If you have a business venture — even if it's a side gig like delivering for DoorDash or freelancing — you could qualify for a small-business credit card.
Business credit cards are some of the most dynamic tools in the world of travel rewards. They're often more robust than personal credit cards in terms of ongoing benefits. The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is no exception.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has the highest potential value of any IHG credit card. Not only does it come with many of the same benefits as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, but it also offers excellent incentives for big spenders, such as an additional free night award (worth up to 40,000 points) and the ability to achieve top-tier Diamond elite status.
IHG Business Credit Card Overview
With this $99-annual-fee card, you can receive potentially $800+ in value each year. Plus, the card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus, earn 60,000 bonus points after spending a total of $9,000 in the first six months from account opening. That makes it one of the best hotel credit card offers for small business owners available today.
You can also earn IHG points quickly when spending on the following purchases:
- 10 points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations, dining, social media and search engine advertising, and at office supply stores
- 3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases
If you want to book IHG hotels but aren't necessarily loyal to the brand, you could instead open a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. These cards earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which you can convert into IHG points. Plus, you've got several other transfer partners (such as Hyatt and Marriott) to choose from.
IHG is also a Bilt Rewards partner, so you can transfer points earned from the Bilt Mastercard® to IHG (and over a dozen other hotel and airline partners) at a 1:1 ratio.
$99
N/A
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Earn up to 200,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Up to 2 free night certificates each year
- Ability to achieve top-tier elite status through spending
- $99 annual fee
With valuable benefits for small-business owners who stay at IHG hotels, this card can be well worth the annual fee for frequent travelers. It's got the most benefits of any IHG card, and the anniversary free night alone can be worth hundreds of dollars.
- Our Best Points Offer Ever! Earn up to 200,000 Bonus Points. Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 60,000 Bonus Points after spending a total of $9,000 in the first 6 months from account opening.
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Rewards
IHG Business Credit Card welcome bonus offer
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers a huge 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus, earn 60,000 bonus points after spending a total of $9,000 in the first six months from account opening. That's worth around $1,300 in hotel stays, according to Business Insider's points and miles valuations, which peg IHG points value at 0.65 cents apiece.
However, it's possible to get significantly more value than that if you know the best ways to use IHG points.
How to earn points from the IHG Business Credit Card
With the card, you'll also receive the following return rates for your spending:
- 10 points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5 points per dollar on travel and at gas stations, dining, social media and search engine advertising, and at office supply stores
- 3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases
The ability to earn a bonus of 10 points per dollar at IHG hotels is significant. This is on top of the 10 base points you'll earn, as well as a 60% bonus on base points for the automatic Platinum elite status you'll receive with the card. In other words, by using your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card at IHG hotels, you'll earn up to 26 points per dollar.
How to use points from the IHG Business Card
IHG hotels may not sound like a familiar chain to you, but it's got some of the most ubiquitous hotel brands in the country — and plenty of international properties, too. Here are all the brands you can book with IHG points:
IHG hotels generally cost between 10,000 and 100,000 points per night (though a handful of hotels charge an outlandish 120,000 points per night). With this card's welcome bonus offer, you could stay:
- Up to four nights at the five-star InterContinental Bangkok
- Up to seven nights at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
- Up to two nights at the five-star InterContinental London Park Lane
- Up to eight nights at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jacksonville North-Fernandina
And remember, if you book three consecutive nights with this card, you'll get your fourth night for zero points.
You've also got less straightforward options for redeeming your IHG points. We don't recommend these, as you often will get an inferior value per point:
- Transfer IHG points to airline partners
- Donate IHG points to charity
- Redeem points for gift cards, digital rewards, merchandise, and magazines
- Cash in points for exclusive events and experiences
IHG Business Credit Card Benefits and Features
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers lots of impressive benefits — in fact, for an annual fee of $99, it's hard to beat the range and value of perks you'll receive as a cardholder.
IHG elite status
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers automatic IHG Platinum elite status, which would otherwise require 40 nights or 60,000 points to achieve. Platinum status offers benefits like room upgrades (where available), late checkout, complimentary internet, 60% bonus points on paid bookings, and more.
You can also earn Diamond elite status when spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year and making one additional purchase. Diamond status demands 70 nights or 120,000 points per year, so the ability to earn it from credit card spending is great.
Free anniversary nights
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card provides one free night each year after your cardmember anniversary. It can be used for any hotel costing 40,000 points or less. As Business Insider estimates IHG points to be worth 0.65 cents each, this free night is worth up to $280.
You can also use this benefit at hotels costing more than 40,000 points — but you must supplement the award price with IHG points. For example, if a hotel costs 70,000 points, you'll pay with a combination of your free night and 30,000 points.
You'll receive a second identical free night award each calendar year you spend $60,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase.
Fourth reward night free on IHG points stays
When booking three consecutive award nights during a single stay, cardholders will receive the fourth night free. That's a 25% savings on stays of four nights. You can really stretch your points by using this benefit often.
Application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and NEXUS
Cardholders receive a NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck® fee credit of up to $120 every four years).
TSA PreCheck® allows you to speed through TSA security checkpoints without removing your shoes, belt, and light jacket. You can keep your laptop and TSA-approved toiletries in your bag, too. You even get a dedicated security lane that is often much shorter.
Global Entry gives you an expedited immigration experience when returning to select US airports from abroad. It comes with TSA PreCheck®.
NEXUS offers expedited entry into Canada — and it also offers both TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry benefits.
20% discount when you purchase points with your card
If you decide to purchase IHG points, this card will unlock a 20% discount. The caveat is that you can't use this benefit in tandem with other IHG points promotions — and IHG frequently publishes points sales with up to a 100% bonus.
It doesn't usually make sense to buy loyalty program points unless you need to top off your account for an award. But if you find yourself in that situation, you'll get a 20% discount on IHG points purchases when you use your IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
10,000 bonus points and $100 statement credit
You can earn 10,000 bonus IHG points and a $100 statement credit after you spend $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase each calendar year. This benefit alone easily offsets your annual fee each year.
Up to $50 per year in United TravelBank Cash
You'll receive $25 in United TravelBank Cash around January 1 of each year, and another $25 around July 1.
TravelBank deposits do not roll over — that is, you cannot accrue these rewards. Instead, TravelBank deposits made on or after January 1 will expire on June 30, and TravelBank deposits made on or after July 1 will expire on December 31.
Note that you must first register to receive this benefit.
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
This card offers great travel insurance that covers you for various complications during your trip. When you pay for your travel with the card, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person ($6,000 maximum per trip) for prepaid nonrefundable travel expenses that are interrupted due to things like severe weather and illness.
Travel and emergency assistance services
This card also offers free medical and legal referrals or other emergency assistance during your trip. While the service is free, you'll have to pay for any third-party expenses.
Car rental insurance
When you use your card to pay for your car rental and decline the rental company's collision insurance, you're covered for damage due to theft or collision on most cars. You'll get primary car rental insurance in the U.S. when renting for business purposes.
Purchase protection
If an eligible item you've bought with the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase, you could be eligible for up to $10,000 in reimbursement per claim, and up to $50,000 per account from the card's purchase protection.
Extended warranty
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card extends the time period of a US manufacturer's warranty on eligible items by an additional year, on warranties of three years or less when you pay with your card.
DoorDash DashPass membership
If you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you can activate a complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass membership. DashPass offers free delivery and lower service fees on orders of $12 or more with DoorDash and Caviar delivery services, and you'd normally pay $9.99 per month for a membership. Cardholders must activate this membership by December 31, 2024.
IHG Business Credit Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card charges a $99 annual fee. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card abroad without incurring extra fees. You'll want to pay off your balance in full every month, otherwise a 19.99% - 28.49% Variable APR applies.
In other situations, you may have to pay fees, including:
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Cash advance fee: Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
IHG Business Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What credit score do you need for the IHG Business credit card?
To be considered for the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you'll need a credit score in the good to excellent range (a FICO score of at least 670). If your score is below that, check out our guide to improving your credit score.
Is the IHG Premier Business card worth it?
Even if you book just a couple of IHG hotel stays per year, this credit card can save you far more than the $99 annual fee.
For example, the card offers an annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points — and a second 40,000-point certificate each calendar year you spend $60,000 on the card.
You'll also receive up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash (which you can use toward United Airlines airfare), IHG Platinum elite status, and 10,000 points plus a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
Who is eligible for the IHG Premier Business card?
This is a small-business credit card, so you'll need a business venture to be eligible. Whether you're a freelance writer, a seller on Etsy, or a tutor, your small business could qualify you for a small-business card.
This card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, which means if you've opened five or more credit cards from any bank (excluding some small-business cards), you won't be approved for the card. You also cannot hold more than one IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card at once. However, if you have other IHG credit cards, like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you're still eligible to open this card.
Is the IHG Business Credit Card metal?
No, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is not metal. It's a standard plastic card.
Is there a no-fee IHG Business Card?
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is the only IHG small-business card available to new applicants. If you're looking for a no-annual-fee IHG card, your only choice is the personal IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It comes with fewer benefits and a smaller welcome bonus offer, but it's a decent deal if you're opposed to paying an annual fee. You can also check out our guide to the best no-annual-fee business credit cards for other options.
Methodology: How we reviewed the IHG Business Credit Card
Business Insider's credit cards team reviewed the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card in comparison to other rewards business cards for travel, particularly hotel business cards. We narrowed down our list based on several factors, including:
- Welcome bonus offer — Is there a valuable welcome bonus offer, and is it easy to achieve the minimum spending requirement to unlock the bonus? Is the offer comparable to or better than those on similar cards?
- Ongoing rewards earning — Beyond the welcome bonus offer, does the card have strong bonus categories and earn points at a competitive rate? Are any of the bonus categories capped at a maximum amount of spending?
- Benefits — Does the card offer additional perks for travelers, like elite status, anniversary free nights, travel protections, or statement credits? Are employee cards free to add?
- Annual fee — Most of the best travel credit cards charge an annual fee. If the card charges a fee, is it worth it based on the rewards and benefits you receive?
For a deeper dive into our methodology, read about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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