No, the first stay does not count: IHG One Rewards members who register for the global promotion that began October 1 earn bonus points only from their second qualifying stay, through December 31, 2026. That second stay earns double points, or triple points when it is booked in the IHG app.
The rule changes how you plan a fall trip. A member with only one IHG stay on the calendar gets nothing extra, while a member with several stays can earn on every one after the first. Our report on the IHG One Rewards card fee changes covers the cardholder side of the program.
- Dates: stays from October 1 through December 31, 2026.
- Earning: 2X points from the second qualifying stay, 3X when booked in the IHG app.
- Registration: required, and stays completed before you register do not qualify.
- Exclusions: award stays, Points + Cash stays and third-party bookings.
- Cap: none, since bonus earning is unlimited.
The Second Stay Is Where the Bonus Starts
According to the promotion terms published by Frequent Miler, no bonus points are earned on a member’s first qualifying stay. Bonus points begin with the second and continue on every later qualifying stay in the period.
The first stay still has to be booked through an IHG owned direct channel, such as the IHG website or app. A first stay booked through an online travel agency does not start the count. Frequent Miler calls the first stay rule a drawback for members whose first stay is a long one, because none of those nights earn extra.
Triple Points Need the App
The 3X rate applies to stays booked through the IHG One Rewards app on Android and iOS, and through WeChat or LINE in markets where those channels are offered. Everything else booked directly with IHG earns 2X.
The booking channel of each stay sets its own rate, so a member can earn 3X on one stay and 2X on another. A stay already booked on the website would need to be canceled and rebooked in the app to move up a tier, which Frequent Miler points out.
What 2X and 3X Actually Add
IHG defines the multiples against the base points a member normally earns just for belonging to the program. Base plus bonus together equal two or three times that base amount, so a 3X stay earns triple the base points in total rather than triple on top of the base.
Frequent Miler estimates that IHG credit cardholders booking in the app reach 32 to 36 points per dollar, though that figure depends on the card and on elite status. Treat it as a ceiling for strong cases, not a typical result.
Register Before the Stay You Want Counted
Members could pre-register from September 17 to 30, and those who missed that window can still register during the promotion. A member can register only once, and a stay completed before registration is not eligible even if it falls inside the dates.
That makes the order of operations simple: register first, then travel. LoyaltyLobby reported that its author booked a cheap Holiday Inn stay as the first stay, so the more valuable second stay would qualify.
Stays Worth $30 or Less Do Not Count
LoyaltyLobby lists stays of $30 or less among the exclusions, along with award stays and Points + Cash stays. A very cheap first stay can therefore be too cheap to qualify as the activating stay.
Third-party bookings also fail the test. If you book through a travel agency site to chase a lower rate, expect no bonus points under this promotion.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Have one IHG stay planned this fall | Expect no bonus; add a second stay only if you would take the trip anyway. |
| Have two or more stays planned | Register now and book each one in the IHG app for 3X from the second stay. |
| Already booked on the website | Weigh cancel and rebook in the app against the 2X you already get. |
| Usually book through a travel agency | Compare the rate saved against the lost bonus, because those stays earn nothing here. |
Registration is the first gate. Sign up before the stay you want counted is completed, since earlier stays are excluded.
The second stay is the bonus gate. Line up at least two paid stays that meet the $30 minimum and are booked directly with IHG.
December 31 is the last day. Stays must be consumed by then, though IHG sets no booking date requirement, according to LoyaltyLobby.
Does my first IHG stay earn bonus points in this promotion?
No. Bonus points begin with the second qualifying stay, though the first stay must still be booked directly with IHG.
How do I earn triple points instead of double?
Book the stay through the IHG One Rewards app, or through WeChat or LINE where offered; other direct channels earn double.
Can I use points for the stay and still earn the bonus?
No. Award stays and Points + Cash stays are not eligible under the promotion terms.
Is there a limit on how many bonus points I can earn?
No. Bonus earning is unlimited for qualifying stays through December 31, 2026.
