How to use the IHG One Rewards anniversary night certificate
Editor's Note
The cobranded IHG One Rewards cards offer many valuable perks. One perk offered by the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) each year after your account anniversary is a free night certificate valid for a night that costs 40,000 points or less. Plus, you can use points from your IHG One Rewards account to top off the certificate if you want to redeem for a night that costs more than 40,000 points.
TPG's March 2025 valuations peg the value of 40,000 IHG One Rewards points at $200. So, before even considering any other card perks, the anniversary night certificate should provide enough value for most travelers to justify paying the annual fee on one (or both) of these cards. Here's how to use them.
How to check the details of your IHG anniversary night certificate
If you want to check whether you have any IHG anniversary night certificates or confirm the details of your certificates, log in to your IHG One Rewards account and click on your name in the upper right-hand corner. Scroll down on the page that loads and check the "Enjoy your rewards" section. Here, you should see a panel with your free nights (if you have any).
Click on "Book a Free Night" to check the details of your certificate. A page will load showing your account's unredeemed free night certificates. You can see the date ranges during which you must book and stay for each certificate.
You can also click the details and terms and conditions links in the panel for each free night certificate to learn more.
Related: Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
How to redeem your IHG anniversary night certificate
Now that you know how to check the existence and details of anniversary night certificates in your account, here's how to redeem them.
You can click the orange "Book Free Night" button on the page we just discussed, where you can see the certificate's details. Doing so would automatically select "IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card Free Night Flex" — or a similar rate associated with whatever type of free night certificate you have in your account — in the drop-down box for "Rate Preference" on the booking screen.
But you can also start on the landing page once you've logged in to your account and then select this same rate (if you have a certificate in your account). Enter your search details and click the orange "Search" button.
Your search results will appear, and you'll see the properties you can book with your free night certificate. If you see "FREE per night," you can use your certificate to cover your entire stay. However, you may need to pay amenity or resort fees at some properties.
You can top off the free night certificates you earn through the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. As such, if you search with the certificate rate selected, you may see some properties that require you to redeem extra points in addition to your certificate.
You may also see some properties that list a paid rate. This means the property isn't bookable with your free night certificate on the dates you searched.
In this case, you can click "View available dates" to see nights you can book with your free night certificate (potentially with a top-off required if you're using a certificate that allows them).
Once you find a property that works for you, click the orange "Select Hotel" button to see the available room types.
Then, click "Select" for a specific room type to get to the final booking page, where you can check your reservation details and select (or enter) a payment card to guarantee your reservation. Click "Book for Chase Anniversary Free Night" when you're ready to book your stay.
Like when redeeming IHG points, not all room types are available when using your anniversary night certificate. Unfortunately, IHG's booking system won't let you redeem a certificate for one night and use points or cash for other nights on the same reservation. You may need to make consecutive reservations for the same room types if you want to stay longer than one night.
Finally, while you can top off certificates from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you can't top off other anniversary night certificates. So, if you have certificates from other sources, you may need to be strategic regarding which certificates you use for a given stay.
Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card
Bottom line
IHG free night certificates are valuable and relatively easy to use. We recommend redeeming for a night that costs close to 40,000 points to get the most value. However, topping off certificates earned via the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card can also provide excellent value. In short, if you're getting more value from the certificate than the cost you incurred to earn it, you're coming out ahead.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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