While a lucrative welcome offer — earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — might be one reason to get a new credit card, the ongoing annual benefits your family could receive from a card are a great reason to keep it in your wallet year after year.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) is top-notch in value. I keep it in my wallet because it helps me save money and points on travel. I personally love applying for cards that have ongoing benefits versus ones that only provide limited value after the first year.
With just a $150 annual fee on the card, the yearly benefits are worth way more. Here are the top reasons why this card will benefit your family.
Free night certificate year after year
One of the best benefits of this card is that you’ll receive a free night certificate on every anniversary year for properties that cost up to 50,000 points a night. If you can maximize this certificate on a yearly basis, this benefit alone is valued at $300 (per TPG’s October 2026 valuations).
If both you and your significant other hold this card, you can get two free nights a year (read: weekend getaway) in exchange for the annual fee. If you think of the annual fee as covering this perk (and then some), then all the other benefits you receive can be considered bonuses.
Related: The award traveler’s guide to IHG One Rewards
Fourth night free on award stays
My second favorite benefit of this card is that when booking award stays, you receive your fourth night free. Best of all, this applies to every fourth night of a single reservation. So if you have an eight-night stay, you’ll receive two free nights.
Although a few other hotel chains will give you a free night when using points, they typically apply to the fifth night.
This IHG Premier Credit Card perk allows the points you earn to go even further, and it’s a great opportunity to stay at some of IHG’s family-friendly properties.
Related: How to get your fourth reward night free when redeeming IHG points
Complimentary Global Entry Or TSA PreCheck
If you or a family member does not yet have Global Entry, this card will allow you to get it at no out-of-pocket cost. All you have to do is pay for the $120 Global Entry application fee, and then you’ll receive a $120 statement credit.
The best part is that the names do not need to match, so if you already have Global Entry, you can use it to pay for your child’s application. If your family is traveling internationally at all (including around most of the Caribbean), being able to zip through customs by using the Global Entry kiosk is a big win.
This isn’t a yearly benefit, but since Global Entry is valid for a five-year period, you can receive this credit once every four years. If you prefer, you can use the statement credit on TSA PreCheck instead; however, you automatically receive TSA PreCheck with Global Entry, so it makes the most sense to get Global Entry.
Related: 8 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
United TravelBank perk
You can also get up to $50 of United TravelBank cash per calendar year — a moderate but solid perk that can save you even more on your next trip. In order to receive the credit, you must register your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card with your MileagePlus account.
Gold Elite status
IHG is probably one of the weaker hotel loyalty programs when it comes to status, but walking into a hotel with some status is better than no status at all. The IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders receive automatic Gold Elite status.
You can spend $15,000 each calendar year to qualify for Platinum Elite status. You also have the opportunity to earn Diamond Elite Status each calendar year by making $40,000 in purchases.
Related: What IHG elite status is and how to earn it
Bottom line
The annual free night certificate and fourth-night free perks will provide real savings every year you hold this card. Top that off with Gold elite status and complimentary Global Entry, and you’re looking at a card that offers solid value right off the bat. The modest $150 annual fee is a small price to pay for benefits that'll ease your travels and make them more enjoyable.
Related: How to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program
