IHG One Rewards Access

Rotating experience packages across a handful of categories:

• Entertainment - concerts, music, and exclusive performances
• Sports - tickets and on-site access to live events
• Culinary - cooking classes, chef's tables, and high-end dining reservations
• Culture and arts - theater, dance, and cultural events
• Travel and getaways - curated trips and stays bundled with experiences
• Money-can't-buy and VIP access - private performances, behind-the-scenes, and meet-and-greet style packages Inventory rotates constantly, and packages are region-specific, so what's live depends on when and where you're looking.

Two redemption mechanics, both paid entirely in IHG points (not cash):

• Redeem Now - a fixed points price you pay to claim the package instantly while it's available.
• Bid Now - a points auction on a single package; the highest bid at the close of the auction period wins. Each package is its own auction, and some rewards have multiple packages (so multiple winners). Points are debited automatically when you win or redeem, and you can track everything on the Bid Status page. After you secure an experience, the IHG One Rewards Access team reaches out within about 3-5 business days to confirm the details. There's no cap on how many rewards you can win or buy, but you need enough points in your account to cover every active bid at once.

Open to any IHG One Rewards member with a valid account who is 18 or older - no elite status or co-brand card required to participate. That said, some premium packages are gated: select prizes are reserved for higher tiers (such as Platinum Elite or Diamond Elite), and some require you to be 21+. You spend regular IHG One Rewards points, so the easiest way to stock up is the usual routes - paid stays, the IHG One Rewards Premier or Traveler cards, and transfers from partners like Chase into IHG.

Examples rotate, but recently featured packages have included a private performance by Lily Fitts paired with a cocktail workshop led by beverage specialist Belinda Chang; drinks and light bites at the InterContinental Boston followed by a sunset Boston Harbor dinner cruise; and tickets to Bangarra Dance Theatre's national tour in Australia. The mix skews toward live entertainment, culinary events, and once-in-a-lifetime access rather than everyday gift cards.

Big catch: all sales are final. No refunds on winning bids or Redeem Now redemptions, and rewards can't be exchanged, modified, cancelled, or refunded once secured - a bid is binding, so don't place one you're not ready to honor. Inventory is regional and time-limited, so availability varies by country and rotates fast; browse current packages at auctions.ihg.com (the IHG One Rewards Access site). Some packages carry tier or age restrictions, and you must hold enough points to cover all your active bids simultaneously.

Worth knowing because it's a flexible exit for points you might otherwise let sit, and the access angle - private performances, chef's tables, money-can't-buy events - can be genuinely hard to buy any other way. Just treat bids as final and go in with a specific experience you actually want, not as a way to "use up" a balance.