Diamond is the top rung of IHG One Rewards, the loyalty scheme covering IHG's 20-plus brands, from Six Senses and Regent down to Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express. Earning it the traditional way is a slog: 70 qualifying nights in a calendar year (award stays count) or 120,000 qualifying points, which works out to roughly $12,000 of spending at the standard 10x points per dollar. That's a heavier lift than the top tiers at Hilton, Marriott or Hyatt.
The shortcut is credit cards, all tied to IHG's partnership with Chase. Spend $25,000 in a calendar year on the IHG One Rewards Premier Select card or the IHG One Rewards Business card and you get Diamond for the rest of that year plus the following one. The Chase Sapphire Reserve requires $75,000 of spend, and the Sapphire Reserve for Business $120,000. The catch: card-earned status doesn't come with the elite nights attached, which matters because of Milestone Rewards (more on those below).
So what do you actually get? The headline perks are a complimentary full breakfast for the member plus one guest — notable for having almost no property exclusions, unlike most rival programs — a 100% bonus on eligible stay points, and upgrades up to standard suites, though these are granted at the hotel's discretion and aren't always proactive. You also get award night discount promotions a few times a year (typically 15-20% off), early check-in and late checkout as late as 2pm subject to availability, a dedicated support line, and guaranteed room availability when booking 72 hours out — excluding high-demand events, which is when you'd most want it.
The real value, though, sits in Milestone Rewards, where you pick a perk every 10 elite nights from 20 nights up to 100. At 20 nights you can grab a confirmable suite upgrade; at 40 nights you choose two perks, which can include 10,000 bonus points, five $20 food-and-drink vouchers, another suite upgrade, or an annual club lounge membership. Repeat at 70 nights and a heavy stayer could walk away with three confirmable suite upgrades (each valid up to five nights) plus a year of lounge access. Crucially, the co-branded cards hand out elite night credits just for holding them, with more possible through spending — so a card-based Diamond member can still climb the milestone ladder without living in hotels.
The honest comparison is with Hilton Diamond, which offers similar upgrades and no guaranteed late checkout but a weaker breakfast benefit; Hilton's top tier, however, comes free just for holding the Amex Aspire card, no spend required. IHG's counterweight is Milestone Rewards, which Hilton can't match. The bigger issue may be the portfolio itself: IHG has good hotels, but the overall collection is less compelling than Hilton or Marriott — and not every Six Senses even participates in the program. Frequent InterContinental or Six Senses guests should also look at the separate paid InterContinental Ambassador scheme for extra perks at those two brands.
For anyone already leaning towards IHG properties, spending $25,000 on the Premier Select card is a reasonable route to free breakfast and bonus points — just aim to bank at least 40 elite nights so the lounge membership and upgrades come into play.
