IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler: Which IHG card is right for you?
Editor's Note
Quick summary
IHG Hotels & Resorts is the fourth-largest hotel chain, with more than 6,000 properties across more than 100 countries and 19 hotel brands.
Like most hotel chains, it offers a handful of cobranded credit cards. IHG and Chase currently offer three credit cards (two personal and one business) that earn IHG One Rewards points. There is a card suited for everyone, from the occasional traveler to IHG loyalists, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $99.
You may be deciding between the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Let's examine the card details and see which card fits your strategy better.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
| Card | IHG One Rewards Premier | IHG One Rewards Traveler |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | For a limited time, earn five free nights (up to 60,000 points per night) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Offer ends July 23. | For a limited time, earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends July 23. |
| Annual fee | $99 | $0 |
| Point valuation* | 0.5 cents per point | 0.5 cents per point |
| Rewards structure |
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| Other benefits |
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| Travel and shopping protections |
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*Points value is based on TPG's June 2025 valuations and is not provided by nor reviewed by the issuer.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler welcome offer
New applicants for the IHG One Rewards Premier can, for a limited time, earn five free nights (up to 60,000 points per night) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This offer ends July 23.
Based on TPG's June 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $1,500 if you fully maximize the free nights at 60,000 points each for a total of 300,000 points.
This matches the highest-ever welcome offer we've seen on the card, which was last offered in September 2024.
On the other hand, for a limited time, those who apply for the IHG One Rewards Traveler can earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This offer ends July 23.
Based on TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $600. This matches the highest-ever welcome offer we've seen on the card, which was last offered a little over two years ago.
With both cards offering limited-time welcome bonuses, now is an excellent time to apply for either card.
It's important to keep in mind that since Chase issues both of these cards, they are subject to the 5/24 rule. That means you likely won't be approved for either card if you've opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. Its welcome offer is worth $900 more than the Traveler's.
Related: The best welcome bonuses of the month
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler benefits
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler cards share a few benefits. These include:
- Fourth-night-free benefit: If you book an award stay of four or more nights, you will receive every fourth night free.
- Discount on points purchases: Receive at least a 20% discount when purchasing points with your IHG card. This discount is not applicable to any other offers to buy points. IHG often runs sales on points where the savings are higher, so this may not be useful in scenarios when you need to buy points.
- Early access to reward night sales: You will receive early access to award night sales.
- Travel and purchase protections: Both cards offer baggage delay insurance, lost Luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and purchase protection.
- Chase Pay Over Time: You can break purchases of $100 or more into smaller monthly payments for a fixed fee with no interest.
- Access to Chase Offers.
- No foreign transaction fees.
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you receive:
- Automatic Silver Elite status: Earn Gold Elite status through Dec. 31 of the following calendar year after spending $20,000 within a calendar year.
On the other hand, the IHG One Rewards Premier provides more extensive benefits and statement credits, like:
- Automatic Platinum Elite status: You will receive Platinum Elite status and can earn Diamond Elite status through Dec. 31 of the following calendar year after spending $40,000 within a calendar year.
- Anniversary free night award: Receive a free night worth up to 40,000 points each account anniversary. You can top up this free award with points from your IHG account if the room costs more than 40,000 points.
- Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points every year: If you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, you will earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points (worth $50 based on TPG's June 2025 valuations).
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/Nexus application fee credit: Receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
- United Airlines TravelBank credit: Receive up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash credit every year (up to $25 biannually) deposited in your United TravelBank account.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It provides a free anniversary night and a higher tier of automatic elite status than the Traveler card.
Related: Comparing the best hotel elite status tiers and how to earn them
Earning points on the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Both the Premier and Traveler cards earn IHG One Rewards points.
With the IHG One Rewards Premier, you'll earn:
- 10 points per dollar spent on IHG hotels and resorts
- 5 points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery), gas purchases and travel
- 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
These earning rates represent a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG's June 2025 valuations.
You can also earn up to 26 points per dollar spent with the Premier card at IHG hotels (10 points per dollar from the card, 10 points for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 6 points from the Platinum Elite status the card provides).
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you'll earn:
- 5 points per dollar spent on IHG hotels and resorts
- 3 points per dollar spent on cable, internet and phone services; dining (including takeout and eligible delivery); gas stations; select streaming services; and utilities
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
These earning rates represent a 2.5%, 1.5% and 1% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG's June 2025 valuations.
With the Traveler card, you can also earn up to 17 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels (5 points per dollar from the card, 10 points for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 2 points from the Silver Elite status the card provides).
The Premier card offers more points in nearly all categories, and in the only ones it doesn't, it matches the earning rates on the Traveler card.
Neither card offers showstopping rates, but they both offer decent returns on IHG purchases. However, you may be better off using another card for your hotel stays and everyday purchases, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, as other cards can offer higher returns.
Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It earns more points than the Traveler on most purchases.
Related: How to earn IHG points via stays, credit cards and more
Redeeming points with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Both cards earn IHG One Rewards points, and they can be redeemed in the same ways. IHG One Rewards points can be redeemed for hotel stays, digital rewards and charitable donations, and can be transferred to airline partners.
To maximize the value of your IHG points, it is best to redeem them for hotel stays. IHG utilizes dynamic pricing, which means the points price per night depends on availability and season, but great deals can still be found. Award-night prices start as low as just 5,000 points per night.
TPG newsletter and partnerships editor Emily Thompson stretches her points by booking Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express stays and using the fourth-night-free perk on award stays.
Winner: Tie. Both cards earn IHG One Rewards points and offer the same redemption options.
Related: Should you buy IHG points or transfer rewards from Chase?
Transferring points with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler
Both cards have access to multiple transfer partners, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Most airlines convert IHG points to miles at a 5:1 ratio.
While this usually isn't the best use of points, it could make sense in specific situations where transferring IHG points to an airline partner would be beneficial.
For example, if you need to book an award flight and are short on miles with an airline with miles that are otherwise hard to earn, like Korean Air, transferring IHG points could be a good option.
It's important to note that transferring points to airlines is much more cumbersome with IHG than with other hotel chains. You have to call IHG One Rewards at 888-211-9874 to initiate the transfer. Transfer times vary by airline; transfers can take up to six weeks to process.
Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same transfer partners.
Related: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?
Should I get the IHG One Rewards Premier or IHG One Rewards Traveler?
IHG loyalists and frequent travelers are better suited to the IHG One Rewards Premier thanks to its higher earning rates and automatic Platinum Elite status. The card has a $99 annual fee — but the free anniversary night more than covers the annual fee. If you don't want to pay an annual fee, the Traveler is the better choice.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
How to upgrade from the IHG One Rewards Traveler to the IHG One Rewards Premier
If you currently have one of these cards and you are over 5/24 or not eligible for a new IHG card welcome bonus, you may want to opt for a product change. You can either upgrade from the Traveler to the Premier or downgrade from the Premier to the Traveler.
To request a product change (an upgrade or downgrade), simply call the number on the back of your card. It's important to make sure you wait until you've had the card for at least a year before changing so you don't potentially forfeit your welcome bonus.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades
Bottom line
The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler cards are each a great way to jump into the IHG One Rewards program and take advantage of some of its redemption options. You won't go wrong with either, as IHG has thousands of properties across the globe.
The Premier is the better value proposition if you use the free night every year — which most should be able to do. Plus, it comes with a higher level of elite status.
However, the Traveler card is a solid no-annual-fee option if you stay at IHG properties infrequently and want to enhance your travel experience when you do.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the IHG One Rewards Premier card and IHG One Rewards Traveler card.
Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier
Apply here: IHG One Rewards Traveler