Chase and IHG announced new benefits for three existing U.S. IHG One Rewards cards on October 1, 2026, alongside the launch of a separate new card, IHG One Rewards Premier Select. Premier now has a 50,000-point anniversary free-night cap and $150 annual fee; the Business card has the same cap and a $200 fee. The no-annual-fee card adds Elite Night Credits and, starting in 2027, a fourth Reward Night after qualifying spend. Existing cardholders should use their Chase notices for the exact effective dates on their accounts.
Which cards changed, and which one is new?
The refresh applies to the existing no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Credit Card (formerly Traveler), IHG One Rewards Premier, and IHG One Rewards Business (formerly Premier Business). The IHG One Rewards Premier Select is a newly launched fourth option, not a renamed existing card. Chase and IHG announced the changes on October 1, 2026. Chase and IHG’s announcement describes a portfolio connected to more than 7,000 hotels across 21 brands.
The most consequential changes are the added annual credits on the paid cards, higher caps on the Premier and Business anniversary free nights, new Elite Night Credit allowances, and a spend requirement for the no-fee card’s fourth Reward Night. Published annual fees for Premier and Business are $150 and $200, respectively; existing cardmembers are told their fees will adjust in 2027. The release does not give every account’s exact fee-change date.
Compare the four cards
The table separates annual card benefits from point-earning rates. “Up to” credits or rewards are not the same as guaranteed cash: their practical value depends on whether you meet the terms and would use them.
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| Card | Annual fee | Annual credits or rewards | Anniversary free night | Status and Elite Night Credits | Selected earning and award benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards Credit Card (no annual fee; formerly Traveler) | No annual fee | No new annual credits stated in the announcement | Fourth Reward Night after $5,000 calendar-year spend, starting in 2027; see details below | Automatic Silver Elite; 5 annual Elite Night Credits | Up to 17X total points on IHG stays; 3X on dining, gas, and groceries; 2X elsewhere |
| IHG One Rewards Premier | $150 | Up to $100 in IHG Food & Beverage Rewards; $100 airline statement credit; up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash | Up to 50,000 points; can top up with existing IHG points | Automatic Gold Elite; 15 annual Elite Night Credits, plus 2 for each $5,000 spent | Up to 24X total points on IHG stays; 5X on directly booked flights, car rentals, dining, gas, and groceries; 3X elsewhere; fourth Reward Night free on a consecutive four-night points stay |
| IHG One Rewards Business (formerly Premier Business) | $200 | Up to $100 in IHG Food & Beverage Rewards; $100 airline credit; up to $100 Expensify statement credit | Up to 50,000 points; can top up with existing IHG points | Automatic Platinum Elite; 15 annual Elite Night Credits, plus 2 for each $5,000 spent | Up to 26X total points on IHG stays; 5X on direct flights, car rentals, dining, gas stations, and select advertising; 3X elsewhere; fourth Reward Night free on a consecutive four-night IHG points stay |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Select (new) | $350 | Up to $300 in IHG Food & Beverage Rewards; $200 airline statement credit; up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash | Up to 60,000 points; can add existing IHG points | Automatic Platinum Elite; 20 annual Elite Night Credits, plus 2 for each $5,000 spent | Up to 28X total points on IHG stays; 6X on dining and other travel, including rideshare; 3X elsewhere; fourth Reward Night free on a consecutive four-night points stay |
Rates, credits, and benefits are as described in Chase’s card materials; qualifying transactions, redemption rules, and other conditions apply. See the issuer pages for Premier, Business, Premier Select, and the no-annual-fee card.
What changed on the no-annual-fee IHG card?
The former Traveler Card is now called the IHG One Rewards Credit Card. It keeps automatic Silver Elite status and adds five annual Elite Night Credits. Its published earning rates are up to 17X total points on IHG stays, 3X on dining, gas, and grocery purchases, and 2X on other purchases.
Fourth Reward Night starts in 2027 after $5,000 spend
Chase says the card’s fourth Reward Night benefit begins in 2027 after $5,000 in purchases in a calendar year. The issuer describes the benefit for award stays of four or more nights, available for the rest of the calendar year in which it is earned and the following calendar year. Check the card terms for the qualifying stay rules. Chase’s no-fee card page gives the current benefit details.
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What changed on IHG Premier?
Premier’s published annual fee is $150. Its anniversary free-night certificate now has a cap of 50,000 points, and cardholders may add existing IHG points to book a higher-priced eligible night. That can broaden the set of nights within reach, but it does not make every hotel night available: the certificate remains subject to the program’s redemption terms and room availability.
Credits, status, and earning
The card adds up to $100 in annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards and a $100 airline statement credit. It retains up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash. Premier now includes automatic Gold Elite status and 15 annual Elite Night Credits, with two more for every $5,000 spent. Chase lists up to 24X total points on IHG stays, 5X on directly booked flights, car rentals, dining, gas, and groceries, and 3X elsewhere.
The fourth-night-free award benefit remains: on a consecutive four-night points stay, the fourth Reward Night is free under the applicable terms. This is distinct from the anniversary certificate, which is a separate benefit.
What changed on the IHG Business card?
The former IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card is now named IHG One Rewards Business. Its listed annual fee is $200. The anniversary free-night cap is 50,000 points, with the option to add existing IHG points.
Credits, status, and earning
New annual benefits include up to $100 in IHG Food & Beverage Rewards, a $100 airline credit, and up to $100 in Expensify statement credits. Chase lists automatic Platinum Elite status, 15 annual Elite Night Credits, and two additional credits for every $5,000 spent. Its published earning rates are up to 26X total points on IHG stays, 5X on direct flights, car rentals, dining, gas stations, and select advertising, and 3X elsewhere.
As with Premier, the Business card’s fourth-night-free benefit applies to a consecutive four-night IHG points stay; it is not the same as the anniversary free-night certificate.
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What does Premier Select add?
Premier Select is a new card with a listed $350 annual fee, rather than an existing card’s refreshed name. Its announced benefits include up to $300 in annual IHG Food & Beverage Rewards, a $200 annual statement credit on qualifying flight purchases, and up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash. The anniversary free-night certificate is capped at 60,000 points and can be topped up with existing IHG points.
It also includes automatic Platinum Elite status, 20 annual Elite Night Credits, and two more credits for every $5,000 spent. Chase lists up to 28X total points on IHG stays, 6X on dining and other travel including rideshare, and 3X on other purchases. Its fourth-night-free benefit applies to a consecutive four-night points stay. All credits and earning categories are subject to issuer terms.
When do the refreshed benefits and fees take effect?
Chase says existing cardmembers will receive notices in October with the effective date for each benefit update. It also says annual fees will adjust in 2027. Those public statements do not establish the exact change date for every account, so rely on the notice and card terms sent for your account before planning around a benefit or renewal.
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Frequent Miler’s October 1, 2026 report gives more specific transition details: most new benefits and earning rates reportedly apply immediately to existing accounts; Elite Night Credits begin January 1, 2027; existing annual fees rise at renewal in 2027; reduced or removed bonus earning rates remain at prior levels through December 31, 2026; and late-2026 anniversary renewals receive the old 40,000-point certificate cap. These details are secondary reporting, not a substitute for your issuer notice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Welcome offers announced through November 18, 2026
Chase’s October 1 announcement lists the following application offers through November 18, 2026. They are time-limited, and eligibility and offer terms apply; confirm the terms on the application page before applying.
| Card | Announced bonus | Required spend and period |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Select | 200,000 points | $5,000 in the first 3 months |
| Premier | 180,000 points | $3,000 in the first 3 months |
| No-annual-fee card | 125,000 points | $2,000 in the first 3 months |
| Business | 190,000 points | $5,000 in the first 3 months |
These are welcome-point amounts, not cash values. Whether a particular bonus or ongoing benefit is worthwhile depends on the value you personally get from IHG points and whether the credits fit your normal travel and spending.
How to decide whether the refresh is valuable to you
- Start with fees you will actually pay. Premier and Business list $150 and $200 annual fees; existing cardholders’ fee changes are scheduled for 2027, with individual timing in issuer notices. Premier Select is new at $350. The no-fee card remains an option without an annual fee.
- Separate credits by how they work. Airline and Expensify benefits are statement credits with qualifying-purchase or account conditions; IHG Food & Beverage Rewards are redeemable at IHG properties, not unrestricted cash. Do not count the maximum amount unless you expect to qualify and use it.
- Consider how you use free nights. Premier and Business raise their anniversary certificate cap to 50,000 points; Premier Select’s is 60,000. Top-up lets you combine a certificate with existing IHG points, but the cap does not guarantee availability or a particular room.
- Match status and credits to your stay pattern. The paid cards provide more annual Elite Night Credits and higher listed status than the no-fee card, while the extra two credits for each $5,000 of spend apply to the three paid cards in the announcement. Their value depends on how often you stay and which status benefits matter to you.
- Compare earning categories against your real spend. The advertised total points on IHG stays include the card’s earning within the IHG and card structure; they are not a flat return on every dollar. For non-IHG spending, check whether the named categories match your purchases.
Sources and terms
The refresh, annual-fee adjustment statement, card comparison, and limited-time offers are described in Chase and IHG’s October 1 announcement. Card-specific details and conditions are published on the Chase pages for Premier, Business, Premier Select, and the no-annual-fee card. For transition specifics beyond Chase’s general announcement, see Frequent Miler’s October 1 report, and verify account-specific dates in the issuer notice.
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