to earn it

Strategies to earn more qualifying nights

Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut to earning qualifying nights with IHG One Rewards. You’ll earn one elite qualifying night for each qualifying night of your stay, including stay rewards.

the IHG Terms and Conditions Please note that you will not earn any qualifying nights for your stay if you do not show up or cancel after the hotel cancellation period (even if you have paid in full for the room and it is not return). So you’ll need to go to a hotel and stay on a qualifying paid rate or stay on an award to earn qualifying nights.

Additionally, if you book two rooms on the same calendar day, only one night will count as a qualifying night. Therefore, if you need more qualifying nights than you have left in the calendar year, you will not be able to qualify for your desired status based on the number of nights.

If you need more qualifying nights, look at your plans for the rest of the year and see when you can stay at an IHG hotel. Even if an IHG hotel is more expensive than your other options, it’s still worth it if it helps you reach a higher elite level or additional milestone rewards.

If you cannot get the necessary qualifying nights during your intended trip, consider staying in or running mattress near your house. Or plan a trip to a destination with inexpensive IHG hotels or resorts.

Related: Earn elite nights on award stays with these loyalty programs

Strategies to earn more qualifying points

Based on IHG Terms and ConditionsOnly the following activities earn elite qualifying points:

• Pay the qualifying rate for your hotel stay
• Spend on Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences
• Buy an IHG One Rewards points package
• Eligible spending through IHG Business Rewards
• Make purchases on IHG One Rewards credit cards issued in the UK and China

Earn money through IHG partner activities like Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations, and Viator experiences can be helpful if you just need to earn a small amount of extra qualifying points to reach your desired elite status. And if you qualify for an IHG card issued in the UK or Mainland China, you can use it to earn additional qualifying points on your purchases.

But for most US-based IHG loyalists, the best way to earn more qualifying points is to add bonus points packages on upcoming paid stays. For example, here’s the deal I saw while staying at the Holiday Inn Ocean City in Maryland:

If you add 5,000 points at $32 per night, you’ll buy points for 0.64 cents each. This buying rate is higher than TPG’s October 2024 valuation IHG points (0.5 cents each) but still lower than what I usually get when redeem IHG points. Additionally, the points you purchase during your stay qualify as elite.

Related: How to earn IHG points through stays, credit cards, etc

Other strategies to quickly achieve IHG elite status

As you may have noticed, there aren’t many shortcuts to earning more qualifying nights or points. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t shortcuts to achieving IHG elite status. Here are some ways you can quickly achieve IHG elite status.

Get an IHG credit card

Some IHG credit card offers automatic elite status as a cardholder perk and allows you to spend towards higher elite status levels:

• IHG One Rewards travel credit card: Enjoy automatic Silver Elite status as long as you remain an IHG Traveler card member, while also earning Gold Elite status until the end of the following year, each calendar year you make purchases totaling from 20,000 USD or more with your card.
• Premier IHG One Rewards credit card And IHG One Rewards Premier business credit card: Enjoy automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain an IHG Premier card member, while also earning Diamond Elite status through the end of the following year, each calendar year you make purchases totaling from 40,000 USD or more with your card.

You can also apply for free IHG Platinum Elite status with United Club℠ Unlimited Pass.

Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card

Pay for an InterContinental Ambassador membership

Another way to quickly achieve Platinum Elite status is to purchase one Intercontinental Ambassador member. A 12-month Ambassador membership costs $225 or 45,000 points. However, membership will provide Platinum Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program and the following perks when staying at InterContinental hotels:

• Guaranteed room upgrade of one type
• Guaranteed late check-out 4pm
• Free weekend nights
• Restaurant and bar credit up to $20 per stay
• Free mineral water
• Free internet
• Dedicated check-in area
• Single room price for double room

If you want Platinum Elite status and don’t have a credit card that offers it, maintaining an InterContinental Ambassador membership may be a good option, even if you only stay at occasional hotels. InterContinental hotel.

Related: How much value does IHG One Rewards status offer when you book directly?

Use targeted offers

You should also check your emails and the offers section of your IHG account to see if you have any targeted offers. After all, some IHG members have reported receiving it targeted Diamond Elite fast track offer. Through this offer, targeted members can achieve Diamond Elite status until the end of 2025 after signing up and then staying 10 promotional qualifying nights from October 1 to the 31st. December.

Related: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to honor your elite benefits

Bottom line

You can earn IHG elite qualifying points by adding bonus points to upcoming paid IHG stays, but there’s no shortcut to earning IHG elite qualifying nights.

However, achieving IHG elite status isn’t difficult. You can enjoy Platinum Elite status as a perk of your InterContinental Ambassador membership, and some cards offer automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as you’re a cardholder. Additionally, you can achieve top-level Diamond elite status through the end of next year by spending $40,000 or more on Premier IHG One Rewards credit card or IHG One Rewards Premier business credit card in a calendar year.