Registration is open for a new IHG bonus points promotion, but here’s why I’m waiting to enroll
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. One of the most satisfying and lucrative ways to earn points is to leverage hotel promotions. After all, some of the best promotions can help you earn thousands of bonus points per night. IHG One Rewards recently announced a new bonus points promotion …
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
One of the most satisfying and lucrative ways to earn points is to leverage hotel promotions. After all, some of the best promotions can help you earn thousands of bonus points per night.
IHG One Rewards recently announced a new bonus points promotion for summer travel. Here’s what you need to know about it — and why I’m waiting to enroll.
IHG ‘pick your points’ offer
IHG’s new “pick your points” offer lets you choose one of the following options for earning bonus points on qualifying room nights between May 20 and Aug. 31:
- 2,000 points every two nights
- 8,000 points every four nights
You can register for either of these offers here. But once you register for one of these offers, you are only eligible for that offer, and you can’t register for the other offer. So, you’ll want to choose carefully based on your summer travel plans.
Pre-registration for this promotion opened on Tuesday, but you can also register anytime during the promotion period. However, only room nights that are part of a stay completed after registering are eligible. So, you’ll want to register for one of the two offers before checking out of your first stay during the qualification period.
You must book a qualifying rate that is at least a total spend of $30 per night. Unfortunately, reward nights (including when you redeem IHG points or use an IHG anniversary night certificate) and points and cash nights aren’t eligible for this promotion. Likewise, you’ll want to book directly with IHG, since bookings made through online travel agencies aren’t eligible. Finally, each member can only earn bonus points for one room per night through this promotion.
Related: Which credit card should you use for IHG stays?
Why I’m waiting to enroll in the pick your points offer
My summer travel schedule is far from finalized at this point. I currently have several IHG stays booked, but I redeemed IHG points for many of them. However, given this new promotion, I may rebook some of the stays that gave me a lower-than-average redemption rate.
I can’t accurately estimate how many qualifying paid nights I’ll stay between May 20 and Aug. 31. So, I will wait as long as possible to register for this promotion. By waiting, I’ll hopefully better understand how many qualifying room nights I’ll stay during the promotion.
To help you make a good decision when you register, here’s a breakdown of the bonus points you’d earn based on qualifying nights during this promotion period:
| Qualifying room nights | Bonus points if you enroll in 2,000 points every two nights and then consume this amount of qualifying room nights | Bonus points if you enroll in 8,000 points every four nights and then consume this amount of qualifying room nights |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2,000 | 0 |
| 3 | 2,000 | 0 |
| 4 | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| 5 | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| 6 | 6,000 | 8,000 |
| 7 | 6,000 | 8,000 |
| 8 | 8,000 | 16,000 |
| 9 | 8,000 | 16,000 |
| 10 | 10,000 | 16,000 |
I could continue this table, but the pattern is already clear. In short, enroll in the 8,000 points every four nights offer if you’ll stay at least four qualifying room nights between May 20 and Aug. 31. Otherwise, enroll in the 2,000 points every two nights offer.
Of course, your decision is more complex if you’re not sure how many qualifying room nights you’ll stay during the promotion period. For this reason, I recommend waiting until shortly before (or even during) your first eligible stay to register for the best offer for you. After all, waiting should let you make a more informed decision.
Related: How to maximize award redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program
Bottom line
I usually check current hotel promotions shortly before booking a new stay. But it can also be worth considering these bonus point promotions when first deciding where to stay and how to book.
TPG’s May 2025 valuations peg the value of 2,000 points at $10 and 8,000 points at $40. So, although this promotion won’t provide outsize value, it is worth utilizing if you have eligible paid IHG stays this summer.
