IHG One Rewards has launched a new promotion offering a 100% bonus on purchased points through September 10, 2025. This brings the cost down to just 0.5¢ per point—matching the best rate we typically see from the program—creating excellent opportunities for high-value hotel redemptions at a fraction of cash rates.
While this is a targeted offer (with different members potentially seeing different bonuses), the standard 100% bonus represents a solid opportunity to stock up on IHG points, especially if you hold one of IHG’s co-branded credit cards that offer a fourth night free on award stays. Let’s explore whether this deal makes sense for your travel plans.
The current IHG One Rewards points promotion runs through September 10, 2025. This is a targeted offer, so different members may see different bonus levels when they log into their accounts. The standard offer appears to be a 100% bonus, which kicks in when you purchase at least 40,000 points in one transaction.
With this promotion, IHG allows members to purchase up to 200,000 base points in a single transaction (increased from the usual annual limit of 150,000 points). If you were to maximize this offer with a 100% bonus, you’d receive a total of 400,000 points (200,000 base points plus 200,000 bonus points) for $2,000, which works out to exactly 0.5¢ per point.
IHG One Rewards has a non-linear pricing structure for purchasing points, with the cost per point decreasing as you buy larger quantities, even before any promotional bonuses. The standard rates range from 1.0¢ to 1.35¢ per point.
There are certain point thresholds where the pricing improves significantly. For example, purchasing 25,000 points ($287.50) is actually more expensive than purchasing 26,000 points ($260). To get the best rate, you’ll typically want to purchase at least 26,000 points at a time.
With the current 100% bonus, the effective cost works out to 0.5¢ per point when maximizing the promotion—a significant discount from the standard rates.
It’s worth noting that while the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offer a 20% discount on purchased points, this benefit only applies to standard rates and cannot be combined with promotional bonuses like this one.
IHG One Rewards points purchases are processed through Points.com rather than directly by IHG. This means these transactions don’t code as hotel or travel purchases for the purposes of earning bonus points on your credit card.
Your best options for purchasing IHG points are:
IHG One Rewards uses dynamic award pricing, meaning the number of points required for a stay fluctuates based on demand, seasonality, and cash rates. While this makes it impossible to provide a fixed value for IHG points, there are several scenarios where purchasing points during this promotion can provide excellent value:
One of the best ways to maximize value when buying IHG points is to combine this promotion with the fourth night free benefit offered by several IHG co-branded credit cards:
This benefit allows cardholders to pay zero points for every fourth night when redeeming points for stays of four nights or longer. This effectively provides a 25% discount on your points redemption, bringing the effective cost of purchased points down to approximately 0.375¢ per point when maximizing both promotions.
Let’s look at some specific redemption opportunities where buying IHG points during this promotion could save you significant money:
This iconic luxury hotel in the heart of Paris often commands high cash rates, especially during peak travel seasons.
Another luxury option in Paris, offering stylish accommodations in a prime location.
This beachfront resort offers a luxurious tropical getaway with stunning ocean views.
Before purchasing IHG points during this promotion, keep these factors in mind:
Before purchasing points, consider these alternative methods of earning IHG One Rewards points:
IHG offers several co-branded credit cards that provide substantial welcome bonuses and ongoing earning opportunities:
IHG partners with several transferable points currencies:
This IHG One Rewards promotion offering a 100% bonus on purchased points represents one of the best opportunities to acquire these points at a favorable rate. At 0.5¢ per point, there are numerous scenarios where buying points can provide significant savings compared to cash rates, especially for luxury properties and during peak travel periods.
The value proposition becomes even more compelling when combined with the fourth night free benefit available to IHG credit cardholders, effectively reducing the cost to approximately 0.375¢ per point for four-night stays.
While I wouldn’t recommend speculatively purchasing IHG points without specific redemptions in mind, this promotion is worth considering if you have upcoming travel plans at IHG properties where the points cost represents a significant discount compared to cash rates.
Remember that this promotion ends on September 10, 2025, so if you’re planning to take advantage of it, make sure to finalize your purchase before then.
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