How to book IHG One Rewards Points + Cash awards

What is IHG One Rewards Points + Cash?

The option combines two things: points already sitting in a member's IHG One Rewards account, and points bought during the booking itself, so that together they cover the price of a Reward Night. [1] Points & Cash bookings sit within the programme's reward redemption services. [1] The cash used to purchase the additional points is paid directly to Six Continents Hotels, Inc., the company that operates the programme, rather than to the hotel. [1]

The terms define a Reward Night as a stay a member redeemed points for, and that definition expressly includes Reward Nights booked via Points & Cash. [1] That matters because the rest of the Reward Night rules, from cancellation deadlines to what the room covers, apply to the booking. [1] For the general shape of these part-points, part-cash products across other hotel programmes, see hotel points plus cash.

How do you book a Points + Cash Reward Night?

Points & Cash Reward Nights can be redeemed on the IHG One Rewards website, in the IHG One Rewards app, or through IHG Customer Care. [1] An advance reservation is required to use a Reward Night, and a member must be signed in to redeem points online. [1] The reservation also has to be guaranteed with a credit card. [1] Reward Night reservations, including Points & Cash bookings, can be cancelled on the website, in the app or through IHG Customer Care, and IHG says guests are prompted to call Customer Care when cancellation is unavailable online. [1]

One booking can cover up to nine rooms on the same stay date at the same property, provided the member's account number is recorded on every reservation, the required points are redeemed for each room, and inventory is available. [1] A member can also add a secondary guest so that someone else checks in without them, where local law allows it; for Reward and Free Night bookings in Greater China (Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Macao Special Administrative Region of China and Taiwan Region of China) the member must contact IHG Customer Care at least seven days before the stay date to supply the guest's details, and later changes to those details also go through Customer Care. [1] Step-by-step booking mechanics for the standard award are covered in how to book IHG One Rewards awards.

How much does a Points + Cash award cost?

The points required for a Reward Night can vary according to several factors, including brand, hotel and day of week, so there is no single price across the programme. [1] For a Points & Cash booking, the amount required to purchase the additional points is set out at the time of booking and is subject to change at any time. [1] IHG advertises Reward Nights from 10,000 points at more than 7,000 hotels and resorts. [3] [4]

Reward Nights carry no blackout dates, but room inventory is limited and subject to prior sale, which is why a night can show as unavailable at a hotel that still has rooms for cash. [1] [4] Redemption for Reward Nights may not be possible at IHG Army Hotels and at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. [1] If IHG publishes a Reward Night point price in error, it reserves the right to cancel the booking and refund the points, and members are notified when that happens. [1]

What does a Points + Cash Reward Night include?

Each Reward Night is valid for a standard room for one night and covers government-mandated, state and/or locally administered taxes or fees. [1] Food and beverages are excluded except at all-inclusive properties, as are gratuities and incidentals; resort fees and/or service charges at individual hotels may apply and are paid directly to the hotel before check-out, and transport to and from the hotel is not included. [1] Extra-person charges, including for children, may apply beyond double occupancy, and at Iberostar Beachfront Resorts and Royal Resorts by Holiday Inn Club Vacations members may be charged for additional guests not in the original reservation. [1]

Reward Nights are classed as non-qualifying rates, so a member does not earn points or partner rewards on the room-rate equivalent, although points and partner rewards are awarded for other eligible charges on the bill. [1] Member benefits remain available on Reward Night stays, with the exception of the guaranteed room availability benefit for Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members. [1]

What are the exceptions and limits?

• Cancellation and no-shows. At all brands other than Six Senses, a member who cancels before the hotel's cancellation deadline has the redeemed points re-deposited; a member who neither cancels by that deadline nor uses the room is charged a no-show fee under the hotel's policy, plus tax, per room, on the card used to guarantee the booking. [1]
• Six Senses. At Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, cancelling or not showing after the cancellation window means points are forfeited and/or a Free Night certificate is voided, and cancellation policies vary by hotel. [1]
• Local taxes at Iberostar. At Iberostar Beachfront Resorts the member pays any local or conditional taxes or fees, and room types at Six Senses vary. [1]
• Chinese mainland invoicing. Because Six Continents Hotels, Inc. sits outside the Chinese mainland and the cash portion is not paid to the hotel, neither party is obliged or qualified to issue a VAT invoice for a Points & Cash booking, and the member cannot obtain one from either. [1]
• Points expiry still applies. For Club-level members, points expire if the account has no earn or redeem transaction for twelve months or longer; Elite members' points do not expire while Elite status is maintained. [1] Points have no retail value, cannot be exchanged for cash and are not transferable except as the terms allow. [1]
• Scope. All of the rules above come from the IHG One Rewards membership terms and apply to that programme only; other hotel groups set their own part-points, part-cash conditions. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Do Points + Cash stays earn IHG One Rewards points?

The room-rate equivalent earns nothing because Reward Nights are non-qualifying rates, but points and partner rewards are still awarded on other eligible charges billed to the room. [1]

Can I cancel a Points + Cash Reward Night?

Yes, on the website, in the app or through IHG Customer Care, and points are re-deposited if you cancel before the hotel's deadline; after that deadline a no-show charge applies, and at Six Senses points may be forfeited instead. [1]

Where does the cash part of a Points + Cash booking go?

It is paid to Six Continents Hotels, Inc., the programme operator, rather than to the hotel, which is why no Chinese mainland VAT invoice can be issued for it. [1]

Can someone else check in on my Points + Cash Reward Night?

A secondary guest can check in without the member present where local law permits it, but in Greater China the member must give IHG Customer Care the guest's details at least seven days before the stay. [1]

How many points do I need for a Points + Cash night?

It depends on the brand, hotel and date, and the amount needed to buy the additional points can change at any time; IHG advertises Reward Nights from 10,000 points. [1] [3]

Related pages

Programme: IHG One Rewards. Guides: how to book IHG One Rewards awards, hotel points plus cash awards, start here with IHG One Rewards. Glossary: points plus cash, all terms.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Other hotel programmes, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt and Accor ALL, are not covered here; the rules described are those of IHG One Rewards.

1. IHG One Rewards membership terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
2. IHG One Rewards programme home page, checked 18 October 2026
3. IHG Hotels & Resorts home page and programme FAQ, checked 18 October 2026