InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched its sixth buy-points bonus sale for 2026, offering members up to a 100% bonus on purchased points.
The promotion runs through 11:59 PM ET on August 17, 2026, with the top 100% tier costing 0.5¢ per point — the lowest price IHG sells points for all year . Today is August 3, 2026 — only 14 days left to book.
Offer page: IHG One Rewards Official Points Purchase Page
Key Terms at a Glance
According to IHG’s official buy-points terms and AwardWallet’s concurrent verification :
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Promotion Period | August 1, 2026 12:00 AM ET — August 17, 2026 11:59 PM ET |
| Bonus Tiers | Targeted 80% / 90% / 100% (different members see different tiers in their accounts) |
| 100% Tier Threshold | Purchase 30,000+ base points (per AwardWallet’s latest disclosure ) |
| Cost Per Point | 100% tier: 0.5¢ per point (IHG’s annual low) |
| Annual Cap | 200,000 base points (pre-bonus), 400,000 points post-bonus; some accounts elevated to 250,000 or 300,000 base |
| Cost Cap | $2,000 per transaction (buy 200k base + 200k bonus) |
| Posting Time | Terms say 72 hours; user data points show instant posting |
| Processor | All transactions processed via Points.com; does NOT code as travel/hotel spending on credit cards |
| Elite Status | Point purchases do NOT count toward elite status qualification |
| Stacking | Cannot be combined with the 20% purchase discount for IHG Premier cobranded cardholders; cannot be combined with other offers |
| Refund Policy | All transactions are final and non-refundable |
💡 Biggest selling point: 0.5¢ per point — IHG’s lowest price all year. AwardWallet data shows users average 0.69¢ per point in redemptions , meaning an immediate ~38% paper premium upon purchase. Under IHG’s fully dynamic pricing, redemptions at luxury brands (InterContinental, Regent, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo) during peak dates often exceed 1¢ per point, creating significant arbitrage opportunity.
Bonus Tiers & Cost Calculator
Per AwardWallet’s latest tier disclosure :
| Base Points Purchased | Bonus | Total Points | Total Cost | Cost/Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000-4,000 | None | 1,000-4,000 | $13.50-$54 | 1.35¢ |
| 5,000-9,000 | 80% | 9,000-16,200 | $67.50-$121.50 | 0.75¢ |
| 10,000-25,000 | 90% | 19,000-47,500 | $135-$337.50 | 0.61¢ |
| 26,000-29,000 | 90% | 49,400-55,100 | $351-$391.50 | 0.53¢ |
| 30,000-200,000 | 100% | 60,000-400,000 | $405-$2,000 | 0.5¢ |
📌 Optimal strategy: Buy the full 200,000 base point annual cap in a single transaction, get 200,000 bonus points, for a total of 400,000 points at $2,000 (0.5¢/pt). Based on AwardWallet’s average 0.69¢/pt redemption value, these 400,000 points have ~$2,760 in real purchasing power — a paper gain of ~$760 over the $2,000 buy-in cost.
Open the IHG One Rewards official points purchase page and log in to see which bonus tier you’ve been targeted for.
When Does Buying Points Make Sense?
Buying points doesn’t always pay off, but in two scenarios the 0.5¢/pt price creates clear value :
Scenario 1: Buying Points Is Cheaper Than Paying Cash
Compare the hotel’s cash rate to its award rate: points price × 0.5¢ ≤ cash price → buying points wins. IHG uses fully dynamic pricing, so the same hotel’s points cost can vary 2-3x between dates. At luxury brands + peak season when cash rates spike, 0.5¢-acquired points often deliver 0.8-1.2¢ in real redemption value.
Scenario 2: Topping Off for a Specific Redemption
When you’re just a few thousand points short of a target redemption, buying points to fill the gap is far cheaper than paying cash for a night — especially at luxury properties or during peak travel when cash rates surge.
| Redemption Scenario | Points Cost/Night | Buy Cost (0.5¢) | vs. Cash Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| InterContinental (popular city/peak) | 70,000/night | $350 | Cash often $450-$600, save $100-$250 |
| Kimpton (resort peak) | 90,000/night | $450 | Cash often $550-$800, save $100-$350 |
| Holiday Inn Express (weekday) | 15,000-25,000/night | $75-$125 | Cash often $90-$150, save $15-$25 |
| InterContinental (SE Asia off-peak) | 20,000-30,000/night | $100-$150 | Cash often $120-$180, save $20-$30 |
⚠️ Don’t buy points without a plan: IHG’s fully dynamic pricing means not every date makes buying points cheaper than cash. Always check your target hotel’s points price, convert at 0.5¢/pt, compare to the cash rate, and only buy when there’s a clear spread. Blind stockpiling risks points expiring after 18 months of inactivity.
Better Ways to Earn IHG Points
If your redemption need isn’t urgent, these methods acquire IHG points at lower cost :
- Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer: 1,000 : 1,000 to One Rewards (but UR points transfer to Hyatt at 2.19¢/pt avg vs. IHG’s 0.69¢/pt avg — high opportunity cost)
- Bilt Rewards transfer: 1,000 : 1,000 to One Rewards (same opportunity cost consideration)
- IHG cobranded card sign-up bonuses:
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Card: $0 annual fee, 80,000 bonus points after $2,000 spend in 3 months
- IHG One Rewards Premier Card: $99 annual fee, 140,000 bonus points after $3,000 spend in 3 months
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card: $99 annual fee, 140,000 bonus points after $4,000 spend in 3 months
- Stay accumulation: One Rewards members earn 10+ points per $1 on stays, stackable with promotions
📌 Decision guide: If you have an imminent high-value redemption need (especially before Aug 17 for luxury/peak stays), buying at 0.5¢/pt is the fastest path. If your redemption is 3+ months out, prioritize cobranded card sign-up bonuses or UR transfers for lower per-point cost.
5-Step Action Sequence
- Log in to your IHG One Rewards account (free to join)
- Visit the IHG One Rewards official points purchase page and check your targeted bonus tier
- If you only see 80% or 90% → evaluate whether to wait for a better targeted offer (IHG runs buy-points sales almost monthly, but 100% tiers appear only a handful of times per year)
- If you see 100% → buy the full 200,000 base point annual cap in a single transaction, get 200,000 bonus points, total 400,000 points
- Pay with your best everyday cash-back card (e.g., Citi Double Cash 2% cash back, Capital One Venture) — since Points.com processing doesn’t code as travel, don’t use a travel cobranded card
⚠️ Three key pitfalls: ① Opening the buy page without logging in → you’ll only see the no-bonus 1.35¢/pt rate; you MUST log in to see your targeted tier; ② Paying with the IHG Premier cobranded card → its 20% purchase discount does NOT stack with the 100% bonus, making a 2% cash-back card a better choice; ③ Ignoring the 18-month expiry rule → purchased points expire if unused