A premium IHG card finally arrives
Chase and IHG just unveiled a new headliner: the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card, a $350‑annual‑fee product that opens with a limited‑time 200,000‑point welcome offer after $5,000 in three months. It’s a decisive move that gives frequent IHG guests a richer path to elite perks and on‑property credits without jumping to a $550–$650 hotel card. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
What’s new — and why it matters
The Premier Select sits above the existing IHG Premier and brings automatic Platinum status, 20 elite night credits each year, and a 60,000‑point anniversary free night certificate you can top up with IHG points. Add up to $300 in annual IHG food‑and‑beverage rewards and a $200 airline credit (through December 31, 2027), and you’ve got a hotel‑centric package that can offset the fee if you stay with IHG even a few times a year. The launch offer runs through November 18, 2026, creating a defined window to decide. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
Put differently: this is IHG’s answer to travelers who want meaningful, hotel‑specific value — credits you can actually use on‑property, faster status progress, and an anniversary night that can reach into higher‑tier brands like InterContinental and Kimpton when you add points.
The benefits, translated to real value
- Welcome offer: 200,000 IHG points after $5,000 in three months. At The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuation of 0.6 cents per point, that’s about $1,200 in potential hotel stays — before you factor in the anniversary night or credits. Upgraded redemptions (think off‑peak InterContinental or a four‑night stay leveraging IHG’s fourth‑night‑free) can stretch that further. ([thepointsguy.com](https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-launch/))
- Status and nights: Automatic Platinum plus 20 elite nights per calendar year immediately unlocks your first Milestone Reward, with options like confirmable suite upgrades or extra F&B rewards. If you’re tracking toward Diamond, those 20 nights are a substantial head start. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
- Annual credits: Up to $300 in IHG food‑and‑beverage rewards are issued as $75 each quarter and must be used during a stay; the $200 airline credit posts on a direct‑with‑airline purchase of $250+ and is currently scheduled through Dec. 31, 2027. That structure rewards travelers who can time weekend getaways or work trips to consume the quarterly vouchers — and who buy airfare at least once a year. ([thepointsguy.com](https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-launch/))
How it stacks up — and a quick earnings check
Earning rates are straightforward: up to 28x total on IHG stays (12x from the card plus program/status points), 6x on dining and all other travel (including rideshare), and 3x everywhere else. If you spend $4,000 a year at IHG hotels, picking up even two quarters’ worth of F&B rewards ($150), one $200 airline credit, and using the 60,000‑point anniversary night at a property pricing near the cap can easily clear the $350 fee — while the launch bonus covers several nights on its own. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
Compared with other premium hotel plays, the $350 fee sits below cards like Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ($650) or Hilton Aspire ($550), yet the Premier Select still delivers a useful on‑property credit and an airline credit that’s simpler than many competitors’ versions. If your hotel nights skew IHG, the math here can be cleaner than juggling a pricier non‑IHG premium card.
The portfolio context: what changed today
Chase and IHG didn’t just add a card — they refreshed the lineup. The existing IHG Premier moves to a $150 annual fee (for most existing cardholders, not until 2027) and now includes up to $100 in annual F&B rewards, a 50,000‑point anniversary night, and a $100 airline credit. The no‑annual‑fee card is renamed IHG One Rewards Credit Card and adds elite night credits. But for heavy IHG travelers, the Premier Select’s Platinum status, 20 elite nights, and 60k free night define the new top rung. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
Who should consider applying now
- Frequent IHG guests and Diamond chasers: The 20 elite nights annually plus Platinum at $0 incremental stay cost is meaningful. Pair that with the fourth‑night‑free when redeeming points and the 60k anniversary night, and you’ve got recurring value that compounds with each stay. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
- Travelers who can actually use quarterly credits: The F&B rewards are “use it this quarter or lose it,” so road warriors and regular weekend trippers get the most mileage. The airline credit requires a single $250+ direct‑purchase — easy coverage for even a modest domestic round trip. ([thepointsguy.com](https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-launch/))
- IHG‑curious points collectors under 5/24: The limited‑time 200k offer through Nov. 18, 2026 is the richest entry point we’ve seen for this brand‑new product. If IHG stays are on your 2027 calendar, planting the flag now sets you up with immediate status and a strong balance. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
Not your profile? If your hotel mix leans Hyatt with a Chase Sapphire strategy or you rarely set foot in IHG properties, a general‑travel card (e.g., Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold) may be a better everyday earner — and you can revisit IHG if your patterns shift.
Application timing and fine print you shouldn’t skip
- Offer window: The 200k launch bonus is available through November 18, 2026. If you’re planning a winter or early‑spring IHG stay, applying in October means you could earn and redeem sooner — and line up two calendar years of the $200 airline credit before 2028 if you time purchases. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates))
- Credit mechanics: F&B rewards are issued quarterly as $75 vouchers and expire at quarter‑end; the airline credit is one $200 credit per calendar year on a $250+ direct‑with‑airline purchase, currently slated to sunset after Dec. 31, 2027. Set reminders so you don’t forfeit value. ([thepointsguy.com](https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-launch/))
- Status and nights: Expect the 20 elite nights to appear within weeks of opening, then by Feb. 1 each year thereafter — enough to trigger a Milestone Reward right away. ([thepointsguy.com](https://thepointsguy.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-launch/))
Make the strategy effortless with SuperPay
If you’re deciding whether Premier Select belongs in your wallet, SuperPay’s Rewards Roadmap (PRO+) builds a personalized projection: it models your upcoming hotel nights, typical dining and travel spend, and shows the exact net value you’d capture from the quarterly F&B vouchers, the airline credit, and the 60k anniversary night — alongside alternatives like Sapphire, Amex Gold, or your current IHG Premier. You’ll see the break‑even and the 12‑month upside before you apply.
Already applied? Turn on SuperPay’s Category Tracking and Real‑time notifications. You’ll get a push alert when you arrive at an IHG property with “Use Premier Select here,” plus quarterly reminders to burn your $75 F&B voucher and a nudge when you’re close to hitting $250 on a direct airline purchase to trigger the $200 credit. No spreadsheets, no guesswork — just captured value.
Your next move
Try PRO+ free for 7 days and unlock your personalized Rewards Roadmap — then decide if Chase’s new IHG Premier Select deserves a spot in your 2026–2027 card plan.