If you enjoy dining out and want to earn extra rewards for your meals, enrolling in a dining rewards program can be a great option. Many airline and hotel loyalty programs offer dining rewards programs, including the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program. In this article, we will provide an overview of the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program and how you can maximize your rewards.
The IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program allows you to earn IHG points on every dollar you spend at select restaurants and bars. These points are in addition to the rewards you would normally earn through your credit card or the restaurant’s rewards program. To get started, you need to enroll in the program and add at least one card to your account. Once you have done so, you can search for participating restaurants and bars where you can earn extra IHG points.
To join the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program, you can sign up online. It is worth checking whether there is a new member bonus available when you join. Currently, new members without a dining profile can earn 1,000 IHG points when they spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant or bar within their first 30 days of enrollment. To earn the bonus points, new members must also remain opted-in for emails and complete an online review within 30 days of their visit. Based on TPG’s valuations, 1,000 IHG points are worth $5.
When joining the program, you need to provide some personal information such as your first name, last name, zip code, email address, and IHG One Rewards number. Opting in for email notifications unlocks the new member bonus and a higher earning rate. You will also need to link at least one credit or debit card to your IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn account.
Before joining the program, you can search for participating restaurants and bars on the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn website. You can use your location or type in an address to find eligible venues. It is important to note that some restaurants may not offer rewards every day of the week, so make sure to check the details for each establishment. You can use advanced search options to filter and sort based on criteria such as price, dining options, and meal service.
Once you have found a restaurant or bar you want to try, simply use an enrolled card to pay for your meal or drinks. When you do so at an eligible venue, you will earn bonus IHG One Rewards points on the amount paid. This can be a useful way to ensure your points don’t expire, as IHG One Rewards points normally expire after 12 months if there is no account activity and you don’t maintain elite status.
The earning rate through the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program depends on your status level and whether you opt in for email notifications. The status levels and associated earning rates are as follows: VIP members earn 8 points per dollar spent, Select members earn 5 points per dollar spent, and Basic members earn 1 point per dollar spent. VIP status is earned by opting in for emails and completing 11 qualified transactions in a calendar year.
To maximize your earning opportunities with the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program, it is recommended to use one of the best dining credit cards when setting up your profile. Enroll an IHG One Rewards credit card if you want to earn IHG points quickly for an upcoming redemption. Using an IHG card at an eligible restaurant will earn you IHG points from spending on your card, as well as 1 to 8 points per dollar spent from the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program.
It is important to note that you can only enroll each debit or credit card in one Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program. If you plan on using multiple dining rewards programs, you will need to use a different card for each.
In addition to the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program, you can also earn IHG points through IHG’s partnership with OpenTable. By making an OpenTable reservation after clicking through from IHG’s partner offers page, you can earn up to 500 IHG points.
In conclusion, the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program is a great way to earn extra rewards for dining out. By enrolling in the program, searching for participating restaurants and bars, and using an enrolled card to pay for your meals, you can earn additional IHG points on top of your credit card rewards and restaurant loyalty program rewards. Make sure to consider whether the IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn program is the best dining rewards program for you and compare it with other programs before making a decision.