IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Review [2024]: Free Annual Night and Elite Status

A hotel credit card like the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card can enhance your travel experience and reduce trip expenses.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card gives business owners access to features such as one free night per cardmember year, automatic elite status, and credit toward a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus membership.

If you frequently stay at IHG hotels on trips, then this card could be a good choice for travel perks.

Incredible Value for IHG Loyalists

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

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Current Offer

Earn up to 175,000 bonus points. Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening)

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

up to 26X points at IHG hotels and resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, select business spending, and restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery); and 3X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 175,000 bonus points. Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening)
• up to 26X points at IHG hotels and resorts
• Earn 5X points on travel, gas stations, select business spending, and restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery); 3X points on all other purchases
• Free Reward Night after card annversary
• Fourth night free when you redeem points for three or more consecutive nights
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee

Card Details

• Earn up to 175,000 bonus points. Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening)
• up to 26X points at IHG hotels and resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, select business spending, and restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery); and 3X points on all other purchases

Who should get the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card?

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card won’t make sense for everyone because it’s a specific hotel card that comes with a $99 annual fee. But the card’s compelling benefits can offset the cost of the fee, making it the right fit for people who frequent IHG hotels.

You may enjoy having the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card if:

• You typically stay at IHG hotels.
• You want automatic IHG Platinum Elite status and a free night per cardmember year.
• You plan to offset the $99 annual fee with the card’s rewards and benefits.
• You have business expenses.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card may not be a good fit for you if:

• You don’t typically stay at IHG hotels.
• You don’t want to pay an annual fee.
• You want a card with more flexible rewards.
• You aren’t a business owner.

Card basics

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card benefits and perks

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card offers several benefits that can offset its yearly fee, including:

• Generous welcome offer: Earn up to 175,000 bonus points. Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening).
• Earning potential: Earn up to 26X points at IHG hotels and resorts; 5X points on travel, gas stations, select business spending, and restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery); and 3X points on all other purchases.
• Free annual night: Receive a free reward night each year on your account anniversary. The free night is valid for 12 months and can be used toward award stays that typically cost 40,000 points or less.
• Additional free night: Receive an additional free night for making purchases totaling at least $60,000 and making one additional purchase each calendar year.
• Fourth night free: Get a free fourth night when you use your points to stay in a standard room for at least four consecutive nights. This means if you book at least four consecutive nights using points, you get the fourth night free.

You can also receive IHG elite statuses:

• Platinum Elite status: Receive Platinum Elite status as an IHG One Rewards Premier Business cardholder. Benefits include reward night discounts, complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, and late checkout.
• Diamond Elite status: Receive Diamond Elite status through Dec. 31st of the following year after making purchases totaling $40,000 or more in a calendar year.

The IHG One Rewards business card offers travel credit, point purchase discounts, and no foreign transaction fees:

• $50 United TravelBank Cash: Receive up to $50 in annual United TravelBank Cash to put toward eligible United flights.
• $100 statement credit and 10,000 points: Receive a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 and making one additional purchase each calendar year.
• Cardmember discount for points purchases: Receive a 20% discount when buying IHG One Rewards points through IHG.com.
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit: Receive up to $100 in statement credits every four years toward a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee.
• No foreign transaction fees: Use your IHG One Rewards business card for purchases abroad without worrying about additional costs since this card has no foreign transaction fees.

Purchases and charges that you make using the card may receive these protections:

• Purchase protection: Receive purchase protection for 120 days of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account against damage to or theft of eligible new purchases.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Receive up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for eligible travel expenses due to a covered trip interruption or cancellation.

Drawbacks to the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

• $99 annual fee: The IHG One Rewards Premier Business has a $99 annual fee, which may not make sense to pay if you don’t think you’ll get enough value from the card’s benefits and welcome bonus. Keep in mind that the free night you get per cardmember year has a higher value than this card's annual fee.
• Non-flexible rewards: IHG points aren’t the most flexible currency around, meaning you can’t easily use them for travel redemptions other than IHG award stays. You can find credit cards that offer more flexible reward programs among our list of the best travel credit cards.
• Low points value: Compared to other rewards currencies, IHG points are often considered to be among the least valuable. This means you won’t get as much value from the IHG One Rewards program.

Earning & redeeming IHG One Rewards points

Best ways to earn

The best way to earn points with the IHG One Rewards Premier Business is to use it on purchases that fall within its bonus categories. For example, you can earn up to 26X points for purchases at IHG hotels and resorts, which includes IHG hotel stays.

But apart from this high-earning category, it may not make sense to use the IHG One Rewards Premier Business for other purchases. That’s because the rewards rate drops off significantly, and IHG points generally hold a low value.

It likely makes sense to consider other credit cards to use for your other purchases so you can earn more rewards or more valuable points.

Maximizing your redemptions

Redeeming IHG points for award nights likely offers the best value for your rewards, especially if you take advantage of the IHG fourth-night-free benefit. IHG points can be redeemed for award stays at all eligible IHG properties, which could include:

While award stays are often the best option, you can find value in some other redemption options as well. Here are the different ways to redeem IHG points:

• Reward nights
• Online shopping
• Gift cards
• Transfers to airline partners
• Magazine subscriptions
• Games, books, music, and movies
• Charitable donations

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card transfer partners

IHG has dozens of airline partners that offer opportunities to convert IHG points into other loyalty program currencies. Popular partners include:

You can exchange 10,000 IHG points for 2,000 points or miles in other rewards programs. Keep in mind that this exchange isn’t the best use of your points because of the poor exchange rate.

In most cases, using hotel rewards for award stays is the most valuable option. Check out our list of the best hotel credit cards to explore more options.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card FAQs

Other cards to consider

If the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card isn’t the right fit for you, consider these alternatives.

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card isn’t a hotel credit card and doesn’t offer a free annual night or elite status. But it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are quite flexible and can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and rental cars. You can also transfer them to over a dozen airline and hotel travel partners.

The Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee. Check out our Ink Business Preferred review for more information.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express offers loads of premium business benefits you won’t find on the IHG One Rewards Premier Business. This includes over $1,000 worth of annual credits on a curation of business purchases and access to airport lounge networks such as Priority Pass and Centurion Lounge. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The Amex Business Platinum has a $695 annual fee. Read our The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express review for more details.

Incredible Value for IHG Loyalists

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Why We Like It

Earn up to 175,000 bonus points. Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (plus, earn 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first 6 months from account opening)

See how these cards compare:

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• 3X points on travel and common business spending categories
• Flexible redemption options
• Additional employee cards at no extra cost

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com
• 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X)
• Up to $200 statement credit per year for airline incidental fees
• $695 annual fee
• See rates and fees | Terms Apply