Skip to content

IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn: Snag extra points with this dining rewards program

Dec. 09, 2023
8 min read
Contactless payment, NFC technology and tapping a credit or debit card at a counter to pay for coffee. Closeup of a woman buying a hot beverage at a cafe and using an online or wireless paying method
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

If you use one of the best credit cards for dining when you eat out, you already earn ample rewards at restaurants. But if you want to collect a few extra points or miles on your meals, you may also want to enroll in a dining rewards program.

Many airline and hotel loyalty programs have associated dining rewards programs, including Hilton Honors Dining, American Airlines AAdvantage Dining and Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town. But in this guide, we'll consider the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program.

IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn overview

Overhead shot of woman eating green salad while sharing pizza at the dining table. Food delivery.
OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES

The IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program allows you to earn IHG points on every dollar you spend at select restaurants and bars. These points are on top of the rewards you'd normally earn through your credit card or the restaurant's rewards program.

To get started, enroll in the program and add at least one card to your account. Then, you can search for restaurants and bars participating in the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program. When you dine and pay at these venues with a registered card, you'll earn extra IHG points.

Related: How to redeem points with the IHG One Rewards program

How to join

eating sushi at a restaurant
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES

You can sign up online to join the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program. However, before doing so, it's worth checking whether a new member bonus is available.

As of publishing, new IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn members without a dining profile could earn 1,000 IHG points when they join the program. To earn the bonus points, new members must spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant or bar in their first 30 days with their enrolled credit or debit card, remain opted-in for emails and complete an online review within 30 days of their visit. Based on TPG's valuations, 1,000 IHG points are worth $5.

You must provide some information to join the program. First, enter your first name, last name, zip code, email address and IHG One Rewards number. You'll want to opt in for email notifications, as doing so unlocks the new member bonus and a higher earning rate.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Join IHG One Rewards dine and earn
REWARDSNETWORK.COM

On the subsequent pages, you'll need to enter more information, including at least one credit or debit card you'd like to link to the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program.

Related: Can I earn points and miles from 2 dining rewards programs at the same time?

How to use IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn

Even before you join the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program, you can search for participating restaurants and bars. To do so, go to this page and allow the site to use your location or type in your location.

IHG Dine and Earn restaurants and bars
REWARDSNETWORK.COM

It is worth noting that some restaurants may not offer rewards every day of the week. In the example below, El Atlacatl Salvadorean Rest Calle Ocho does not provide benefits on Saturdays and Sundays.

IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn restaurant
REWARDSNETWORK.COM

You can use a more advanced search to filter and sort based on certain criteria, including price, dining options and meal service. You can also use the advanced search to find eligible restaurants near a particular address or only see restaurants offering benefits on the current day of the week.

Once you find a restaurant or bar you want to try, use an enrolled card to pay for your meal or drinks. When you do so at an eligible restaurant, you'll earn bonus IHG One Rewards points on the amount paid.

IHG One Rewards points normally expire after 12 months if there's no account activity and you don't maintain IHG One Rewards elite status. However, you can create account activity by dining with an enrolled card at an eligible restaurant. So, using the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program can be a useful way to ensure your points don't expire.

Related: How to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

Earning rates

Your earning rate through the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program will depend on whether you have elite status in the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program and whether you opt in for email notifications. Here are the associated status levels and earning rates:

Member levelHow to reach this levelEarning rate
VIP member
Opt in for emails and complete 11 qualified transactions in a calendar year
8 points per dollar spent
Select member
Opt in for emails
5 points per dollar spent
Basic member
Join the program but opt out of emails
1 point per dollar spent

Once you earn VIP status, you'll keep it for the year you earn it and the following year.

As you can see, earning and then maintaining VIP member status with the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program will allow you to maximize your earning opportunities. Plus, since the earnings through this program are on top of any rewards you earn from your credit card or the restaurant's loyalty program, the return you earn from the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program is just the beginning.

Which cards to use with IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn

Food and drink in a restaurant
MORSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

You'll want to use one or more of the best dining credit cards when you set up your IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn profile. Here are some cards to consider:

  • American Express® Gold Card: 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
  • Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: 3% cash back spent on dining

You can enroll almost any credit or debit card in the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program. If you want to quickly earn IHG points for an upcoming redemption, you might enroll an IHG One Rewards credit card. If you enroll an IHG card and use it at an eligible restaurant, you'll earn IHG points from spending on your card plus 1 to 8 points per dollar spent from the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program.

You can only enroll each debit or credit card in one Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program. So, if you plan on using multiple dining rewards programs, you'll need to use a different card for each.

Other dining opportunities for earning IHG points

Scene at a table with a couple enjoying lunch at a vegan cafe
YAGI STUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

You can also earn IHG points through IHG's partnership with OpenTable. Specifically, you can earn up to 500 IHG points when making an OpenTable reservation after clicking through from IHG's partner offers page.

Bottom line

Many hotel and airline loyalty programs offer the ability to earn bonus points or miles through their own Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program. Each of these programs offers distinct promotions and slightly different earning structures.

So, before going all-in on the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program, it's worth considering whether it's the best Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program for you. This is especially true since most dining rewards programs offer higher earning rates and bonuses for consumers who frequently use the program.

Featured image by PIXDELUXE/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

Rewards rate
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Miles
Annual fee
$650
Regular APR
19.49%-28.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent to Good

Pros

  • Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
  • Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
  • Ability to earn MQDs through spending
  • Various statement credits for eligible purchases

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $650
  • Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
  • Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees