How my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card pays for itself each year
Editor's Note
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) currently has a welcome offer of 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $875.
Even after you earn the welcome offer, the IHG Premier Card pays for itself each year.
It offers a range of useful benefits, such as automatic Platinum Elite status, every fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or more and up to $50 in United® TravelBank Cash each calendar year.
But one benefit rises above the rest and effectively covers the card's annual fee each year: the account anniversary night certificate. Let's dive in.
IHG anniversary night certificate
Every year on your account anniversary with the IHG One Rewards Premier, you'll receive a certificate for a one-night stay at a property with a point redemption value of 40,000 points or less.
TPG's June 2025 valuations peg the value of 40,000 IHG points at $200, more than double the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 annual fee. So, you should easily get enough value to cover your card's annual fee by redeeming your anniversary night certificate each year.
One of my favorite hotels to use an IHG anniversary night certificate at is the Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam. During shoulder and low season, you often find award nights bookable for around 40,000 points. For example, for a stay on Jan. 19, I could redeem 39,000 points or pay $259 for a reservation that I can cancel for free until a day before my stay.
Of course, you could use an IHG anniversary night certificate in many other ways. Regardless of how you use it, you'll likely get at least $99 in value. You can also add points from your account to use the anniversary night certificate at more expensive properties if you can't find anything to your liking within the 40,000-point limit.
You must redeem your anniversary night certificate and complete your stay within 12 months of when IHG issues the certificate.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Bottom line
I love my IHG One Rewards Premier for its ongoing perks. But the anniversary night alone makes it a winning choice. Even if you don't maximize your anniversary night certificate, using it for a single night's stay at an IHG property should easily give you more value than the card's annual fee.
To learn more, see our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier.
Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
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| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app