IHG One Rewards · Diamond guide
IHG Diamond, the top tier that unlocks breakfast for two
Among the standard elite tiers of IHG One Rewards (over 20 brands including InterContinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, voco and Holiday Inn), the option of breakfast for the member plus one guest as a welcome amenity at eligible brands is available only to Diamond (70 nights or 120,000 qualifying points a year).
Qualifying Points
If you are short on time
The bottom line at a glance
70 qualifying nights or 120,000 qualifying points in one year (January–December). You only need one of the two. Earn it in 2026 and it lasts until 31 December 2027.
Breakfast for the member + 1 guest as a welcome amenity, +100% points, room upgrades when available (may include suites, not guaranteed), early check-in.
A reward every 10 nights from 20 nights. At 40 and 70 nights you choose two. The annual lounge membership (“Lounge Key”) and confirmable suite upgrades are here.
No Korean-issued co-branded card has been confirmed, so earning it through stays is the default. The points route earns a base 10 pts per US dollar, so it takes about US$12,000 of qualifying spend.
Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge and avid already give every guest free breakfast, so there is no separate tier breakfast, and Candlewood and Six Senses are not eligible for tier breakfast. Upgrades are subject to availability, so suites are not guaranteed.
40 nights. The tier itself has no breakfast, but if you actually complete 40 nights that year you can choose the annual lounge membership as a milestone reward. Compare the cost of 30 more nights with the value of breakfast (author’s opinion).
1 · Tier structure
Diamond is the top of four elite tiers
The count runs from 1 January to 31 December, and a stay counts toward the year of the checkout date. A tier you earn lasts for the rest of that year and until 31 December of the following year. Nights above the requirement carry over to the next year (Rollover Nights).
Tier ladder
Requirements and key benefits by tier
Separate tiers: InterContinental Ambassador (paid, US$225 or 45,000 pts a year, see section 5), Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle (invitation only). There is no lifetime Diamond.
2 · Diamond benefits
What changes from check-in to checkout
Core benefits
What Diamond members get
Breakfast for the member + 1 guest
As a welcome amenity you can choose breakfast, points or a drink/snack; choose breakfast and the member and 1 registered guest get it every night. Breakfast is one main dish + unlimited non-alcoholic drinks or the buffet. Applies to both paid and reward stays. Brand rules are in section 4.
Upgrades when available (may include suites)
Given at check-in depending on availability and hotel discretion. Under the terms, suites, high floors and corner rooms are eligible, but they are not guaranteed. To confirm one in advance, use a milestone Confirmable Suite Upgrade (section 3).
Early check-in · 2 pm checkout
Both are subject to availability. The 2 pm late checkout is common to all members, so even at higher tiers there is no guaranteed 4 pm.
+100% on stays
Most brands earn a base 10 pts + 10 bonus pts per $1 = 20 pts. Staybridge and Candlewood earn a base 5 pts, so 10 pts.
Guaranteed room when booked 72 hours ahead
Book through IHG customer care at least 72 hours before arrival and one room is guaranteed. Based on the Best Flexible Rate; special high-demand event periods, reward stays and Six Senses are excluded.
Reward night discounts · dedicated support
Platinum and above can access reward night discounts that open from time to time, and Diamond has a dedicated support line.
Source: IHG One Rewards benefits chart and terms (official, checked 21 September 2026)
Comparison
Platinum vs Diamond: what 30 more nights changes
| Item | Platinum (40 nights) | Diamond (70 nights) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | —Welcome amenity is points or a drink/snack | Member + 1 guest, every night |
| Points bonus | +60% (16 pts per $1) | +100% (20 pts per $1) |
| Upgrades | When available, may include suites | When available, may include suites (same) |
| Early check-in | When available | When available (same) |
| Late checkout | 2 pm, when available | 2 pm, when available (same) |
| 72-hour room guarantee | O | Yes (same) |
| Milestone Rewards | Up to 40 nights: 3 milestones, 4 choices | Up to 70 nights: 6 milestones, 8 choices |
| Partner status | Hertz Five Star | Hertz President’s Circle |
The number of milestones assumes you actually complete 40 or 70 qualifying nights that year. Status earned through Ambassador, qualifying points or rollover nights does not come with that many.
3 · Milestone Rewards
A reward every 10 nights from 20 nights
Counted by qualifying nights that year (including reward stays). Rollover nights are excluded, and if you earned your tier only through the points route you get rewards only for the qualifying nights you actually stayed that year. If you do not choose within 90 days of reaching a milestone, it expires.
Choices
Choices by night count
| Nights | Choices | Choices |
|---|---|---|
| 20 nights | 1 | 5,000 pts · 2 Food and Beverage Rewards · 1 Confirmable Suite Upgrade |
| 30 nights | 1 | 5,000 pts · 2 Food and Beverage Rewards |
| 40 nights | 2 | 10,000 pts · 5 Food and Beverage Rewards · 1 Confirmable Suite Upgrade · Annual lounge membershipSuite upgrade and lounge can each be chosen only once; points and Food and Beverage Rewards can be chosen twice |
| 50 and 60 nights | 1 | 10,000 pts · 5 Food and Beverage Rewards |
| 70 nights | 2 | 10,000 pts · 5 Food and Beverage Rewards · 2 Confirmable Suite Upgrades · Annual lounge membershipSuite upgrade and lounge can each be chosen only once; points and Food and Beverage Rewards can be chosen twice |
| 80, 90 and 100 nights | 1 | 10,000 pts · 5 Food and Beverage Rewards |
40 nights: lounge membership + suite upgrade
If you often stay at hotels with a club lounge, such as InterContinental or Crowne Plaza, the lounge membership is the biggest prize. It is valid from the day you earn it to the end of that year + the whole of the following year (rule since 2025). Member + 1 guest (author’s opinion).
70 nights: 2 suite upgrades if you already have the lounge
It has the same validity as the lounge membership earned at 40 nights in the same year, so at 70 nights 2 Confirmable Suite Upgrades plus 10,000 pts is a safe combination (author’s opinion).
Compare the remaining choices with your plans
Food and beverage reward values depend on the member’s country, and any unused balance disappears after one use. Compare your hotel dining plans with the value of points (author’s opinion).
For Korean members, each food and beverage reward is worth KRW20,000.
Source: IHG One Rewards benefits chart (official, checked 21 September 2026)
How to use
Using Confirmable Suite Upgrades and Food and Beverage Rewards
- Confirmable Suite Upgrade
- A certificate that confirms an upgrade to the hotel’s standard suite in advance. For one room, on stays of up to 5 nights. Works on both paid and reward stays.
- How to confirm
- After booking, request it from IHG customer care between 14 days and 24 hours before arrival. It is confirmed only if a suite is available; if not, you keep the certificate.
- Eligible bookings
- Best Flexible, member discount, reward stays, government rates, some corporate and package rates.
- Ineligible bookings
- Excluded: OTA (Agoda, Booking.com, etc.) and wholesale rates, group rates, package tours and conventions paid by a third party, some package rates set by the hotel, free night certificate stays, Ambassador complimentary weekend nights, employee rates and prepaid rates with a deposit. Some package rates are eligible, so check with customer care.
- Ineligible hotels
- It cannot be used at every IHG hotel. Excluded: Six Senses, IHG residences (InterContinental, voco and Crowne Plaza Residences, etc.), avid hotels, Atwell Suites, IHG Army Hotels, participating Ruby hotels, InterContinental Alliance Resorts Macao and participating Iberostar Beachfront Resorts. Check that the hotel is eligible before booking.
- Validity
- 12 months from the day you choose it.
- Food and Beverage Reward
- The issued value depends on the member’s country (for example, US$20 in the US or ¥2,000 in Japan). At overseas hotels it is converted to local currency. Apply it before checkout to charges posted to your room bill, including hotel restaurants, room service, minibars and markets. Unused balance is lost after one use; validity is 12 months.
- Food and beverage rewards for Korean members
- Korean members receive KRW20,000 per reward. This is separate from Ambassador credits that depend on the hotel’s location.
- Tips
- It works best on trips of 5 nights or fewer at brands with a high share of suites, such as InterContinental and Kimpton. Under the terms, consecutive stays at the same hotel count as one stay regardless of the number of check-ins, so check with customer care whether it can be split when a stay exceeds 5 nights.
40- and 70-night choice
Lounge Key (annual lounge membership)
- How to get it
- Complete 40 or 70 qualifying nights in a year and choose it at that milestone. It is based on nights, not tier, so Ambassador, qualifying points or rollover nights alone do not unlock it. Choose within 90 days of reaching the milestone.
- Validity
- From the day you reach the milestone to the end of that year + the whole of the following year. Complete 40 nights in June 2026 and it lasts until 31 December 2027. There used to be a way to get almost two years by choosing it in January of the next year, but since 2025 it is based on the date earned, regardless of when you choose it.
- Who
- The registered member + 1 guest, for the duration of the stay (until checkout time).
- Where
- IHG hotels with a club lounge. Mostly InterContinental, with some Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels too. In Korea, for example Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas with its Club InterContinental. Access is limited during renovations and closures, and InterContinental Alliance Resorts Macao is excluded.
- What is included
- Lounge access and the food and drink inside (breakfast, drinks, evening cocktails, etc., varying by hotel and region). Club InterContinental and Club Regent extras such as pressing, airport transfers and farewell gifts are not included.
- Eligible stays
- Qualifying stays, including reward stays and free night certificate stays.
- How to use
- Open the lounge membership screen in the IHG app’s Rewards Wallet and show it at check-in; the front desk adds lounge access to your room key. The member who made the booking must present it.
- Verdict (author’s opinion)
- If you often stay at InterContinental or Crowne Plaza hotels with a lounge, it is the most valuable of the 40-night choices. At hotels where the lounge serves breakfast, Platinum + Lounge Key alone can cover breakfast. Conversely, if you mostly stay at hotels without a lounge, such as Holiday Inn Express, there is almost nowhere to use it.
Source: IHG One Rewards benefits chart (official, checked 22 September 2026), LoyaltyLobby, The Points Guy
4 · Breakfast rules
Brands where Diamond breakfast applies
The official terms list the brands eligible for breakfast. Brands not on the list have no tier breakfast.
By brand
Where Diamond breakfast applies and where it does not
| Category | Brands | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond breakfast: yes | Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, HUALUXE, Hotel Indigo, voco, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn, Kimpton, some Garner hotels | Choose “breakfast” as the welcome amenity at check-in. Member + 1 registered guest, every night |
| Free for all guests | Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, avid hotels | The brand’s standard free breakfast applies regardless of tier, so there is no additional Diamond breakfast (check by region and hotel) |
| No tier breakfast | Candlewood Suites, Six Senses, brands not on the list | For Six Senses, use InterContinental Ambassador breakfast for two at participating hotels (residences excluded) or a breakfast-included booking such as IHG Destined |
| Excepted hotels | InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City, InterContinental Doha Residences, InterContinental Alliance Resorts Macao | No breakfast under the official terms |
Even if you book several rooms, breakfast applies only to the member’s room. Where and how breakfast is served varies by hotel, so check at check-in.
Source: IHG One Rewards benefits chart, avid hotels brand information, InterContinental Ambassador terms (official, checked 21 September 2026)
5 · Qualification routes
Stays, qualifying points and paid membership
The US Chase IHG One Rewards Premier card (automatic Platinum, Diamond with US$40,000 annual spend) is for US residents. No Korean-issued IHG co-branded card has been confirmed. So you need to earn it through nights or qualifying points.
Two routes
70 nights vs 120,000 qualifying points
| Item | Nights route | Points route |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | 70 qualifying nights | 120,000 qualifying points |
| What counts | 1 night at a qualifying rate or reward stay = 1 night. Two rooms on the same night still count as 1 night | Base points (usually 10 pts per $1), Bonus Points Packages, some partner activityExcludes tier bonus, promotion bonus, purchased points and US card points |
| How much you need to spend | 70 nights × nightly rate | About US$12,000 of qualifying spend at base-10-point brandsStaybridge and Candlewood earn 5 pts, so double |
| Milestones | All up to 70 nights | Only for the qualifying nights actually stayed that year |
| Best for | People who stay many nights at cheap hotels | People who stay few nights at expensive hotels |
The two routes are not combined. You need either 70 nights or 120,000 points. Reaching Diamond through the points route gives the same tier benefits, including breakfast. However, milestones are counted by qualifying nights that year, so with few stays you get fewer chances to choose the annual lounge membership or Confirmable Suite Upgrades.
Platinum you can buy
InterContinental Ambassador (US$225 a year)
- Price
- US$225 or 45,000 pts, 12 months from purchase. Non-refundable; renewable from 92 days before expiry.
- All IHG brands
- Platinum Elite benefits. No breakfast.
- At InterContinental only
- Guaranteed one-category upgrade from the booked room (confirmed on arrival; excludes residences, presidential, specialty and two-bedroom-plus suites; subject to availability on reward stays and free night certificates), guaranteed 4 pm checkout, one complimentary weekend night, a food and beverage credit per stay (KRW 20,000 at hotels in Korea, separate from milestone Food and Beverage Rewards), bottled water, and breakfast for one in mainland China only.
- Complimentary weekend night
- Not on any paid rate: book 2 or more weekend nights on the dedicated “Ambassador Complimentary Weekend Night” rate and the second night is free. Rooms at this rate are limited.
- Guarantee exceptions
- 31 December, the 10 days of Chinese New Year, and Mecca during Ramadan and Hajj, among others, are exceptions to the guaranteed benefits.
- Six Senses
- At participating Six Senses, daily breakfast for two in the main restaurant. Six Senses Residences excluded.
- Where it does not apply
- At IHG residences, Six Senses Residences and some Alliance resorts, benefits are reduced or unavailable.
- Verdict (author’s opinion)
- Judge the value of the complimentary weekend night by comparing the total for 2 nights at the dedicated rate with the total for 2 nights on a regular booking. It does not replace Diamond, and earns no nights or milestones.
Source: InterContinental Ambassador terms (official, checked 21 September 2026)
Occasional shortcuts
Fast track · buying qualifying points (targeted offers)
Diamond fast track
From 22 January to 8 March 2026 there was an offer granting Diamond (until the end of 2026) for 8 paid nights. Only targeted members, such as lapsed Diamonds, could register. Check your email and the Offers tab in the app.
Buying qualifying points (year-end)
From 16 to 31 December 2025, some members were offered the chance to buy qualifying points to keep or raise their tier. Prices varied by account; a case of about US$1,000 for 120,000 pts was reported. The purchased points can also be used for stays. Whether it returns at the end of 2026 is undecided.
No standing status match
IHG has no standing match that transfers status from other hotel programmes. Even with Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt status, you have to wait for the targeted offers above.
Building nights
Building nights with cheap IHG hotels
| Region | Main brands | Highlight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Holiday Inn Express | Breakfast included as standard | Lowest prices shown on search sites, e.g. Changchun High-Tech Zone from $35, Beijing Shangdi from $64 (varies by date) |
| China | Holiday Inn · Crowne Plaza | Diamond breakfast: yes | On cheap dates in second-tier cities, a full-service hotel plus breakfast |
| Southeast Asia | Holiday Inn Express · Holiday Inn | — | Sort by price in the app, focusing on regional cities in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand |
| Korea | Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae, Holiday Inn Gwangju, Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo, etc. | — | Korea has few IHG hotels, so prices are often high. Focus on weekdays and the off-season |
Prices in the table are “from” prices shown by a search site (KAYAK), not current prices. Searching the city in the IHG app and sorting by price is most accurate, and to earn nights and points you must book a qualifying rate directly with IHG or through a certified travel agency contracted with IHG. On the qualifying points route, cheap hotels are a disadvantage (a $40 night earns 400 pts).
Where to use it in Korea
Key IHG hotels in Korea
| Region | Hotel | Diamond breakfast |
|---|---|---|
| Gangnam, Seoul | Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas | O |
| Seoul | voco Seoul Gangnam · voco Seoul Myeongdong | O |
| Mapo, Seoul | Holiday Inn Express Seoul Hongdae | Included as standard |
| Incheon | Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo | O |
| Gwangju | Holiday Inn Gwangju | O |
| Pyeongchang | InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort · Holiday Inn Resort Alpensia Pyeongchang · Holiday Inn & Suites Alpensia Pyeongchang | O |
Based on IHG and Tripadvisor listings as of September 2026. InterContinental Seoul COEX closed in 2024 and changed to another brand. How breakfast is served (buffet or lounge) varies by hotel.
2026 promotions
What to register for now
| Promotion | Details | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 global promotionRegister before your first stay | From the second qualifying stay, 2x base points, 3x when booked in the IHG app (WeChat or LINE in some regions). Only stays with spend over US$30 per night; reward stays, Points & Cash and OTAs excluded; no cap. No bonus nights | Stays 1 October–31 December |
| Asia Pacific “Stay 3, pay 2”Third night free | IHG members booking 3 or more consecutive nights in one reservation on designated premium room and suite rates at participating hotels. Includes daily breakfast for up to 2 people per room. Includes Korea, Japan and Greater China. Check cancellation and change conditions with each hotel | Book 1–30 September Stay until 30 June 2027 |
| Points purchase bonus | Up to 100% bonus; bonus rate varies by account. Does not count toward status | 6 October, 12:59 pm (Korea time, as reported) |
| Personal targeted offers | Fast track, buying qualifying points, etc. Varies by account | App → Offers |
Promotion bonus points do not count as qualifying points (base points only). The Q4 promotion is based on IHG’s official promotion page, and the points purchase bonus on MileLion’s report, so confirm the final terms on the purchase screen.
Source: IHG “Up to 3X Points” promotion terms, IHG Asia Pacific offers page (official, checked 21 September 2026)
6 · Travel agency rates
IHG Destined: breakfast without status
IHG’s version of Hyatt Privé
IHG Destined
- What it is
- IHG’s programme for certified travel agencies only, launched in January 2025. It replaces the former “Luxury & Lifestyle” rates.
- Eligible hotels
- Participating hotels only among Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Kimpton, Vignette Collection and Hotel Indigo.
- Benefits
- US$100 hotel credit per stay, daily breakfast for two, upgrade when available, welcome amenity, priority early check-in and late checkout requests.
- Nights and points
- Qualifying bookings at IHG One Rewards participating hotels earn points and nights (some Six Senses do not participate). If it overlaps with tier breakfast, only the better of the two applies.
- When to use it (author’s opinion)
- It is the easiest way to add breakfast to an InterContinental or Kimpton stay when you are not Diamond, and it also works at Six Senses, which has no tier breakfast. It cannot be combined with member rates or packages, so compare it with the official website rate under the same cancellation terms.
7 · Easy-to-miss pitfalls
Know these and you won’t be disappointed
Checklist
6 easy-to-miss pitfalls
Agoda and Booking.com bookings earn neither nights nor benefits
Regular OTA bookings do not earn points or nights, and elite benefits are not guaranteed. Book directly with IHG or through a certified travel agency contracted with IHG.
Platinum has no breakfast
Among the standard tiers, only Diamond gets welcome breakfast. Brands that already serve free breakfast, such as Holiday Inn Express and avid, as well as Candlewood and Six Senses, are not eligible for tier breakfast.
Tier upgrades are not guaranteed
Suites are eligible under the terms, but it depends on availability and hotel discretion at check-in. To confirm in advance, use a milestone Confirmable Suite Upgrade. Ambassador’s one-category InterContinental upgrade is confirmed on arrival at the hotel and does not guarantee a suite.
Points that do not count as qualifying points
Tier bonuses, promotion bonuses and regular purchased points do not count toward the 120,000. Count mainly base points and Bonus Points Packages.
Choose milestones within 90 days
They expire 90 days after you reach them. Rollover nights do not count toward milestones.
2 rooms = 1 night
Even if you book several rooms on the same night, it counts as 1 qualifying night, and breakfast applies only to the member’s room.
8 · Glossary
Terms that confuse at first
Glossary
IHG tier terms
- IHG One Rewards
- The name of the IHG hotel group’s loyalty programme.
- Qualifying Night
- Nights used for tier calculation. Qualifying-rate stays and reward stays count 1 night each, credited to the year of checkout, reset on 1 January. Several rooms on the same night count as 1 night.
- Elite Qualifying Points
- The figure used for tier calculation on the points route. Only base points, Bonus Points Packages and the like count.
- Rollover Nights
- Nights above the tier requirement that carry over to the next year’s tier calculation. They do not count toward milestones.
- Milestone Rewards
- Rewards you choose every 10 nights from 20 nights. Two at 40 and 70 nights.
- Lounge Key (Annual Lounge Membership)
- The annual lounge membership from the 40- and 70-night milestones. Gives access to club lounges at IHG hotels; different from the airport lounge programme (LoungeKey).
- Confirmable Suite Upgrade
- A certificate that confirms a standard suite 14 days to 24 hours before arrival. Up to 5 nights.
- Welcome Amenity
- A gift you choose at check-in. Diamond chooses from breakfast, points or a drink/snack.
- InterContinental Ambassador
- A paid membership at US$225 a year. Platinum across IHG + InterContinental-only benefits.
- IHG Destined
- An IHG certified-travel-agency-only rate with breakfast and a US$100 credit.
- Fast track
- A short-term tier offer open only to some members.
- OTA
- Third-party booking sites such as Agoda, Booking.com and Trip.com. Generally excluded from nights and benefits.
9 · Sources and revision history
Before you read, and what has changed
About the sources
An unofficial, unreviewed guide compiled from official chain information, blogs and community reports.
Prices, exchange rates and converted amounts are estimates as of the writing date.
Change log
Changes by version
- First edition: tier structure, Diamond benefits, Platinum vs Diamond comparison, Milestone Rewards, Confirmable Suite Upgrades, breakfast by brand, two routes to Diamond, InterContinental Ambassador, fast track and targeted offers, cheap IHG hotels, IHG hotels in Korea, 2026 promotions, IHG Destined, pitfalls, glossary
- Review applied: standard upgrades may include suites (not guaranteed), breakfast distinguished from tier benefits and milestones, Korean Food and Beverage Reward KRW 20,000, avid standard free breakfast, Six Senses Ambassador breakfast for two, Ambassador complimentary weekend night dedicated rate, guarantee exceptions and Korea credit, 72-hour guarantee exceptions, checkout-year rule, bookings excluded from suite upgrades, 40-night choice limits, official terms of Q4 and Asia promotions, revised Platinum decision guide
- Added: Lounge Key (annual lounge membership) box covering requirements, validity and how to use
- Review applied: Ambassador upgrade is confirmed on arrival (not a way to confirm in advance), eligible and ineligible rates and excluded brands for Confirmable Suite Upgrades