IHG Lodges & Resorts is the fourth-largest lodge chain, with greater than 6,000 properties throughout greater than 100 international locations and 19 lodge manufacturers.
Like most lodge chains, it affords a handful of cobranded bank cards. IHG and Chase at the moment provide three bank cards (two private and one enterprise) that earn IHG One Rewards factors. There’s a card suited to everybody, from the occasional traveler to IHG loyalists, with annual charges starting from $0 to $99.
Chances are you’ll be deciding between the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
Let’s study the cardboard particulars and see which card suits your technique higher.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
| Card | IHG One Rewards Premier | IHG One Rewards Traveler |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | For a restricted time, earn 5 free nights (as much as 60,000 factors per evening) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Supply ends July 23. | For a restricted time, earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. Supply ends July 23. |
| Annual payment | $99 | $0 |
| Level valuation* | 0.5 cents per level | 0.5 cents per level |
| Rewards construction |
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| Different advantages |
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| Journey and procuring protections |
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*Factors worth is predicated on TPG’s June 2025 valuations and isn’t supplied by nor reviewed by the issuer.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler welcome provide
Based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is value as much as $1,500 in the event you absolutely maximize the free nights at 60,000 factors every for a complete of 300,000 factors.
This matches the highest-ever welcome provide we have seen on the cardboard, which was final supplied in September 2024.
Then again, for a restricted time, those that apply for the IHG One Rewards Traveler can earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. This provide ends July 23.
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Based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is value $600. This matches the highest-ever welcome provide we have seen on the cardboard, which was final supplied slightly over two years in the past.
With each playing cards providing limited-time welcome bonuses, now is a wonderful time to use for both card.
It is essential to needless to say since Chase points each of those playing cards, they’re topic to the 5/24 rule. Meaning you probably will not be authorised for both card in the event you’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards from any issuer up to now 24 months.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. Its welcome provide is value $900 greater than the Traveler’s.
Associated: One of the best welcome bonuses of the month
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler advantages
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler playing cards share a number of advantages. These embrace:
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you obtain:
- Computerized Silver Elite standing: Earn Gold Elite standing via Dec. 31 of the next calendar 12 months after spending $20,000 inside a calendar 12 months.
Then again, the IHG One Rewards Premier gives extra intensive advantages and assertion credit, like:
- Computerized Platinum Elite standing: You’ll obtain Platinum Elite standing and might earn Diamond Elite standing via Dec. 31 of the next calendar 12 months after spending $40,000 inside a calendar 12 months.
- Anniversary free evening award: Obtain a free evening value as much as 40,000 factors every account anniversary. You may prime up this free award with factors out of your IHG account if the room prices greater than 40,000 factors.
- Earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors yearly: Should you spend $20,000 in a calendar 12 months, you’ll earn a $100 assertion credit score and 10,000 bonus factors (value $50 based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations).
- TSA PreCheck/World Entry/Nexus utility payment credit score: Obtain as much as a $120 assertion credit score each 4 years for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
- United Airways TravelBank credit score: Obtain as much as $50 in United TravelBank Money credit score yearly (as much as $25 biannually) deposited in your United TravelBank account.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It gives a free anniversary evening and the next tier of automated elite standing than the Traveler card.
Associated: Evaluating the very best lodge elite standing tiers and the best way to earn them
Incomes factors on the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each the Premier and Traveler playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors.
With the IHG One Rewards Premier, you may earn:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on IHG resorts and resorts
- 5 factors per greenback spent on eating (together with takeout and eligible supply), gasoline purchases and journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
These incomes charges characterize a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
You may also earn as much as 26 factors per greenback spent with the Premier card at IHG resorts (10 factors per greenback from the cardboard, 10 factors for being an IHG One Rewards member and as much as 6 factors from the Platinum Elite standing the cardboard gives).
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on IHG resorts and resorts
- 3 factors per greenback spent on cable, web and cellphone companies; eating (together with takeout and eligible supply); gasoline stations; choose streaming companies; and utilities
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
These incomes charges characterize a 2.5%, 1.5% and 1% return on spending, respectively, based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
With the Traveler card, you too can earn as much as 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG resorts (5 factors per greenback from the cardboard, 10 factors for being an IHG One Rewards member and as much as 2 factors from the Silver Elite standing the cardboard gives).
The Premier card affords extra factors in practically all classes, and in the one ones it would not, it matches the incomes charges on the Traveler card.
Neither card affords showstopping charges, however they each provide first rate returns on IHG purchases. Nonetheless, you could be higher off utilizing one other card in your lodge stays and on a regular basis purchases, just like the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) or Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, as different playing cards can provide increased returns.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It earns extra factors than the Traveler on most purchases.
Associated: The way to earn IHG factors through stays, bank cards and extra
Redeeming factors with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors, and they are often redeemed in the identical methods. IHG One Rewards factors might be redeemed for lodge stays, digital rewards and charitable donations, and might be transferred to airline companions.
TPG e-newsletter and partnerships editor Emily Thompson stretches her factors by reserving Vacation Inn and Vacation Inn Categorical stays and utilizing the fourth-night-free perk on award stays.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn IHG One Rewards factors and provide the identical redemption choices.
Associated: Must you purchase IHG factors or switch rewards from Chase?
Transferring factors with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Each playing cards have entry to a number of switch companions, together with American Airways, Delta Air Strains and United Airways. Most airways convert IHG factors to miles at a 5:1 ratio.
Whereas this normally is not the very best use of factors, it might make sense in particular conditions the place transferring IHG factors to an airline associate can be useful.
For instance, if you have to ebook an award flight and are quick on miles with an airline with miles which can be in any other case onerous to earn, like Korean Air, transferring IHG factors could possibly be a superb possibility.
It is essential to notice that transferring factors to airways is far more cumbersome with IHG than with different lodge chains. It’s a must to name IHG One Rewards at 888-211-9874 to provoke the switch. Switch occasions range by airline; transfers can take as much as six weeks to course of.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have the identical switch companions.
Associated: Must you switch lodge factors to airline companions?
Ought to I get the IHG One Rewards Premier or IHG One Rewards Traveler?
IHG loyalists and frequent vacationers are higher suited to the IHG One Rewards Premier because of its increased incomes charges and automated Platinum Elite standing. The cardboard has a $99 annual payment — however the free anniversary evening greater than covers the annual payment. Should you do not need to pay an annual payment, the Traveler is the higher selection.
Associated: Why it is best to get (and hold) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
The way to improve from the IHG One Rewards Traveler to the IHG One Rewards Premier
Should you at the moment have one among these playing cards and you’re over 5/24 or not eligible for a brand new IHG card welcome bonus, you could need to go for a product change. You may both improve from the Traveler to the Premier or downgrade from the Premier to the Traveler.
To request a product change (an improve or downgrade), merely name the quantity on the again of your card. It is essential to ensure you wait till you have had the cardboard for at the least a 12 months earlier than altering so you do not doubtlessly forfeit your welcome bonus.
Associated: The final word information to bank card upgrades
Backside line
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler playing cards are every an effective way to leap into the IHG One Rewards program and benefit from a few of its redemption choices. You will not go flawed with both, as IHG has 1000’s of properties throughout the globe.
The Premier is the higher worth proposition in the event you use the free evening yearly — which most ought to be capable to do. Plus, it comes with the next stage of elite standing.
Nonetheless, the Traveler card is a stable no-annual-fee possibility in the event you keep at IHG properties sometimes and need to improve your journey expertise if you do.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full critiques of the IHG One Rewards Premier card and IHG One Rewards Traveler card.
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Premier
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler
