IHG and Chase just rolled out a huge limited-time offer on one of their co-branded credit cards, this time upping the ante for small business owners.
It's a two-part offer that allows you to earn up to 175,000 IHG points on the *IHG Business* after meeting all the requirements. Here's how it works:
- Get 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months.
- And an additional 35,000 bonus points after spending a total of $7,000 in the first six months.
Since the standard welcome offer on this card is for 140,000 points, you're essentially getting an extra 35,000 points for continuing to use your new card beyond the first three months – not a bad trade off! Plus, this card comes with a modest annual fee of just $99 and a valuable free night certificate every year upon renewal, among a host of other perks and benefits.
Whether you've got a full-fledged business or just a side hustle, you could easily be eligible to open a business credit card – and with this bigger bonus, you might want to.
Not sure if you're eligible to open business credit cards? Trust us: You might be!
While IHG is perhaps best known for basic hotel brands like Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza, there are also excellent Intercontinental properties, boutique Kimpton hotels, and even Six Senses resorts to choose from as the hotel chain has breathed some new life into its IHG Rewards program.
Let's take a closer look at all this card has to offer, beyond the eye-opening welcome offer.
Full Benefits of the IHG Premier Business Card Details
- Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
- Earn 10x IHG points on all IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5x IHG points on other travel, gas, dining, and select business services (including social media and search engine advertising and office supply stores)
- Earn 3x IHG points on all other purchases
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status
- 4th Night Free Benefit: Redeem points for four consecutive nights and only pay for three nights
- Free night award certificate starting your second year with the card, capped at properties that cost up to 40,000 points per night (though you can add your own points to book more expensive hotels)
- Get up to a $100 Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- $50 of United TravelBank cash each calendar year when you link your United and IHG accounts
- Annual Fee: $99, which is not waived for the first year
Learn more about the *IHG Business*.
Who Is This Offer Good For?
The *IHG Business* offers a solid list of benefits for a card with an annual fee under $100. With hotel rates on the rise, the free night certificate alone (you won't get it right away but starting in your second full year with the card) could easily make it a keeper for many travelers.
It's a compelling card for any small business owner with an eye for IHG properties. It's an especially great fit for road warriors who stay in hotels Monday through Friday, traveling to some off-the-beaten-path towns along the way. But it could also make sense for the occasional business traveler who just wants to get the best value out of their nights on the road, while enjoying some additional perks along the way.
Just remember: Credit cards are serious business. Whether it's a personal card or for a small business, like this one, you should never apply for a credit card unless you can afford to pay off every dime you charge – no matter how big the bonus is.
Using IHG Points
While 175,000 points sounds like a massive bonus, keep in mind: Points and miles are not created equally. These points are only good for hotel stays at IHG properties, which means they aren't worth nearly as much as transferrable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, or American Express Membership Rewards.
That said, IHG points are far from worthless. Given the reasonable rates you can often find to book free night stays, this bonus of up to 175,000 is a stellar offer.
Looking at a random two-night stay in June for the Hotel Indigo in downtown Minneapolis, the total cost with taxes and fees would be just over $355 per night.
Read our review of the Hotel Indigo in downtown Minneapolis for an idea of how you can put this big welcome offer to use!
But you could book that exact same two-night stay for just 45,000 IHG points per night.
Consider this: After spending the $7,000 required to earn this bonus, you'd have at least 196,000 IHG points. With IHG's fourth-night-free benefit factored in, that's enough to cover five nights at this property that would otherwise cost you nearly $1,800 if paying cash.
That's just one example of how to use your points – and you could easily get more (or less) value out of them by cherry picking where you stay. But at the end of the day, there is definitely value to be had within the IHG program and with this bonus.
Read more: What are points and miles worth?
Are You Eligible to Get the IHG Business Card?
Before you apply, it's important to make sure you're eligible for both the card and the welcome offer.
Since it's a business card, you may have assumed you aren't eligible … but don't rule it out just yet. Many Americans have what the banks would consider a small business and don't even realize it.
Do you have any income from freelance work, or plans to start freelance work? You have a business. Have you ever sold an item on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, or other platforms, or have plans to do so in the future? You have a business.
If you're still trying to decide whether you qualify for business cards, read this first!
After that, there are other factors to consider. And the Chase 5/24 rule is among the most important restrictions for any Chase card, including this one.
Basically, Chase won’t accept applications if you’ve opened five or more cards in the last 24 months from any bank – not just Chase. With business cards, that same rule applies … kind of.
For starters, you will need to be under the 5/24 limit in order to get approved for the Chase IHG Rewards Business Card … but that approval won't add to your 5/24 count. So if you've opened three or four credit cards in the last two years, it might be the perfect time to apply for one of these cards. That way, it won’t hinder any applications for other future Chase cards.
But Chase can be very stingy with approvals for business credit cards, so be prepared to provide business paperwork and answer a lot of questions.
Read our master guide to credit card applications!
Bottom Line
Chase is out with a new, limited-time bonus of up to 175,000 points on the *IHG Business* after meeting the card's two-tiered minimum spending requirement.
For some travelers, this card is worth having for the long-term thanks to its lengthy list of benefits and a free anniversary night. If it's been on your list, there's never been a better time to add it than right now.
Learn more about the *IHG Business*.
Featured image courtesy of IHG Hotels & Resorts
Hi,
I am under the 5/24 limit.
I have personal IHG Rewards Club C.C.($49AMF).
Do I still have a chance to be approved?
Hi Sandy,
Yes! You can hold both a personal IHG card and a business IHG card. Assuming you meet all the other application requirements you should be good to go.
Thanks for reading!
MSGA! Make SUBs Great Again! Chase/IHG continuing the trend of watering down subs…last spring the offer for this card was a straight 175k pts after $4k spend. Although amex can be criticized about much, their SUBs continue to remain very enticing and competitive.