IHG One Rewards has quietly introduced a new way for travelers to secure or climb the elite-status ladder through the end of 2025 by letting members buy both elite-qualifying and redeemable award points tied directly to upcoming stays. The expanded “buy points” functionality, now prominently promoted on IHG’s site, effectively allows members to top up balances for future redemptions and simultaneously push themselves over key elite thresholds before the current qualification year closes on December 31, 2025.

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New Option: Buying Elite Qualifying Points Directly With Your Stay

IHG’s refreshed “Get what you want with points” page outlines a two-track approach for purchasing points. Members can continue to buy standard award points in bulk for future redemptions. The more notable addition is the ability to bolt on up to 5,000 elite-qualifying points per night during the booking process for an upcoming stay. These add-on points count toward both redeemable balances and elite-qualifying totals, effectively creating a pay-to-accelerate path toward status.

The mechanism is simple. When booking through IHG channels, including the website and app, members select their hotel, room type, and rate as usual. At the rate-selection stage, an option appears to add extra points per night at a fixed cost. Once the reservation is completed and the stay is consumed, those purchased add-on points post as both redeemable currency and elite-qualifying points, helping members move closer to Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status benchmarks.

IHG notes that these elite-qualifying add-ons cannot be combined with certain flexible offers, including specific 7-day free cancellation rates. Travelers looking to use this feature will need to ensure they select eligible rate types during booking. The approach reflects a broader industry shift toward monetizing the status-earning journey, giving frequent guests and occasional travelers alike a faster, if not cheaper, route to perks.

How Buying Elite Qualifying Points Can Extend Status Through December 31, 2025

IHG One Rewards status for most members is determined by nights stayed or base points earned during the calendar year, with qualification running through December 31, 2025 for the current cycle. By allowing members to purchase elite-qualifying points in conjunction with stays, IHG is giving its customers a last-minute lever to secure renewal if they fall short by points rather than nights. For example, a frequent traveler who will complete enough nights but not enough base points can add elite-qualifying points on select stays to bridge the gap.

This structure is particularly relevant for members eyeing renewals or upgrades to key tiers. Gold Elite offers bonus-earning and limited rollover benefits, Platinum Elite unlocks room upgrades and higher bonus points, while Diamond Elite adds breakfast and higher-touch perks at many properties. Each tier is tied to specific point thresholds, so the ability to buy elite-qualifying points lets members convert cash spend into incremental progress instead of relying solely on organically earned stays.

Importantly, this new channel for buying qualifying points sits alongside, not in place of, the usual promotions that run late in the year. In the final quarter of 2025, IHG is already incentivizing stays with bonus elite-night credits and accelerated-earn offers that help determine status through 2026. Having both promotional boosts and purchasable qualifying points available creates a layered system in which members can stack organic earning, promotional accelerators, and paid boosts to secure their desired tier.

Interaction With Current IHG One Rewards Promotions

The elite-qualifying buy-points feature launches into an unusually crowded IHG promotion calendar. One ongoing offer allows members to earn one bonus elite-night credit for each eligible night stayed between October 1 and December 31, 2025, up to a maximum of five bonus elite nights. Those bonus nights count toward 2025 elite status and milestone rewards, effectively letting members “double dip” on nights within the promotional cap.

Another targeted campaign, promoted as “Earn 2026 Platinum Elite status in just 5 nights,” allows invited members to register and then earn Platinum Elite through the end of 2026 after staying five qualifying nights between October 1 and December 31, 2025. That offer is separate from point purchases and is triggered purely by qualifying nights. However, members eligible for both promotions could see their progress to 2025 and 2026 status accelerate significantly when combining bonus nights, promotional earning, and purchased elite-qualifying points tied to those same stays.

On the earning side, IHG is also running a global promotion for standard bonus points on stays completed in the last quarter of 2025, awarding double points on second stays and triple points on subsequent stays up to a defined cap. Looking ahead, pre-registration has opened for an early-2026 campaign that will award double base points starting from a member’s second stay between January 1 and March 31, 2026. While these promotions center on bonus base points rather than elite nights, the newly launched elite-qualifying add-on points offer a complementary avenue to firm up status in the current year before those 2026 bonuses begin.

Standard Points Sales: 100 Percent Bonus but No Status Credit

Running parallel to the elite-qualifying buy options are IHG’s periodic flash sales on standard award points, which are not elite-qualifying. In December 2025, IHG is again offering targeted members up to a 100 percent bonus on purchased points, dropping the effective cost to about 0.5 US cents per point for those who receive the maximum offer. Depending on previous purchases in the year, members can buy up to 300,000 base points during a special offer period and receive an equal number of bonus points, for a theoretical maximum of 600,000 points.

Despite the attractive headline pricing, IHG’s own terms and independent coverage from loyalty outlets underline a critical caveat: purchased points, including the promotional bonus points, do not count toward elite status. For travelers who only need redeemable currency to book award nights, the 100 percent bonus sale can still be compelling, particularly at high-end resorts where cash rates are high and points redemptions can yield strong value.

However, members specifically aiming to renew or bump up elite status before December 31, 2025 must differentiate between these deeply discounted, non-qualifying points and the newer, more targeted elite-qualifying points that can be purchased only as an add-on to actual stays. The former are ideal for future award bookings, while the latter are designed to shift a member’s position on the status ladder.

Costs, Limitations, and Strategic Sweet Spots

IHG has not publicly advertised a universal flat price for elite-qualifying add-on points, and pricing may vary by market or booking. What is clear is that these add-on points are sold at a premium relative to the most generous standard points sales. Because they directly influence status, they function more as a fast-track tool than a bargain currency purchase. Travelers will need to run careful calculations comparing the cost of buying qualifying points, the incremental benefits of the next elite tier, and the realistic value they will extract from that status in 2026.

There are also structural limits to consider. Members can only add up to 5,000 elite-qualifying points per night, and the offer is tied to specific eligible booking types. If a traveler is far from an elite threshold, adding points on a handful of nights may not be sufficient or cost-effective. Conversely, those within a short distance of Gold, Platinum, or Diamond may find that buying qualifying points on two or three nights is cheaper than adding an extra trip purely to earn organic points and nights.

Industry analysts warn that paying outright for status or for qualifying credit is rarely a good idea unless a traveler has a concrete plan to utilize benefits, such as frequent stays at full-service brands where upgrades, breakfast, and late checkout are consistently honored. For occasional leisure guests, elite-qualifying point purchases can quickly become sunk cost if travel volumes in 2026 do not match expectations. The sweet spot is likely among mid- to high-frequency travelers who are just shy of requalification or a meaningful status upgrade before the calendar resets.

Implications for Frequent Travelers and the Wider Hotel Loyalty Landscape

IHG’s move to formalize the sale of elite-qualifying points comes as major hotel groups seek new revenue streams within their loyalty ecosystems. While buying status or its building blocks is not new, the ability to bolt on qualifying points directly within a standard booking flow represents a deeper integration of monetized loyalty into everyday transactions. It also blurs the line between earned and purchased status, a tension that has been building across airlines and hotels alike.

For frequent travelers, the development is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it introduces flexibility, giving members who have had irregular travel patterns in 2025 a way to protect or improve their status without adding unnecessary trips. On the other hand, as more members buy their way into higher tiers, the practical value of benefits like upgrades may be diluted as elites proliferate at popular city and resort properties.

Competitive pressure also plays a role. Rival hotel chains have experimented with similar offers, including temporary status fast-tracks, straight-for-cash status buys, and bundled credit card products that grant instant mid-tier or top-tier recognition. IHG’s combination of promotional bonus nights, targeted fast-track offers for Platinum, and now purchasable qualifying points underscores how intensely the hotel industry is using loyalty as both a retention tool and a revenue line.

What Travelers Should Watch as the December 31, 2025 Deadline Approaches

With the end-of-year status deadline set for December 31, 2025, IHG members looking to capitalize on the new buy-points pathway need to act quickly. Bookings that leverage elite-qualifying add-on points must be completed in time for the stays to be consumed and posted before the calendar flips. That timeline is particularly tight for travelers whose remaining stays are concentrated in late December or where post-stay posting delays could spill into early January.

Members also need to pay attention to overlapping promotions and eligibility rules. Only qualifying nights at qualifying rates will trigger bonus elite nights, targeted fast-tracks, and the posting of purchased elite-qualifying points. Corporate rates, third-party bookings, and certain deeply discounted offers may fall outside the scope of these benefits. As with many loyalty promotions, the fine print can make a significant difference in the final tally.

Observers expect IHG to continue experimenting with paid status acceleration in early 2026, but nothing is guaranteed. For now, the combination of traditional year-end mattress runs, bonus elite-night offers, and the ability to purchase qualifying points gives engaged IHG members more tools than ever to engineer their preferred status outcome before the 2025 qualification window closes.

FAQ

Q1: Can I buy IHG points that count toward elite status?
Yes. When you add up to 5,000 extra points per night at the time of booking through eligible IHG channels, those add-on points are both redeemable and elite-qualifying. Standard bulk point purchases during sales are not elite-qualifying.

Q2: Do the elite-qualifying points I buy help me renew or upgrade status for 2025?
They help you reach the total points needed for 2025 elite qualification, so they can be used to renew or bump your status if the stay and the points post before December 31, 2025.

Q3: How many elite-qualifying points can I buy per stay?
You can add up to 5,000 elite-qualifying points per night on eligible bookings. Multi-night stays can therefore generate significantly more qualifying points, within that per-night limit.

Q4: Do points purchased in IHG’s 100 percent bonus sales count toward elite status?
No. Points bought in the standard buy-points promotions, including those with a 100 percent bonus, do not count toward elite status. They are only redeemable for reward nights and other awards.

Q5: Do I need to book directly with IHG to buy elite-qualifying points?
Yes. The option to add elite-qualifying points appears only when you book directly with IHG, such as via the official website or app. Third-party reservations do not offer this add-on.

Q6: Can I combine elite-qualifying add-on points with fully flexible or free-cancellation rates?
Not always. IHG has indicated that these add-on points cannot be combined with certain 7-day free cancellation rates and possibly other promotional rate types, so you must choose an eligible rate to see the option.

Q7: What happens if my stay posts after December 31, 2025?
IHG generally credits points and nights based on the stay dates, but processing delays can occur. If you are relying on qualifying points to secure 2025 status, it is safer to complete stays earlier and verify posting before year-end.

Q8: Is it better to buy elite-qualifying points or book an extra stay?
That depends on price and your travel plans. Buying qualifying points may be cheaper and more convenient if you are only a small margin away from the next tier, but frequent travelers might gain more value from an extra paid stay that also earns organic points and nights.

Q9: Do these purchased elite-qualifying points count toward milestone rewards?
Yes. Because the add-on points are elite-qualifying, they contribute to the same totals used to determine your elite status and milestone rewards, assuming the underlying stay meets eligibility criteria.

Q10: Will IHG offer similar elite-qualifying purchase options in 2026?
IHG has not guaranteed that the current structure will continue unchanged into 2026. Given broader industry trends, it is likely that some form of paid acceleration will remain, but the exact mechanics, limits, and pricing may evolve.