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GUIDE

How to Book IHG One Rewards Awards

An IHG One Rewards award stay — which IHG calls a Reward Night — is a stay at an IHG hotel or resort paid for with IHG One Rewards points instead of cash. [1] IHG says redemptions start at 10,000 points across 7,000+ hotels and resorts, and advertises Reward Nights with no blackout dates while stating in the same breath that availability is limited and subject to prior sale. [1] [2]

Facts checked: 18 October 2026

Key takeaways

  • IHG One Rewards calls a points stay a Reward Night, and IHG says redemptions start at 10,000 points at its 7,000+ hotels and resorts. [1]
  • IHG advertises Reward Nights with no blackout dates, but the same page says Reward Night availability is limited and subject to prior sale. [1]
  • IHG One Rewards points do not expire as long as the member's account remains active. [1]
  • Booking on IHG.com or in the IHG One Rewards app keeps the reservation inside the member account, which IHG describes as the place to modify or cancel reservations and to view points balance. [1]

What an award night costs in points

IHG describes Reward Nights as "starting at just 10,000 points". [1] [2] That wording makes 10,000 points a floor rather than a flat price.

Points are not the only way to pay. IHG says members can combine Points + Cash, redeem points to upgrade to premium rooms, and redeem points for gift cards and merchandise. [1] IHG also runs a Points Purchase programme through which members can buy, gift or transfer points. [1]

Elite members are shown a distinct benefit called Reward Night Discounts, listed next to bonus points, a welcome amenity and Milestone Rewards. [2]

Booking a Reward Night, step by step

Each step below follows what IHG publishes on its own pages; where a detail is missing, this guide flags the gap instead of filling it. [1]

  1. Join or sign in. IHG One Rewards is free to join, and a signed-in account is where points balances, stays and reservations are held. [1] [2]
  2. Search on IHG.com or the IHG One Rewards app. IHG presents both channels as ways to book its hotels directly, and describes the app as a tool for searching and booking across its properties. [1]
  3. Choose a property and a Reward Night. IHG lists 21 hotel brands and 7,000+ destinations, and says points can be redeemed for a Reward Night at those hotels and resorts. [1] Because availability is limited and subject to prior sale, a property can have rooms for sale on a cash rate and still show no Reward Night for the same dates. [1]
  4. Decide between full points and Points + Cash.
  5. Book direct. IHG says booking directly gives more flexibility to modify reservations and integrates the booking with the member's IHG One Rewards account. [1]
  6. Keep the reservation in your account. IHG says most requests, including modifying or cancelling reservations and viewing a points balance, can be handled through the IHG One Rewards account. [1]

Checking the booking afterwards

IHG points members to their account as the place to see stays and points: the app is described as showing points balances and stays, and the site has a "My Stays" section that IHG says can be used to reach a property or customer care about a past stay. [1]

If something looks wrong, IHG says customer service is available around the clock through chat in the IHG One Rewards app or through the customer care page on IHG.com. [1]

Exceptions and limits

  • "No blackout dates" is not a promise of a room. IHG's own footnote on the same page says Reward Night availability is limited and subject to prior sale. [1]
  • Property-level rules.
  • Resort fees and other charges. Neither page states whether resort fees, taxes or incidental charges are collected on a Reward Night, so treat them as property-specific; see the resort fee entry for the general concept. [1]
  • Cancellation rules. IHG says reservations can be modified or cancelled through the account. [1]
  • Keeping points usable. Points do not expire while the account remains active. [1]
  • Market scope.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Only IHG One Rewards is covered here; other hotel programmes, including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards, are not covered on this page, and IHG's Member Terms and Conditions were not reviewed beyond the fact that IHG links to them.

  1. IHG Hotels & Resorts homepage, including the IHG One Rewards FAQ, checked 18 October 2026
  2. IHG One Rewards programme home page (US English), checked 18 October 2026