IHG One Rewards Cards Offer Valuable Free Night Certificates—How to Earn and Use Them

IHG’s cobranded One Rewards cards give U.S. holders a yearly free‑night certificate that can offset the card’s annual fee. The most common way to earn certificates is through the IHG credit cards: the Premier Select card (annual fee $350) grants a 60,000‑point certificate, and the Premier card ($150) offers a 50,000‑point certificate. Cardholders can earn a second certificate each calendar year by spending $40,000 on the Premier Select or $60,000 on the Business card, with the same redemption caps. Certificates are deposited within eight weeks of qualifying and can be topped off with points for higher‑cost stays. They expire 12 months after issuance, and the booking system requires a separate reservation for each certificate‑redeemed night. Existing cardholders who opened before the 2026 revamp receive certificates capped at 40,000 points until the end of 2026, after which the cap rises to 50,000 or 60,000 points depending on the card. To check a certificate, log into the IHG One Rewards portal, view the “Enjoy your rewards” section, and click “Book a Free Night.” The booking flow automatically selects the certificate rate; if a top‑off is needed, the system will prompt for additional points. Because certificates cannot be combined with cash or points on the same reservation, travelers should plan consecutive stays carefully. Overall, the certificates can deliver strong value when the redemption rate exceeds the card’s annual fee, especially for frequent IHG guests.