A fall shake‑up with real upside
Two big moves landed just in time for trip‑planning season: IHG and Chase introduced the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card, and Chase refreshed the Sapphire Preferred with new earn categories and credits. The headline: more ways to earn and redeem—plus a transfer‑ratio change that quietly shifts strategy for Hyatt fans. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates?utm_source=openai))
What actually changed—and why it matters
Chase’s June refresh made the Sapphire Preferred a stronger daily driver: 3x on gas and EV charging, 3x on vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, and a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit—still at a $95 annual fee. But there’s a trade‑off: for many cardholders, transfers from Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt moved from 1:1 to 4:3, a roughly 25% haircut that took full effect for legacy cardholders on October 1, 2026. New applicants since June 15 are already on the 4:3 ratio. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred?utm_source=openai))
On October 1, IHG and Chase launched the IHG One Rewards Premier Select with a premium‑leaning benefits stack: $350 annual fee, an annual airline credit up to $200 (through 12/31/27), up to $300 in quarterly Food & Beverage Rewards at IHG properties, an Anniversary Free Night (redeemable up to 60,000 points, top‑up allowed), automatic Platinum Elite status, 20 Elite Night Credits each year, and 6x on dining and travel. For IHG loyalists, that’s tangible value you can plan around. ([creditcards.chase.com](https://creditcards.chase.com/travel-credit-cards/ihg-rewards-club/premier-select?utm_source=openai))
The practical strategy: where each card wins now
Here’s the short version of the new math:
- If your goal is Hyatt stays funded by Chase points, the Sapphire Preferred still works—but the 4:3 transfer means a 30,000‑point Hyatt night now requires 40,000 Ultimate Rewards. If you consistently book Hyatt and want to preserve 1:1 transfers, upgrading or pairing with a Sapphire Reserve is the clean workaround. Otherwise, keep the Preferred for its broad 3x categories and use cash‑rates or other partners when they price out better. ([nerdwallet.com](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/chase-sapphire-preferred-hyatt-transfer-changes?utm_source=openai))
- If you frequently stay with IHG (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, Six Senses and more), the Premier Select’s recurring credits can dwarf its fee. Use the quarterly $75 Food & Beverage vouchers while on‑property, set one flight purchase each year at $250+ to trigger the $200 airline credit, and treat the Anniversary Free Night (up to 60,000 points) as a core part of your annual travel plan. The built‑in 20 Elite Night Credits also jump‑start Milestone Rewards. ([creditcards.chase.com](https://creditcards.chase.com/travel-credit-cards/ihg-rewards-club/premier-select?utm_source=openai))
One combo to consider for many travelers: run everyday dining, gas/EV, and most travel on Sapphire Preferred for 3x earnings, and hold the IHG Premier Select primarily for on‑property spend (stacking up to 28x on IHG stays) and to harvest its credits and free night. That portfolio takes advantage of both launches without overcomplicating your wallet. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/ihg-premier-select-card-portfolio-updates?utm_source=openai))
The numbers you can act on this month
- IHG One Rewards Premier Select debut bonus: 200,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months—worth about $1,200 by The Points Guy’s October valuations, with a published limited‑time window. If you’re eyeing near‑term IHG stays, that’s a compelling on‑ramp. ([ihgplc.com](https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media/news-releases/2026/chase-introduces-new-ihg-one-rewards-premier-select-credit-card-and-portfolio?utm_source=openai))
- Sapphire Preferred public offer: 75,000 Ultimate Rewards after $5,000 in 3 months (public, as of October 2026). Remember: you’ll get new earn categories and benefits immediately; Hyatt transfers sit at 4:3 for new applicants. If you value Hyatt highly and want 1:1, focus on building toward Sapphire Reserve or keep points flexible until you price a specific redemption. ([creditcards.chase.com](https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/preferred?pl=footer&subid=&utm_source=openai))
Why now and not later? The IHG Premier Select’s credits are calendar‑based, so applying earlier in the year gives you more cycles to capture value. Even this quarter, you can still trigger a $75 Food & Beverage voucher and set up a qualifying $250+ airfare for the $200 airline credit before year‑end. Meanwhile, Sapphire Preferred’s richer categories (gas/EV and vacation rentals) are live, so you can point your fall road trips and holiday home‑shares at 3x immediately. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred?utm_source=openai))
A quick word on Apple Card’s future
Chase is slated to become the new Apple Card issuer, with the transition targeted roughly 24 months from the January 7, 2026 announcement. That’s not a card to apply for today, but it signals Chase’s deepening focus on everyday spend ecosystems—relevant if you like clean cash‑back setups alongside your travel portfolio. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/chase-to-become-new-issuer-of-apple-card?utm_source=openai))
Make this effortless with SuperPay
If you adopt the two‑card play above, SuperPay’s Smart Card Picker removes the guesswork: walk into an IHG hotel restaurant and it prompts you to pay with Premier Select to use the $75 quarterly Food & Beverage credit; pull into a charging station and it nudges you to swipe Sapphire Preferred for 3x. It’s the real‑time nudge that turns theory into points.
For planners, PRO+ adds a Rewards Roadmap that models your exact year: it forecasts when you’ll hit the IHG airline credit, how many Elite Night Credits your spend unlocks, and the breakeven point for Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve if you’re chasing 1:1 Hyatt transfers. Pair that with Category tracking, and you’ll never miss the new Sapphire earn spots—or forget to deploy the IHG credits before they reset.
Your next move
Try PRO+ free for 7 days and unlock your personalized Rewards Roadmap—so your new‑card strategy pays off on your very next trip.