IHG Hotels & Resorts has officially launched its first global earning promotion of the new year, with IHG One Rewards members now able to collect double points on stays completed between January 1 and March 31, 2026.

The offer, branded as the “2X Unlimited” promotion, rewards members with twice the usual base points starting from their second qualifying stay during the promotion window, creating a potentially lucrative opportunity for frequent travelers to accelerate their balance early in 2026.

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How the IHG One Rewards Double Points Offer Works

The 2X Unlimited promotion applies to all IHG One Rewards members who register and then complete qualifying paid stays at participating IHG properties worldwide between January 1 and March 31, 2026.

The structure is straightforward but carries one important catch: the first qualifying stay in the promotion period earns regular base points only, and double points begin on the second stay and continue for every subsequent qualifying stay through March 31.

Under IHG One Rewards, most full-service brands earn 10 base points per US dollar spent on qualifying room rates and eligible incidentals. With the double points promotion, that base earning is matched with an equivalent promotional bonus from the second stay onward.

For example, a member who spends 300 dollars on a qualifying rate would usually earn 3,000 base points. With the 2X Unlimited offer active from their second stay, the same spend would earn 3,000 base points plus 3,000 promotional bonus points, for a total of 6,000 IHG One Rewards points.

The promotion does not alter elite-tier bonuses or other earning multipliers. Elite bonuses are calculated on top of the base points in the usual way and are not doubled by this campaign.

That means a Platinum or Diamond member could see especially strong returns when stacking elite bonuses, co-branded credit card earnings and the promotional double-points layer on the same stay.

Key Dates, Registration Rules and Eligibility

IHG opened pre-registration for the 2X Unlimited campaign on December 9, 2025, allowing members to enroll ahead of the January 1, 2026 start date.

Travelers who did not pre-register can still sign up during the active period, but only stays completed after registration will be eligible for the double-points component.

The promotion covers stays with check-out dates from January 1 through March 31, 2026. Any nights outside those dates will not earn promotional bonus points, even if part of an otherwise qualifying itinerary.

A stay is considered qualifying when it is booked under a qualifying rate, posted to the member’s IHG One Rewards account, and meets the minimum spend requirement of 30 dollars per night or the local currency equivalent.

The offer is available globally and is open to all IHG One Rewards members with a valid account, regardless of country of residence or elite tier.

New customers can enroll in IHG One Rewards at no cost and then register for the promotion to start earning double points from their second qualifying stay within the period.

Participating Brands and Important Exclusions

The double points offer is valid across the vast majority of the IHG portfolio, which spans more than 6,000 hotels and resorts worldwide.

Participating brands include familiar names such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Regent, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and others that normally earn IHG One Rewards points on qualifying paid stays.

There are a few notable exceptions. While members can typically earn and redeem IHG points at Six Senses properties and at participating Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, some locations do not fully participate in IHG One Rewards benefits, and certain on-property perks may be limited.

In line with IHG’s published terms, non-participating properties or brands are excluded from the 2X Unlimited promotion even if they appear in the wider IHG portfolio.

Additionally, stays that are booked through third-party online travel agencies, wholesale channels or package providers do not qualify. Reservations made via popular external booking platforms are specifically excluded from the promotion.

Only bookings made through IHG’s own direct channels or authorized partners using qualifying rates will earn both base and promotional bonus points.

What Counts as a Qualifying Stay and How “2X” Is Calculated

For the purposes of this promotion, IHG defines a qualifying stay as a minimum of one consecutive night at a participating hotel under a qualifying rate and with total nightly spend above the 30 dollar threshold.

Qualifying rates generally include standard flexible rates, advance purchase offers, negotiated corporate rates, many government and military rates, and specified leisure offers that normally earn IHG One Rewards points.

The double-points calculation is based exclusively on base points, which are earned by all IHG One Rewards members on qualifying spend regardless of elite tier.

When IHG refers to “2X” or “double points” in this context, it means that the combined total of base points and promotional bonus points will equal twice the base points that would normally be earned on that stay.

Elite bonuses, co-branded credit card earnings and any separate stackable promotions are calculated independently and are not doubled by the 2X Unlimited offer.

In practical terms, a frequent guest with elite status and a co-branded credit card could earn multiple layers of additional points on top of the doubled base points, significantly boosting the total haul from each stay after the first during the promotion window.

Strategy: How Frequent Travelers Can Maximize the Promotion

Because the first qualifying stay in the period does not earn any promotional bonus, many experienced points collectors will look to minimize the cost of that initial stay in order to unlock double points on subsequent, more expensive trips.

One common technique is to schedule a short, relatively low-cost night early in the quarter solely to trigger the promotion, then reserve higher-value multi-night stays later in the period once double points apply.

Travelers also tend to look at their broader travel calendar for the first quarter of the year to see which trips make the most sense to route through IHG rather than other hotel chains.

Work travel, major events and family holidays that fall between January and March 2026 may present opportunities to shift stays to IHG properties, especially in cities where multiple brands compete across different price points.

Stacking opportunities will also attract attention. Guests paying with an IHG-branded credit card can earn additional points per dollar charged to the card, on top of base points, elite bonuses and the double-points promotion.

When timed with local sales, advance purchase discounts or targeted IHG offers, the combined effect can push effective returns well beyond a simple 2X multiplier on base points.

How This Fits Into IHG’s Broader 2025–2026 Promotion Pattern

The launch of 2X Unlimited for the first quarter of 2026 follows a pattern of back-to-back earning promotions from IHG over late 2025 and into the new year.

In the final quarter of 2025, the group offered members a mix of double and triple points on stays and experimented with limited-time 5X points flash deals on December bookings.

Industry analysts note that the new double points offer for Q1 2026 is broadly similar in structure to the chain’s early 2025 promotion, suggesting IHG sees consistent engagement when it provides an earning boost immediately after the holiday season.

By opening pre-registration in December 2025, IHG signaled its intent to carry loyalty momentum into the new year, giving travelers a reason to keep upcoming stays within the IHG ecosystem.

For the company, such promotions can drive incremental nights, shift share from competing chains and encourage direct booking behavior, which remains a key revenue priority across the hotel sector.

Other major hotel loyalty programs, including those of rival global chains, have also leaned heavily on double or triple points offers to stimulate demand during shoulder periods and off-peak months.

Industry observers will be watching to see whether competing hotel brands roll out similar first-quarter incentives in response, particularly in markets where occupancy remains volatile and price-sensitive.

Who Benefits Most From the Double Points Campaign

The members most likely to benefit from the 2X Unlimited promotion are those with multiple paid stays scheduled between January and March 2026, particularly business travelers and frequent leisure guests who can consolidate their bookings with IHG.

Because the offer carries no published cap on the total number of bonus points that can be earned, very frequent guests stand to accumulate sizable balances if they route a large share of their hotel nights to IHG during the period.

Mid- and upper-tier elite members may see especially strong upside. While the double points bonus itself is not elite-qualifying, the underlying base points from qualifying stays still count toward elite status, meaning heavy users can continue their progress toward requalification while simultaneously building a larger pool of redeemable points.

For newer members, the promotion may provide the first opportunity to experience the benefits of accelerated earning and consider deeper engagement with the program.

Casual travelers with only one or two stays planned during the quarter may find the offer less transformational, especially if their only trip within the window ends up serving as the non-bonused first stay.

Nonetheless, even a single double-point stay on a higher nightly rate can yield enough incremental points to move a member closer to a future Reward Night or upgrade.

Common Pitfalls and Fine Print to Watch

As with any loyalty promotion, the fine print of IHG’s 2X Unlimited offer contains several potential pitfalls for the unwary. Stays booked using Reward Nights or Points & Cash are not eligible for the double-points bonus, even though they can still provide solid redemption value.

Similarly, bookings made via third-party online travel agencies or bundled into certain vacation packages typically fail to meet the qualifying rate requirements, leaving members with no promotional points even if they expected to benefit.

Members should also pay attention to the registration timing. Only nights that are part of qualifying stays completed after a member has registered will count for the promotion.

Travelers who forget to opt in until later in the quarter may see early January or February stays excluded, leaving potential double points on the table. In addition, if more than one registered member is staying in the same room, only one account can earn credit for the stay.

Another nuance is that while the promotional bonus is generous, it does not directly help members climb the elite tiers. The extra points awarded under 2X Unlimited are redeemable only and do not count toward status, so guests targeting Platinum or Diamond levels must still rely on the base points and qualified nights they earn during the stay period.

For some, that distinction may influence whether they prioritize this promotion over others on offer from competing hotel chains or airlines.

FAQ

Q1: When exactly does the IHG One Rewards 2X Unlimited promotion run?
Stays must be completed between January 1 and March 31, 2026, at participating IHG properties, and only those nights that fall within this window and meet the qualifying criteria will be eligible for double points starting from the second stay.

Q2: Do I need to register for the promotion before my stays?
Yes. You must register your IHG One Rewards account for the 2X Unlimited promotion, and only qualifying stays completed after registration will earn the double-points bonus beginning with your second stay in the period.

Q3: Does the first stay during the promotion period earn double points?
No. Your first qualifying stay after registration during the January 1 to March 31, 2026 window will earn regular base and any applicable elite or card bonuses, but it will not receive the promotional double-points boost.

Q4: Is there a cap on how many bonus points I can earn?
IHG has not published a cap for this campaign, which means members can earn double base points on an unlimited number of qualifying stays from their second stay onward during the promotion period.

Q5: Which types of bookings do not qualify for the double points?
Reward Night redemptions, Points & Cash bookings, stays reserved through third-party online travel agencies and some package or wholesale rates are excluded and will not earn promotional bonus points under this offer.

Q6: Do the promotional bonus points count toward elite status qualification?
No. Only base points earned from eligible spend count toward elite status. The extra points awarded through the 2X Unlimited campaign are redeemable points only and do not contribute to elite tier qualification.

Q7: Are all IHG brands included in the promotion?
Most IHG Hotels & Resorts brands that normally participate in IHG One Rewards and award points on qualifying paid stays are included, although some Six Senses properties, Iberostar locations and a small number of non-participating hotels may be excluded.

Q8: How is “double points” calculated on a typical stay?
IHG calculates the bonus by matching your base points, so if you earn 2,500 base points from qualifying spend on a stay, the promotion adds 2,500 bonus points, for a total of 5,000 points before any separate elite or credit card bonuses.

Q9: Can more than one IHG One Rewards member in the same room earn double points?
No. If multiple registered members share a room, only the member whose IHG One Rewards number is attached to the reservation and paying for the qualifying stay will earn the base and promotional bonus points.

Q10: What if I join IHG One Rewards during the promotion period?
New members who enroll in IHG One Rewards, register for the 2X Unlimited promotion and then complete qualifying paid stays by March 31, 2026, can participate fully, with their first qualifying stay earning standard points and double points applying from the second stay onward.