IHG is one of the biggest hotel chains in the world. In India, it has a low presence as compared to Marriott. In Future, they are expected to open new hotels in India which will increase the opportunities to earn IHG points in India. As of today, we look at all possible ways to earn IHG points in India through this guide.
Sign-up
Before earning any IHG points, you need to be a member of IHG One Rewards. As this is a free to Join Hotel loyalty program, you can join it without hesitation.
Sign-up here for IHG One Rewards.
Stay at Any of the 6000+ Hotels in the World
First off, our list is earning IHG points by staying at its hotel properties around the world. At most IHG hotels & Resorts, you earn 10 IHG points on a spend of $1 (INR 82). For the calculation of spending, taxes are excluded. So, if you have spent INR 8200, excluding taxes, you will get 1000 IHG points.
Achieve Elite Status and Earn More IHG Points
Similar to other hotels chain you earn bonus IHG points on achieving an Elite Status. As your elite status increases, you earn more bonus points. Here is how many bonus points you get on IHG elite status:
- Silver Elite: 20% Bonus Points
- Gold Elite: 40% Bonus Points
- Platinum Elite: 60% Bonus Points
- Diamond Elite: 100% Bonus Points
If you reach Diamond Elite, you get ten base points and ten bonus points, in total, 20 points.
Earn IHG Bonus Points
There is one unique thing about IHG. Whenever you make a stay booking, you can purchase bonus points. The costs of these points are low compared to normal costs. So, buying these bonus points is a good way to rack up your IHG points. Normally, the minimum points that can be purchased while booking a stay are 1000, and the maximum can be 5000. With this option, you can earn a lot of IHG points.
Also, from time-to-time IHG runs offers with which you can earn fixed IHG bonus points or multiples of base points. Just like the 2000 Bonus offer and breakfast+points offer.
Milestone Rewards
Like Hyatt Milestone Rewards, IHG also has Milestone rewards with which you can choose between bonus points and other rewards.
The milestone is for up to 100 nights in a year. With this option, you can earn a maximum of 80000 IHG one reward in a year.
Stay at Mr & Mrs Smith Property and Earn IHG One Point
You can also earn IHG one point for staying at Mr & Mrs Smith Properties. These properties are unique and amazing. So, by earning 10 IHG points for every $1 (INR 82), you also get to stay in an amazing hotel.
Dine With Rewards
IHG is generous in giving points on spending on dining. This reward for dining was launched last year. Now you can earn 100 IHG points on every $1 (INR 82) spent on dining. If you are an Elite member, you get a minimum 25% discount. Interestingly, this option to earn points is only available in Asia, India, and the Middle East.
Related: Current IHG Promotions.
Transfer Credit Card Points
Earlier, transferring your credit card points to IHG was impossible. Now, as Axis Bank and HDFC Bank transfer partners, your credit card points can be transferred to IHG.
This is the Conversion ratio on the transfer of your credit card points to IHG:
- Axis HNI Credit Cards to IHG: 4 IHG Points for 5 Edge Rewards
- Axis Atlas Credit Card to IHG: 2 IHG Points for 1 Edge Miles
- HDFC Bank Infinia/Dines Black to IHG: 1 IHG Point for 1 HDFC Point
American Express Points Transfer
Although, IHG is not a transfer partner of American Express Credit Cards in India. But there is still a way to transfer your Amex Points to IHG. This can be done through Virgin Atlantic, as Virgin Atlantic is a transfer partner of both IHG and Amex in India. You can transfer your Amex points in a 2:1 ratio to Virgin Atlantic and a 1:1 ratio from Virgin Atlantic to IHG.
Transfer Air miles to IHG One Account.
There are two Airlines in the world, the air miles of which you can transfer to an IHG One account. These are “FinnAir” and “Virgin Atlantic“.
In the case of Finnair, you need to transfer a minimum and in increments of 20000 Finnair plus points. There is a conversion ratio of 2:1 for Finnair. So you will receive 10000 IHG points on a transfer of 20000 Finnair points.
But, in the case of Virgin Atlantic Virgin Points, there is a conversion ratio 1:1. Also, a minimum of 10000 Virgin points are to be transferred to IHG one account and then in increments of 5000 Virgin points.
Transfer Points from other Member
As an IHG One Rewards member, you can transfer or receive reward points from other IHG One members. But you need to transfer a minimum of 1000 points and in multiples of 1000 points. However, a $5 (INR 410) per 1000 points is levied. This makes it a less preferred mode of earning IHG points.
Buy IHG One Rewards Points
You can also get IHG One Reward Points by buying them. But it’s always good to buy when bonus points are given on purchase. Such bonus points can be worth it if given at 100% of purchase points. The value of IHG Points is low at INR 0.5 per point buying should be done when there is an offer and you have better value opportunities than INR 0.5 per point.
Related: How to find IHG’s Lowest Points Redemption Rate?
Host an Event or Wedding
You can earn IHG points on hosting an event or arranging a wedding. But points on spend on these events are given to your IHG Business Rewards account. For which you need to sign-up separately. On your spending, you earn 3 IHG points on every $1 (INR 82) spent. These points are also added to your elite status, but bonus points as per your current elite status are not given. You can earn IHG Business points on the below spends:
- Guest rooms Spend
- Meetings and events
- Conference rooms
- Food and beverage service linked to meetings and conferences
- All-inclusive meeting packages
Join IHG Business Rewards here.
Bottomline
There are multiple ways to earn IHG one Point in India. Few are easier ways to earn, like transferring points from credit cards. Although you can earn IHG One Point in many ways, Marriott and World of Hyatt have much easier and better ways to earn points.
