Key takeaways
- IHG introduced a new $350 Premier Select card for frequent hotel guests, with automatic Platinum Elite status and 20 Elite Night Credits per year.
- The free entry-level card gains 5 Elite Night Credits annually but now requires $5,000 yearly spending starting in 2027 to unlock the fourth-night-free benefit.
- The mid-tier Premier card increases to a $150 annual fee in 2027, losing automatic Platinum Elite status but gaining up to $100 in dining credits and a $100 airline statement credit.
- All cards now feature annual statement credits for dining and airline purchases, providing tangible value that may offset fee increases for frequent travelers.
IHG and Chase have restructured their cobranded credit card portfolio, introducing a new premium card and revising benefits and earning rates across three existing options. The refreshed lineup now includes four cards with annual fees ranging from $0 to $350. The changes bring expanded benefits such as statement credits for airline and dining purchases, increased anniversary free night caps, and additional paths to earn elite status—though some cards come with higher annual fees and reduced bonus earning categories.
The rollout began in October 2026 for new applicants, with welcome bonuses available through November 18. For existing cardholders, the transition timeline varies by card, with some annual fee increases not taking effect until 2027.
No-Annual-Fee Entry Point: IHG One Rewards Card
The IHG One Rewards Card (formerly the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card) maintains its $0 annual fee while gaining new benefits and a simpler earning structure. The card continues to grant automatic IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status upon approval.
New Elite Night Credits and Lower Gold Status Threshold
Cardholders now receive 5 Elite Night Credits annually. These credits post within 6–8 weeks of opening a new account and by February 1 each year for existing cardholders, with the first posting arriving in 2027. The spending requirement to unlock Gold Elite status has dropped from $20,000 to $15,000 per calendar year.
Earning Rate Changes and Spending Requirement for Fourth-Night-Free
Grocery stores join the card’s bonus earning categories, effective immediately. However, utilities, internet, cable, phone services, and streaming purchases will no longer earn bonus points for transactions posted after December 31, 2026. A more significant change affects the fourth-night-free redemption benefit: starting in 2027, cardholders must spend $5,000 in a calendar year to unlock this perk for the remainder of that year and the following calendar year. Previously, this benefit was automatic with card membership.
Mid-Tier Redesign: IHG One Rewards Premier
The IHG One Rewards Premier card is receiving the broadest collection of new benefits but faces a substantial annual fee increase. The fee rises from $99 to $150, effective in 2027 for current cardholders.
Statement Credits and Enhanced Anniversary Free Night
The card now offers up to $100 in annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards, distributed as $25 per quarter. A $100 annual airline statement credit is available for those spending at least $250 on flights booked directly with airlines in a calendar year (this benefit extends through December 31, 2027). The anniversary free night redemption cap increases from 40,000 to 50,000 points, taking effect in 2027 on each anniversary date. Additional points from the cardholder’s account can be used to reach higher redemption levels.
Elite Status Changes and Narrowed Travel Earning
The card transitions from automatic Platinum Elite status to Gold Elite status, supplemented by 15 Elite Night Credits per year. Existing Premier cardholders retain their Platinum Elite status through December 31, 2027. After that date, cardholders can earn Platinum Elite by spending $15,000 in a calendar year and Diamond Elite by spending $40,000. Grocery stores now earn bonus points. The broader travel category has been narrowed, so non-IHG hotel purchases and miscellaneous travel expenses will no longer earn the elevated rate for transactions posted after December 31, 2026.
Business Card Expansion: IHG One Rewards Business
The IHG One Rewards Business card (formerly the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card) sees its annual fee more than double, from $99 to $200, effective in 2027 for existing cardholders. The card gains several new benefits but loses some earning categories and features available to current users.
New Spending Credits and Anniversary Free Night Upgrade
The business card adds up to $100 in annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards ($25 per quarter), a $100 annual airline statement credit (after spending $250 on direct airline bookings per calendar year through December 31, 2027), and up to $100 in annual statement credits for eligible Expensify purchases. The anniversary free night increases from 40,000 to 50,000 points, effective in 2027 on the anniversary date, with the option to add additional points for higher redemption levels.
Earning Rate Changes and Loss of TravelBank Cash
Office supply store purchases will no longer earn bonus points, and the travel category narrowing means only flights booked directly with airlines and car rentals earn elevated rates (for transactions posted after December 31, 2026). The United TravelBank Cash benefit will be discontinued after December 31, 2026. Existing business cardholders can continue using this benefit through the end of 2026, but new cardholders will not receive it. The card maintains automatic Platinum Elite status, and cardholders can earn Diamond Elite by spending $40,000 in a calendar year, with this threshold increasing to $50,000 beginning January 1, 2027.
The New Premium Card: IHG One Rewards Premier Select
The IHG One Rewards Premier Select World Elite Mastercard is IHG’s new top-tier credit card option, positioned for frequent IHG guests. The $350 annual fee reflects the card’s premium status and hotel-focused benefits.
Elite Status, Anniversary Free Night, and Statement Credits
The card grants automatic Platinum Elite status and 20 Elite Night Credits per year. The anniversary free night benefit covers up to 60,000 points (effective in 2027 on the anniversary date). Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards distributed as $75 per quarter, a $200 annual airline statement credit (after $250 in direct airline spending per year through December 31, 2027), and up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash paid biannually at $25 per payment (one-time registration required).
Timing and Transition for Existing Cardholders
New cardholders can access the refreshed cards and their updated benefits now. Updated earning rates take effect immediately for all cardholders. Existing Premier and Business cardholders will see their increased annual fees in 2027. Many new and enhanced benefits take effect October 1, though some have specific timing or eligibility requirements. Chase will provide additional details directly to existing cardholders about which changes apply to their accounts and when they take effect.
The status of the legacy IHG One Rewards Select Card remains unclear, according to The Points Guy. The Points Guy has also noted that its card details have been collected independently and have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Weighing Value and Changes
The refresh creates a clearer segmentation across the card lineup: a no-fee option for casual IHG members, a mid-tier card for moderate loyalty program users willing to pay for enhanced benefits, a business variant with specialized credits, and a premium card for frequent hotel guests. Whether the changes add value depends on individual spending patterns. For the no-annual-fee card, the $5,000 spending requirement to unlock the fourth-night-free benefit represents a meaningful trade-off for gaining Elite Night Credits and a lower Gold Elite threshold. The Premier card’s $51 annual fee increase may justify itself through the Food & Beverage credits, airline statement credit, and higher anniversary free night, but losing automatic Platinum Elite status removes a significant perk. The Business card’s doubling fee and loss of bonus office supply earning and TravelBank Cash require careful evaluation against the new statement credits. The Premier Select’s $350 fee is appropriate only for those who will regularly use IHG properties and benefit from its hotel-specific perks.
Source: The Points Guy Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the annual fees for each IHG credit card?
The IHG One Rewards Card has no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards Premier costs $150 annually (up from $99 in 2027 for existing cardholders). The IHG One Rewards Business costs $200 annually (up from $99 in 2027 for existing cardholders). The new IHG One Rewards Premier Select carries a $350 annual fee.
How do the new Elite Night Credits work?
The free card provides 5 credits per year, posting within 6–8 weeks of opening and by February 1 annually. The Premier card offers 15 credits annually, with the ability to earn two additional credits for every $5,000 spent. The Business card provides the same structure as the Premier. The Premier Select provides 20 credits per year.
When do existing cardholders see these changes?
Updated earning rates take effect immediately for all cardholders. Annual fee increases on the Premier and Business cards take effect in 2027 for existing cardholders. Many new benefits take effect October 1, 2026. Welcome bonuses on all new cards are available through November 18.
