IHG's Fall Promo Pays Up to 3X Points, But Not on Your First Stay

IHG One Rewards is running a fall earning promo, and the part worth knowing is buried in the fine print. Register before you stay, book direct, and you can earn extra points on qualifying stays from October 1 through December 31, 2026.

Here is what the headline skips. Your first qualifying stay earns nothing extra. The bonus kicks in on your second stay: 2X points when you book on ihg.com or by phone, and 3X points when you book in the IHG One Rewards app. There is no cap on the bonus points, though they do not count toward elite status.

A qualifying stay is at least one night on a paid rate over $30 a night, booked direct. Award nights, Points and Cash bookings, and anything booked through Booking or Expedia will not count.

The real read: this only pays off if you already have a few IHG stays on the calendar this quarter. There is no reward for a first stay and no reason to book one you did not need. If you are staying anyway, book in the app to earn at the 3X rate, and register before you check in, because stays completed before you register are not credited.

A few dates and rules to keep straight:

• Pre-registration is open now through September 30. You can register later too, but only stays completed after you register will count.
• Earning runs on stays from October 1 through December 31, 2026.