IHG One Rewards Launches 5,000-Point Welcome Bonus for New Members

IHG One Rewards has just announced a new welcome bonus offering 5,000 points for new members who complete their first stay. While this might sound appealing at first glance, there's an interesting catch that makes this offer a bit tricky to maximise.

The most notable restriction is that you'll need to complete your stay within 21 days of registering for the programme. This tight window means you'll need to carefully time your registration if you want to take advantage of the offer, which is available until April 30, 2025.

Looking at typical redemption values, 5,000 IHG points are worth approximately £20-£25 when redeemed smartly. This isn't going to dramatically change your travel plans, but it's a nice little bonus if you're planning a stay anyway.

The qualifying criteria are relatively straightforward - you'll need to book directly with IHG and spend at least $30 (about £24) before taxes and fees. The stay must be eligible to earn points, so watch out for special rates that might exclude points earning.

Should you go out of your way for this offer? Probably not. However, if you're planning to stay at an IHG property soon and haven't joined their loyalty programme yet, it's worth timing your registration to coincide with your stay. Just remember that once registered, that 21-day clock starts ticking!

These points could come in handy for topping up your account for a future redemption, especially at their lower-category properties. For instance, some Holiday Inn Express properties in the UK can be booked pretty cheap.

If you're looking to really maximise your hotel points earning in the UK, you might want to check out our guide to the best UK credit cards for travel rewards. While IHG doesn't currently have a UK credit card offering, there are plenty of other rewarding options available.

Have you spotted any other interesting hotel loyalty programme sign-up bonuses lately? Drop us a comment below or reach out to us on Instagram.