What the Holiday Inn Credit Card Is
The Holiday Inn Credit Card is a co-branded card issued by Bank of America in partnership with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group). It earns points on purchases that you can redeem for stays at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and other IHG properties. The card also offers perks like free night certificates and room upgrades for cardholders.
This is not a general rewards card that earns cash back. Every benefit ties to IHG hotels. If you rarely stay at these properties, the card's annual fee will cost more than the rewards you earn. If you stay multiple times a year, the math can work in your favour.
Key Takeaways
- The card charges an annual fee (the amount varies by card tier) and earns points per dollar spent on all purchases, with bonus points on IHG stays and dining.
- New cardholders receive a welcome bonus of points after meeting a spending threshold, which typically covers one or more free nights depending on the hotel tier.
- The card includes a free night certificate each year after your anniversary, which can offset the annual fee if you use it on a mid-range property.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months.
- You earn points only at IHG properties, so the card works best for people who stay at these hotels regularly or plan to concentrate their travel there.
How Points and Redemption Work
You earn a set number of points per dollar spent on all purchases, and a higher rate on IHG hotel stays and dining at partner restaurants. The exact earning rates depend on which version of the card you hold. Points accumulate in your IHG Rewards account, which is separate from your credit card account but linked to it.
To redeem points, you log into your IHG account and search for available dates at the hotel you want. The point cost varies by hotel, location, and season. A budget Holiday Inn Express in a smaller city might cost 10,000 to 15,000 points for a night, while a full-service Holiday Inn in a major city could cost 30,000 to 50,000 points or more. You can also combine points with cash to book a stay if you do not have enough points.
Points do not expire if you use your account at least once every 24 months. This means you can let points sit for two years without losing them, but complete inactivity will cause them to expire. Earning or redeeming even a small amount resets the clock.
Annual Fee and the Free Night Certificate
The card charges an annual fee each year. The amount depends on which tier of the card you choose — the standard version has a lower fee than premium versions. This fee is charged to your account automatically on your anniversary date each year.
To offset this cost, the card includes an annual free night certificate that posts to your account on your anniversary. This certificate covers one free night at an IHG property up to a certain point value. If you use this certificate on a hotel that costs more than your annual fee in points, you come out ahead. If you never use it, the annual fee is a pure cost.
The free night certificate is valid for one year from the date it posts. If you do not use it within that window, it expires and you lose the benefit. You must plan a stay or you forfeit the value.
Welcome Bonus and Spending Requirements
New cardholders receive a welcome bonus of points after spending a certain amount within a set timeframe, usually three to six months. The bonus is substantial enough that it typically covers the cost of one or more free nights, depending on the hotel tier. This is the main financial advantage of opening the card — the welcome bonus often exceeds the annual fee in value.
To earn the welcome bonus, you must meet the spending threshold on the card. This spending counts toward your total, so if you were planning to use a credit card anyway, the bonus is easier to reach. If you would need to spend beyond your normal budget to hit the threshold, the bonus may not be worth it.
Comparing Card Tiers
Bank of America offers more than one version of the Holiday Inn card. The standard card has a lower annual fee and lower earning rates. Premium versions charge a higher annual fee but earn more points per dollar and include additional perks like elite status benefits or higher free night certificate values.
The choice between tiers depends on how much you spend and how often you stay at IHG hotels. A casual traveller who stays once or twice a year should consider the standard card. Someone who stays multiple times a year or spends heavily on dining at partner restaurants may find the premium version worth the extra cost. Run the math on your own travel patterns before upgrading.
When This Card Makes Financial Sense
The Holiday Inn card works best for people who stay at IHG properties at least two to three times per year. Each stay earns bonus points, and the annual free night certificate becomes a real benefit rather than a wasted perk. If you concentrate your hotel stays at IHG brands, the points accumulate faster and redemptions become more valuable.
The card also makes sense if you spend regularly at partner restaurants or other IHG-affiliated merchants, since these purchases earn bonus points. Some cardholders use the card for everyday spending to earn points, then redeem them for occasional hotel stays. This works only if the earning rate and redemption value justify the annual fee.
The card does not make sense if you stay at different hotel chains, prefer other brands, or travel rarely. A general rewards card that earns cash back will serve you better. The annual fee on the Holiday Inn card will exceed any value you receive.
How This Card Compares to Alternatives
Other hotel chains offer co-branded credit cards with similar structures: Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and others all have cards that earn points redeemable at their properties. Each card has its own annual fee, welcome bonus, and earning rates. The best choice depends on which hotel chain you stay at most often.
If you do not stay at any single chain regularly, a general rewards card that earns cash back or flexible points may be a better fit. These cards have lower annual fees and let you redeem rewards for anything, not just hotels. The tradeoff is that hotel-specific cards often earn more points per dollar at their partner properties.
Some people hold multiple hotel cards to cover different chains. This works if you travel frequently and can use the annual free night certificates and welcome bonuses. If you only hold one card, choose the chain where you spend the most nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my points to another person or use them on someone else's stay?
You can transfer points to another IHG Rewards member, though some transfers may incur a fee depending on the amount. You cannot use your points to book a stay for someone else unless you are staying in the same room. Points are tied to your account and cannot be gifted directly.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your IHG Rewards account even after you close the credit card. The card and the rewards account are separate. However, if your account becomes inactive for 24 months, your points will expire. You must keep the account active by earning or redeeming points at least once every two years.
Do I earn points on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee does not earn points. Only purchases on the card earn points. This is standard across most credit cards.
Can I use the free night certificate at any IHG hotel?
The free night certificate is valid at most IHG properties, but it has a point-value cap. You can use it at any hotel within that cap, but luxury or premium properties may exceed the certificate's value. You would need to pay the difference out of pocket or use additional points.
How do I know if a hotel stay will be worth the points I spend?
Check the nightly rate of the hotel you want to book, then divide the point cost by that rate. If you are spending 30,000 points on a $150-per-night hotel, you are paying $0.005 per point. Compare this to what you could earn elsewhere. If your card earns 1 point per dollar spent, you would need to spend $30,000 to earn those points back — a useful benchmark for deciding whether redemption is worthwhile.