How my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card pays for itself each year

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) currently has a limited-time welcome offer of five nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Each of the five nights is valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 60,000 points, so this welcome offer is a compelling reason to get the card now.

According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,500.

Even after you earn the welcome offer, the IHG Premier Card pays for itself each year.

It offers a range of useful benefits, such as automatic Platinum Elite status, every fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for stays of four nights or more and up to $50 in United® TravelBank Cash each calendar year.

But one benefit rises above the rest and effectively covers the card's annual fee each year: the account anniversary night certificate. Let's dive in.

IHG anniversary night certificate

Every year on your account anniversary with the IHG One Rewards Premier, you'll receive a certificate for a one-night stay at a property with a point redemption value of 40,000 points or less.

TPG's June 2025 valuations peg the value of 40,000 IHG points at $200, more than double the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 annual fee. So, you should easily get enough value to cover your card's annual fee by redeeming your anniversary night certificate each year.

One of my favorite hotels to use an IHG anniversary night certificate at is the Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam. During shoulder and low season, you often find award nights bookable for around 40,000 points. For example, for a stay on Jan. 19, I could redeem 39,000 points or pay $259 for a reservation that I can cancel for free until a day before my stay.

Of course, you could use an IHG anniversary night certificate in many other ways. Regardless of how you use it, you'll likely get at least $99 in value. You can also add points from your account to use the anniversary night certificate at more expensive properties if you can't find anything to your liking within the 40,000-point limit.

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You must redeem your anniversary night certificate and complete your stay within 12 months of when IHG issues the certificate.

Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card

Bottom line

I love my IHG One Rewards Premier for its ongoing perks. But the anniversary night alone makes it a winning choice. Even if you don't maximize your anniversary night certificate, using it for a single night's stay at an IHG property should easily give you more value than the card's annual fee.

To learn more, see our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier.

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier